As Asheville enjoys the benefits of a bustling economy, it also confronts challenges that come with growth, including concerns over housing, tourism, budgeting and certain segments of the city getting left behind. Xpress asked all the candidates for mayor and City Council to share their thoughts on these topics and more prior to the Nov. 7 general election.
Asheville voters will be asked to weigh in on a state plan to create election districts for seats on City Council via a ballot question in this year’s Nov. 7 general election.
“So why would I support a politician with whom I disagree so consistently? Frugality, passion and open-mindedness.”
Who can afford to live here and how can we all live together? Those questions formed the crux of the conversation among Asheville City Council candidates at a Sept. 18 forum where two issues garnered strong and varying viewpoints: the lack of affordable housing and persistent racial tensions in Asheville.
Six candidates for Asheville City Council participated in a forum hosted by the Asheville chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America on Sept. 13. Hot topics included affordability and police reform.
About 50 people took part in a bystander intervention training session on July 30 to learn the best strategies for intervening in tense or dangerous situations. The training facilitators shared techniques to safely and positively take action.
Sen. Chuck Edwards of Hendersonville explains some of the considerations that led him to introduce a bill that would compel Asheville to institute district elections for seats on its City Council. And Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer lays out the reasons the city plans to follow a “parallel process” that may include a referendum on the issue, despite Raleigh’s insistence that the city knuckle under by Nov. 1.
Asheville voters may face an up or down vote on the city district elections plan making its way through the N.C. General Assembly. City Council accepted the advice of City Attorney Robin Currin to hold a referendum on establishing six districts for seats on the council versus the city’s current at-large election system in November.
Rich Lee, the fourth-place finisher in the 2015 Asheville City Council elections (meaning he missed out on a seat by a few hundred votes) has announced he will run again in 2017.
City Council voted unanimously to deny the zoning request for a 185-room hotel at 192 Haywood St. at its Jan. 24 meeting. Police Chief Tammy Hooper gave an update on policing in the city in 2016.
A proposed Asheville Police Department policy hashed out with substantial citizen input could mark a change in the way officers handle volatile situations, proponents say. If the policy is adopted as expected, officers will have to explain how they approached the situation and what they did to try to calm things down before resorting to […]
State-level PACs don’t typically get heavily involved in campaigning for municipal candidates. But, as in so many things, Asheville broke the mold.
At its Nov. 11 meeting, City Council approved a request to alter terms of the city’s support for a troubled mixed-use development on Eagle and Market Streets. As part of the modification, the city agreed to allow the developer to make 24-30 of the project’s 62 units into workforce housing. Originally, all 62 units were designated affordable housing.
“I’m proud to cast my vote for Marc Hunt, Julie Mayfield and Rich Lee.”
“On each issue, Rich has worked to bring the community together and discuss the facts, a refreshing break from the safe talking points we often hear from political campaigns.”
“This City Council election is pivotal. There are three candidates who have the interests of citizens at heart and three that might not.”
“I am backing Rich Lee and Brian Haynes because both will be loyal to the people of Asheville, with particular concern to affordability, the overmarketing of Asheville by the hotel industry and listening to what the people want.”
We need Rich Lee’s patient and humble voice of reason on City Council. We need his vision, financial expertise, political independence and his steady pragmatism. We need passion for smart planning and livability, for consistency and clarity in government, whether permitting new entrepreneurs or standards for big development. Asheville hovers on the brink of tremendous […]
“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.
