A bill that would have changed the distribution of Buncombe County’s controversial hotel tax to better benefit local government is likely dead until at least next year. The change would have reduced the share of room tax money to market and advertise Asheville as a tourist destination.
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.
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.
“People contacted [former Sen. Tom] Apodaca initially, and now Mr. Edwards, because they no longer expect those who destroy their quality of life to have any interest in restoring it. We’ve seen this before during City Council’s forced annexation crusade.”
Asheville
The Council of Independent Business Owners returned to the topic of district elections for seats on Asheville City Council at its monthly Issues Meeting on Feb. 10. Unsurprisingly, opinions on the wisdom of making a change were mixed.
After seven terms, Sen. Tom Apodaca has resigned from the North Carolina Senate. Democrat Norm Bossert and Republican Chuck Edwards (appointed to finish Apodaca’s term) outline their thoughts on HB2, job creation, district-based City Council elections and more.
In an election year that has many people looking for more choices, come November three presidential candidates will be on North Carolina’s ballot. Xpress looks at what it takes to gain ballot access in the Tar Heel State.
State Senator Tom Apodaca (R) and Robert Sipes, General Manager for Duke Energy’s western zone, discussed Duke Energy’s revised Western Carolinas Modernization Plan with a crowd of local business leaders at a meeting of the Council of Independent Business Owners on Nov. 12.
Mayors from a variety of cities across North Carolina gathered in Asheville Oct. 23 for a luncheon that included an update from N.C. Sen. Tom Apodaca and a panel discussion on economic development. “I’d like to welcome you to Asheville, we hope you spend a lot of money. We need it,” said Apodaca at the […]
Candidates hoping to represent Western North Carolina in the state Senate debated Oct. 16 at UNC Asheville, highlighting differences on a range of issues, from education and the economy to the environment. Here’s a look at the candidates and their views. District 49 In the District 49 race, Democratic Sen. Terry Van Duyn and Republican Mark Crawford are vying […]
State Sen. Tom Apodaca has filed a bill to eliminate public funds for political parties and judicial elections as well as the voter-owned elections fund.
State Sen. Tom Apodaca is sponsoring a bill that would make violations of the state’s open records and public meetings laws a misdemeanor. Currently, civil action is the only way to enforce those laws.
Sometimes the money behind the political marketing says as much about a given race as the ads themselves, offering insights into candidates’ views — not to mention their chances of winning.
The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters scored Buncombe County’s legislators on their environmental votes for 2011. Rep. Patsy Keever ranked among the most “green” members of the Statehouse, and Rep. Tim Moffitt among the least.
Dubbing the maps a “fair and legal” alternative to those proposed by the ruling Republican Party, Democrats in the General Assembly have released their own proposals for redrawing congressional and state senate districts. The plan would keep Asheville in the 11th congressional district, instead of dividing it with the 10th.
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.
Two pieces of legislation affecting the city of Asheville — studying the transfer of the water system and giving the Asheville Regional Airport to an independent authority — won’t become law this year. Sen. Tom Apodaca‘s office confirms that, with the end of the session looming, neither bill will get through the Senate this session.
