Letter writer: Smith understands issues and how they intertwine

Graphic by Lori Deaton

Gordon Smith is running for Buncombe County commissioner.

I’ve known Gordon for 10 years.

He was one of the main people who helped organize the community to fight a coal plant from getting built just north of Asheville. He helped prevent [Stewart] Coleman from building a condo on City/County plaza. He was one of the champions of the Burton Street neighborhood before it was popular to do so. He fought and won to extend domestic partnership benefits to city of Asheville employees.

Gordon understands public transit, housing, food security and how the issues are intertwined better than anyone I know.

— Paul Van Heden
Asheville

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17 thoughts on “Letter writer: Smith understands issues and how they intertwine

  1. “I’ve known Gordon for 10 years.”

    Yes. How nice for this former Scrutiny Hooligan and City of Asheville Marketing Coordinator for Transportation, Engineering & Parking Departments to give his benefactor a nice big sloppy endorsement letter.

    We should all be so lucky as to know Gordon Smith for 10 years. I’ve known him for longer, but who’s counting. And if you believe the fawning praise from Smith’s ole transit pal Brainshrub, you deserve to be played once again.

    • When Pack Square was under consideration for development, I joined with Clare Hanrahan and Dixie Deerman and her warlock husband Steve Rasmussen in their protest to protect the property which was under a covenant left by Mr. Pack that the property should remain a public park. This covenant was challenged in court and it prevailed. No thanks to Gordon Smith. Smith jumped in front of that parade in his effort to build a resume for his political ambition.

      • James

        Tim you should make this fact known with letters to the editor and other means. People like Gordon Smith do not deserve to hold elected office and this is a prime example why.

        • mynameis

          Oh, Fisher, you think you’re a clever boy, using my nickname.

          So, every time you use it, I will make sure that people know that Fisher Caudle was the person who used it.

          You’re a winner!

    • I also remember touring the Burton Street neighborhood when mods to I-26 were being considered. Smith was one of about 50 people attending the tour. It was supposed to be a tour of the neighborhood that I-26 would displace in order to build antipathy to expanding the highway. Somehow Smith showed up in every photo I took (now long gone).

  2. James

    Oh how cute, we have another organized propaganda letter to the editor, lecturing us why Gordon Smith is so wonderful and therefore must be elected to county commissioners. Well I can’t think of a worse candidate than Smith. He is one of the most divisive, in-effective and mean-spirited people to shamefully be elected to the city council. When he was making a name for himself with that vile screwy hooligans blog of his, he ranted non-stop against republicans and conservatives calling them ‘racists’ yet, when challenged, he offered no proof to back up his accusations. That’s cowardice, not credibility. I guess getting on the Asheville city council has bored him since his policies simply preach to the choir of the progressive majority of city voters. Now its time for him to spit venom against the non-progressives outside the city limits, and impose his agenda on them. Folks there are better candidates out there, and those better candidates are the ones who care about all of their potential constituents, not just those who share their personal values.

    • Smith can be as divisive as he can be as long as he is in the minority on County Commission. I would love to watch him rant and rail against 2 GOP or Libertarian District 2 reps. That would so beat watching him get his way on council. District 2 is where the action is, so move there. Actually, Smith’s voting record is better than he is; it’s his association with Shad Marsh that poisons his candidacy.

    • yournameisBS

      so its clear ‘mynameis’ (original) IS the nonqualified candidate, Gordo Smithiness , the ridiculous.

  3. Tracy Rose

    It would be great if we could get back to the discussion of the letter writer’s points about Gordon Smith as a candidate for county commissioner.

  4. Smith’s friendship and association with Asheville Politics admin Shad Marsh is extremely troubling. With friends like Shad, Smith needs more enemies.

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