Vote smart

Who will govern Buncombe County’s 665.99 square miles and 222,174-and-growing population for the next four years? Six Republicans and eight Democrats are contending for four seats on the five-member Board of Commissioners in the May 6 primary. (The chairmanship is not at issue in the primary, because only Democrat David Gantt has filed to run […]

Candidate: Don Yelton

Don Yelton Don Yelton Political party: Republican Residence: Jupiter Road, Weaverville Occupation: Instructor, consultant Education: B.A. biology/psychology, UNCA; M.S. biology, East Tennessee State University; M.S. environmental systems engineering, Clemson University. Political experience: Served on Buncombe County committee evaluating composting; worked with Taxpayers for Accountability, Citizens for Change and other groups. Have attended most county commissioner […]

Candidate: Cecil Bothwell

Cecil Bothwell Cecil Bothwell Political party: Democrat Residence: Asheville Occupation: Writer/editor/publisher Education: Attended Emory University, University of New Hampshire, Prescott College Political experience: WNC manager, Cynthia Brown for U.S. Senate; wrote petition against Grove Park high-rise (2002) which led to founding of Asheville People Advocating Real Conservancy; created Rolling Thunder/Asheville; SpareChange?/SOS-Bring them home! (2003) organizer; […]

Obamarama

Late on a Friday afternoon, Ellen Frost is in Montford, knocking on doors. A woman comes out of one house, and Frost begins telling her about early voting for the May 6 Democratic primary—where to do it, when it ends, and the fact that you can register that same day. They chat briefly, and Frost […]

Campaign calendar

With the May 6 primary election on the horizon—and a large turnout of voters anticipated—unregistered residents may still get themselves on the rolls and vote during One-Stop Early Voting (through May 3). Handicapped voters may use curbside Early Voting at Buncombe County Election Services, 189 College St. Or for a mail-in, absentee ballot, contact Rachel […]

Taking sides over Parkside

When the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners sold a small piece of land to developer Stewart Coleman‘s Black Dog Realty back in November 2006, the transaction attracted little notice. Originally packaged with a slew of other items on the consent agenda, it was pulled, briefly discussed—and then unanimously approved. By any means: Candidate Cecil Bothwell […]

The challenger­s

This time two years ago, Democrat Heath Shuler was the upstart political neophyte hoping to unseat long-time incumbent Republican Charles Taylor for the 11th Congressional District seat. Swept into office on a wave of national support for Democrats, Shuler now is the one with a target squarely on his back. Despite an occasional and marked […]

Campaign calendar

• April 16: Fairview Democrats hold a meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m. for Democratic candidates for Buncombe Board of Commissioners: David Gantt, chair; K. Ray Bailey, Cecil Bothwell, Vernon Dover, Holly Jones, Keith Thompson, and incumbents Carol Peterson and Bill Stanley. A forum on issues follows at 7 p.m.; Fairview Community Center. • April 17-May 3: […]

Campaign calendar

• April 9: Voter registration will be available at the Reid Center, 133 Livingston St. in Asheville, from 6 to 9 p.m., coordinated by the League of Women Voters. For directions, call 350-2048. • April 11: Free fish fry for Keith Thomson, Buncombe Board Commissioners candidate at Lake Julian Park, 75 Long Shoals Road, from […]

Campaign calendar

• April 3: Reception for John Carroll, Ron McKee, Joe Dunn and Mike Fryar, candidates for the Buncombe Board of Commissioners, at the home of John and Vicky Wynn, 18 Stuyvesant Crescent, Biltmore Forest, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited. For further information call Vicky Wynn at 277-0217. • April 7 and […]

Campaign calendar

• March 26: Fred Smith for Governor Rallies—Buncombe County, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Asheville Ballroom and Dance Centre, 991-B Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville; Henderson County, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Bo Thomas Auditorium of Blue Ridge Community College (180 West Campus Drive) in Flat Rock. Everyone will be admitted, but a […]