Released mid-evening, July 12, the new House districts proposed by GOP-led N.C. Redistricting Committee isolate Asheville as its own district, which could pit the two local Democrat delegates — Rep. Susan Fisher (currently representing District 114) and Rep. Patsy Keever (currently representing the 115th) — against each other and make it easier for a Republican to win the 115th. Under the proposal, the new District 115 would omit Asheville and be made up mostly of east Buncombe County. The new 116th House District, currently represented by Republican Tim Moffitt, would cover the entire western half of Buncombe County.
Tag: redistricting
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Video: Buncombe County residents speak out on proposed Congressional redistricting map
Around 50 Western North Carolina residents signed up to speak at the July 7 public hearing at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium about General Assembly’s proposed Congressional redistricting map, and overwhelmingly, those residents spoke out against the proposal. Many expressed concerns that under the proposal most of the City of Asheville would be removed from its long-held position in the heart of the state’s 11th district and placed instead in the 10th, a move some speakers labeled gerrymandering.
N.C. Senate redistricting maps released; Nesbitt’s district grows
The proposed North Carolina Senate redistricting maps grow Democratic Sen. Martin Nesbitt‘s 49th District to encompass most of Buncombe County. Republican Sen. Tom Apodaca‘s 48th District meanwhile, loses Polk County but gains Transylvania. His district also expands slightly to include all of Henderson County and part of southern Buncombe.
Rep. Moffitt tells WWNC he will propose keeping Buncombe in the 11th District
According to a report by News Radio 570 (WWNC), Rep. Tim Moffitt says he’ll introduce an amendment that would keep Buncombe County intact and in the 11th Congressional District.
Local Matters: Freedom of the press, council candidates and redistricting
In this edition of Local Matters—the Xpress weekly news podcast—reporter David Forbes talks about the recent removal of newspaper boxes by the County and the recent announcement of candidates for Asheville City Council, and reporters Christopher George and Jake Frankel talk about the heated meetings around the new congressional redistricting plan. Hosted by News Editor Margaret Williams.
General Assembly redistricting maps delayed until tomorrow
With the controversy over redistricting hotter than the summer temperatures, renewed furor over the state legislative districts will have to wait a day. News 14 Carolina reports that the assembly won’t release the proposed district maps today, but tomorrow, July 12.
Hard hearing: Residents blast redistricting proposal
“Insane.” “Biased.” “Cynical.” Those are just a few of the words outraged Western North Carolina residents used during a July 7 public hearing to describe a proposal to move most of Asheville to the 10th Congressional District, leaving roughly two-thirds of Buncombe County in the 11th District.
With tears in her eyes, Athena Blakely said her severely autistic children divide their time between her home and an alternative family living center that the new maps would place in a different district from her home. Cecil Bothwell (left) and Lindsey Simerly (right) listened to her tell her story. Photo by Jonathon Welch
Public hearing on congressional redistricting today, July 7, at A-B Tech
From 3 to 9 p.m. today, July 7, North Carolina’s Joint House/Senate Committee on Redistricting will be held at multiple sites in the state, including A-B Tech’s Asheville campus, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee and Appalachian State in Boone. Registration to speak will begin at each site at 2 p.m. The proposed districts pull the central and southeastern part of Buncombe — including most of Asheville — into the 10th District, currently represented by Congressman Patrick McHenry, Republican.
GOP’s proposed congressional districts strip parts of Asheville from the 11th
Once every 10 years, state legislators get a chance to redraw congressional districts. After their historic gains last November, North Carolina Republicans get a go at the process for the first time in more than 100 years. And in the maps they’ve released today, July 1, many Asheville voters have been stripped out of the 11th Congressional District that Democrat Heath Shuler represents and moved to the 10th, currently represented by Republican Patrick McHenry.
Local Matters: The buzz around Buncombe County, Volvo and Linamar
In this edition of Local Matters—the Xpress weekly news podcast—reporters David Forbes and Jake Frankel discuss the recent announcement about the purchase of the former Volvo plant in South Asheville by Buncombe County as part of an incentive deal to bring the Linamar manufacturing company to the city. Hosted by News Editor Margaret Williams.
Rep. Shuler reportedly considering athletic director job at UT Knoxville
Tony Basilio, host of the The Edge radio program on WVLZ radio in Knoxville, TN, is reporting that Western North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler is considering taking a job as the athletic director of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he gained national attention as a top quarterback in the early 1990s. What do you think? Does this seem like a job that Rep. Shuler would potentially leave his congressional seat for?
House passes changes to Buncombe commissioner elections
The state House of Representatives passed Republican Rep. Tim Moffitt‘s bill to expand the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners from five to seven members and mandate district representation in place of the current at-large elections. The bill would institute this change without a local referendum.
Legislators hear from public at redistricting meeting
About 50 people packed two small rooms at UNCA for an April 30 public hearing on redistricting.
Photo by Jonathan Welch
Multiple choice
The Joint Committee on Regulatory Reform, established by North Carolina legislators this year, is on the road. Its mission: Scrutinize “burdensome state rules and regulations on behalf of the private sector.” The 18-member team wants to hear from business and farm owners around the state concerning “outdated rules and regulations that should be eliminated.” The […]
Shuler on health care, Patriot Act vote, anti-abortion bill and more
Rep. Heath Shuler bucked national trends when he won re-election last year. In the new Congress, the conservative Democrat voted against the repeal of healthcare reform, voted to extend the Patriot Act, co-sponsored anti-abortion legislation that originally sought to redefine rape, and has had high-profile disagreements with the Democratic leadership. Shuler talks about all these issues — and more — with Xpress.