In addition to her new role as Vice Mayor, Asheville City Councilmember Gwen Wisler serves on a long list of important city boards and commissions, as well as civic organizations. Xpress talks with Wisler to find out what’s on her mind as she leads city projects from the budget to the update of the citywide comprehensive plan.
At a Southside neighborhood meeting on Monday, Feb. 1, Parks & Recreation director Roderick Simmons said his department has no plans to close the Walton Street Park and Pool at 570 Oakland Rd.
Local leaders reflect on King’s influence and legacy nearly half a century after his assassination on April 4, 1968. Whether or not they were alive during King’s lifetime, all agree that his work and example had a profound impact on American society that continues today. Here’s what they had to say, along with some compelling quotes from King himself.
In its first full meeting since three newly-elected Council members were seated, City Council moved in new directions on a public space for a city-owned lot on Haywood Street and on including some accessory dwelling units in the city’s homestay ordinance for short-term rentals. Council also considered downtown development review standards and passed a resolution on the I-26 connector project.
Supporters of a public park on the site of a city-owned lot across the street from the Basilica of St. Lawrence and the U.S. Cellular Center are gearing up to present 4,389 signed petitions in favor of a park at the Dec. 8 meeting of City Council.
With four cranes silhouetted against the skyline, construction fencing blocking sidewalks and hundreds of construction workers on the job every day, downtown Asheville is buzzing with development activity. Despite the blazing pace of new construction, City Council has reviewed only four downtown projects since 2010. At its Dec. 8 meeting, City Council will reconsider the thresholds that trigger Council review.
Newly-elected Asheville City Council members were sworn in on Dec. 1. The new Council selected Councilwoman Gwen Wisler as Vice Mayor. Mayor Esther Manheimer pronounced the short, upbeat meeting a “good start” for the new body.
Newly-Elected City Council members Brian Haynes, Julie Mayfield and Keith Young will take the oath of office in Council chambers on the second floor of City Hall on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. A new Vice Mayor will be elected from the seven-member Council.
State-level PACs don’t typically get heavily involved in campaigning for municipal candidates. But, as in so many things, Asheville broke the mold.
While early voting results showed candidates Julie Mayfield, Keith Young and Marc Hunt in the lead, results quickly moved all up and down the board. Ultimately, Vice Mayor Hunt lost his bid for re-election, and Young, Haynes and Mayfield (in that order) won Ashevilleans’ votes and the three City Council seats.
“This City Council election is pivotal. There are three candidates who have the interests of citizens at heart and three that might not.”
“We don’t need another building downtown — we need green space, and for Sierra Club to take the side of more development was disappointing.”
“The three candidates for City Council who support that green space deserve our support — Brian Haynes, Keith Young and Rich Lee.”
Though they share many of the same policy positions and goals for Asheville, each of the six city council candidates still in the race must now highlight for voters the qualities and experiences that make him or her unique. At the latest candidate forum, candidates worked to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
The Asheville Downtown Association tried something different at the Wednesday, Oct. 14 Asheville City Council candidate forum. Rather than bringing the candidates up on stage, the forum blended candidates into the audience to interact with and answer questions directly from the voters.
Keith Young Website: votekeith.com Employment: Deputy clerk of Superior Court Party affiliation: Democrat Previous candidacy: Ran for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2012, 2014 NEW! Notable endorsements: Council member Cecil Bothwell, Friends of St. Lawrence Green, People Advocating Real Change, AFL-CIO, personal endorsement from the president of local NAACP Carmen-Ramos Kennedy. NEW! Campaign contributions: […]
This page features previews and recaps for meetings of hte Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.
In District 1, roughly equivalent to the city of Asheville, incumbent Democrat Brownie Newman is being challenged by Keith Young. Xpress asked each candidate five questions designed to elicit their priorities and views.
Several Buncombe County Commissioners are facing challengers in the May 6 primary election. Here’s a basic rundown of the candidates and the races, broken down by district.
As filing ended at noon Feb. 28 for this year’s local elections, a flurry of candidates threw their hats into the ring. Two challengers, in different districts, will take on incumbent Democratic Buncombe County Commissioners, a Republican commissioner got another challenger and an opponent emerged for the current sheriff.
This year's Buncombe County Board of Commissioners race is a whole new ballgame.
