Xpress Assistant Editor Daniel Walton and local community figures discuss how the year’s events have accelerated many of the issues that were already facing Western North Carolina.

Xpress Assistant Editor Daniel Walton and local community figures discuss how the year’s events have accelerated many of the issues that were already facing Western North Carolina.
Chief among the issues facing the General Assembly next year, said Sen. Chuck Edwards, would be balancing the state’s next budget to reflect pandemic-driven downturns in revenue. He estimated that the shortfall compared to current spending levels could be as much as $8 billion.
More Buncombe County voters — 81,887, or 41.79% of all eligible residents — took part in the primary elections that wrapped up March 3 than in any previous primary in the county’s history. Xpress outlines the winners and losers for levels of elected office from president to Asheville City Council.
Watch this space for the latest 2020 primary election results for Western North Carolina and commentary from the Mountain Xpress news team. The post will be updated regularly throughout the evening.
“We used to talk about presidents and members of Congress having permanent campaigns, meaning they never really stop campaigning, and I think the same thing has now trickled down to the state level,” says Chris Cooper, head of Western Carolina University’s Political Science and Public Affairs Department.
“Oversight in this kind of system — where the board is appointed by a body with no regulatory authority, in a process closed to school employees, families and the community as a whole — is more than a little messed up. It is completely unaccountable, open to all kinds of corruption and anti-democratic, not to mention a lousy use of resources.”
The document, set by the chamber’s advocacy and policy committee, adds opioid and substance abuse prevention to the docket for the first time. Affordable housing and expanded transit options throughout the Asheville metro region also made the cut, while Medicaid restructuring and the Interstate 26 Connector Project were both removed from last year’s list.
After Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the N.C. House of Representatives and Senate in the 2018 election, State Sen. Terry Van Duyn believes her party colleagues in the General Assembly will have more political clout during the upcoming session.
Watch this space for the latest election results and commentary from the Mountain Xpress news team. The post will be updated regularly throughout the evening.
Mark Crawford Republican Website: N/A Occupation:Administrator of a small nonprofit medical center Previous office held: Representative, N.C. House of Representatives Key endorsements: (Past and/or present) NCAR; PBA; SEANC; GRNC; State Party Amount of money raised: Third-quarter report not prepared yet Top three donors: Third-quarter report not prepared yet Why are you running for the N.C. House of Representatives? […]
At the first of three planned Asheville-Buncombe County League of Women Voters’ candidate forums, the Republican candidate for N.C. Senate District 49 made an unusual request: Don’t take my picture and don’t record my words.
In November, North Carolina voters will choose whether to add the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife to their constitution. If the amendment passes, the state will join 21 others, including all of the South save Florida, Maryland and West Virginia, in explicitly affirming this right.
Several smaller municipalities in Buncombe County will hold elections on Nov. 7 along with the city of Asheville. Xpress takes a look at the races in Black Mountain and Weaverville to find out what’s on the candidates’ minds as the election draws near and how they plan to serve their constituents.
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.
Xpress will update this page with election results, candidate reactions, pictures and more throughout the evening.
Democrat incumbent Terry Van Duyn faces competition from Libertarian William Beau Meredith. Both candidates outline their thoughts on the economy, drawing district lines, HB2 and more.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, and early voting runs through Nov. 5. Below you will find questionnaires from candidates at the federal, state and local levels. You can also find our federal and state election coverage in the current, Oct. 26, issue and our county election coverage in the upcoming Nov. 3 issue. For […]
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved economic incentives, a resolution urging the federal government to designate Big Ivy as wilderness and set a public hearing for the proposed tax schedule during its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
A rally at Pritchard Park on Tuesday, Sept. 6, was aimed at raising awareness and support for hourly workers to have mandated paid time off. Buncombe County-based legislators Susan Fisher and Terry Van Duyn voiced support and said they will be introducing legislation to address the issue come January.
There are two ways to view Xpress‘ Q&A with the candidates: Either click the candidates’ picture to see a text version of their answers or click the grid below. William Beau Meredith, Libertarian Terry Van Duyn (I), Democrat
Terry Van Duyn (I), Democrat votevanduyn.com Place of residence: Biltmore Forest Occupation: Retired system programmer Political experience: One year appointed State Senator; one term elected State Senator; N.C. Senate Democratic Whip Endorsements: AFL-CIO; Equality NC (recipient of 2016 Legislator of the Year Award); League of Conservation Voters (recipient of 2015 Green Tie Award); Lillian’s List […]