Contrary to your Asheville letter writer last week concerning big government, I am a county resident and delighted to see our democratic rights finally exercised with two representatives from each of three districts on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, thanks to Rep. Tim Moffitt [“Moffitt Goes for Big Government,” Feb. 29 Xpress]. Maybe Asheville residents do not see a need for a fair commission or possibly a fair regional water control board, but county residents do. The Buncombe County commissioners have long leaned towards Asheville.
Asheville and Buncombe County have had the same party in control for many, many decades; Democrats have had control of the state government for over 100 years. To quote a friend, “Not even Middle East dictators have power for that long.”
This status quo is also demonstrated on the county school board, where only one courageous elected member wants to broadcast meetings and open the books. Enough is enough.
I am thrilled and proud of the courage and wisdom of Rep. Moffitt and others in the state Legislature for cleaning up over 100 years of waste, fraud and god-only-knows-what-else they inherited. I will vote for whoever tries to save money by thinking out of the box while still upholding strong values.
The variety of Republican candidates for county commissioner, N.C. and U.S. representatives unlock many exciting opportunities for improvement for us all. Support them, and contact your state legislators at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us to thank them for their valiant, time-consuming efforts to correct years of bad habits.
— Janet Burhoe-Jones
Swannanoa
Janet – your sentiments are echoed throughout our County! Rep Tim Moffitt has paved the way with the new districting for more of our County citizens to have representation and a Voice on our BC Commission! Thank you for your courage and wisdom and for speaking up for so many!
Christina Kelley G. Merrill – Candidate for BC Commission D-2
You are aware, that Buncombe County residents who reside outside the city of Asheville outnumber city residents 2-1, aren’t you? Therefore non city residents can easily outvote the city without this need for some sort of quota.
Three of the five current commissioners live outside the city, so this notion that the commissioners “lean towards Asheville sounds more like political rhetoric than anything else, particularly when one notices that they have declined to “lean towards Asheville” on a host of issues including annexation and rate differentials on water.
Rep. Moffit’s quota system will increase the size of government (seven commissioners instead of the current five) and decrease accountability since a the commission will not longer have to answer to the entire county — a majority will not longer be accountable to a majority of Buncombe County residents. Apparently Republicans like Rep. Moffit and his apologists only favor decreasing the size of government and increasing accountability when it doesn’t interfere with their power grabs.
I would like to hear more about the 100 years of fraud and waste in state government.
And I don’t mean “voter fraud” because that is a NOT a situation of fraud, but rather an excuse for voter suppression.
The increase in the number of County Commissioners means a 40% increase in salaries and expenses. I don’t think that is necessary, especially in these days of decreasing tax revenue.
I also don’t see where it will be helpful.