ASHEVILLE – Fifteen candidates running for City Council traded barbs and touted experience at a Wednesday forum, sponsored by the Citizen-Times at A-B Tech. Here are the highlights:
Keith Young: One of two African-American candidates preached economic opportunity and political access. “The doors of opportunity in this city need to swing open for every single citizen,” the deputy clerk of court and black youth empowerment organizer said. He named issues from green space to social justice, asking people to stand if they supported them. Young said there are residents “who look like me who aren’t completely sold on the credibility of the police.”
Lavonda Nicole Payne: The 23-year-old acknowledged her inexperience and nervousness but said she had energy and the “passion” to serve and find answers. “I feel as a young person native to Asheville, I have a lot to offer Asheville,” the truck driver said. Payne said she’s knows a range of people and has had a range of experiences in the city, including “highs and lows.”
Richard Liston: The former computer science teacher and professional trombonist apologized for not standing during Young’s issues list, saying he was tired but supported “all that good stuff.” Liston said he wouldn’t promise to lower taxes, but as a former Research Triangle Park software engineer was familiar with processes and not wasting money. He said he would pursue tens of millions in dollars national science foundation grants to do the “transportation system of the future.”
Corey Atkins: The defense attorney said his campaign was about building coalitions with people from police to health care workers to union employees. His top issue is “sustainable economic development and small business growth” because it will fix other local problems ranging from childhood poverty to low wages. Small businesses here create products such as art and clothes unavailable anywhere else, he said. “That is the fabric of who we are and why people come here to visit.”
Rich Lee: The West Asheville neighborhood activist and financial adviser said “unequal access to jobs, housing and public amenities like parks and sidewalks really threatens the fabric of our community.” He blamed city policies that Lee said give too much help to large corporations and big developers. Asheville’s affordable housing policy “is not producing truly affordable housing.” To change that, small landlords providing affordable rents should get the same help as large-scale builders.
Ken Michalove: A 20-year veteran of the council and top appointed government positions, Michalove promised a large cut to the tax rate of “at least 3.5 cents,” while focusing on what he called core services. He directly attacked incumbent Vice Mayor Marc Hunt for fiscal policies and the city’s dealings with the Asheville Art Museum. “I am opposed to wasted money and back-room politics,” Michalove said. He blamed Hunt and other leaders for the “demise” of Pack Place, saying it may cause a $5 million lawsuit against the city.
John Miall: a retired longtime city employee who worked in fields such as health benefits, Miall said he was “born and raised in West Asheville long before it was a cool thing to admit to.” He said the city has been irresponsible with finances, criticized the recent tax increase and praised past leaders such as Michalove. He promised no money would go for “wish lists” until “we police our streets, put out the fires, pick up the trash and pave the streets and sidewalks.”
Brian Haynes: The longtime Habitat for Humanity supporter and employee talked of he and his wife’s ownership of a downtown music store and their role in the city center’s early revitalization. “The town began to blossom into the unique place it is today,” he said, adding that he wanted to shift back to that kind of “organic” growth. Haynes said he was passionate about affordable housing and wanted locals to receive living wages. “While tourism is important, looking out for the best interest of the people who live and work here is more important.”
Lindsey Simerly: The activist for same-sex marriage and affordable housing said she came to Asheville as a “homeless, gay, 18-year-old.” And despite working hard at many types of jobs, “more than once, I was not able to put a roof over my head or food on my table. That is the spark that got me interested in politics,” she said. To lower housing costs, the city should give more money to the housing trust fund and mandate new developments include “truly affordable” places to live. A former local campaign manger for Congressman Heath Shuler, Simerly noted key endorsements from elected officials.
Grant Millin: A consultant in energy and sustainability issues, Millin said he believes innovation is the key to reducing reliance on inefficient systems such as old coal-fired power plants. The proposed change at Duke Energy’s coal plant to natural gas could be improved using “micro grids,” he said, “not just one centralized power plant.” Millin said local leaders should challenge Duke about its plans. “We should know rather clearly what the Duke Energy approach is to powering our communities.”
Julie Mayfield: The co-director of the west’s oldest and biggest environmental organization, Mayfield said she and her husband moved to Asheville to “live in a place that better reflected our values.” The city should target key areas, she said: Supporting new innovation districts, updating development rules to protect neighborhoods and addressing affordability in housing but also in food, child care and other areas. Transit policies must also shift focus, she said and “stop obsessing about cars and start obsessing about people.”
Carl Mumpower: The former vice mayor said he is running as a conservative Republican to bring political balance in a “city that prides itself on diversity” but lacks diversity politically. He said he would be honest that fellow officials would not “pander” but also wouldn’t make political attacks. Mumpower said he would serve as as watchdog for public money and could be that person on the council “that has a courage button, who would say, ‘This might not be right.'”
Dee Williams: The longtime business owner and social activist is the other African-American candidate running. She criticized current leaders for making Asheville a tougher place for “most working folks” to live. “How can one tout affordable housing yet vote with impunity to raise taxes and fees?” she said. Economic development should be their focus. Williams criticized other candidates who listed endorsements, calling it “dropping names of insiders” and said she wasn’t beholden to any faction or party.
Marc Hunt: The one incumbent and current vice mayor defended the city’s tax increase but didn’t respond directly to other charges. He listed successes, including reducing the city’s carbon emissions, enacting rules to protect the city’s watershed and making improvements to a bus service. The tax increase he characterized as modest and said was necessary to support basic city infrastructure and buy equipment for core services. Hunt said working together is the only way to accomplish such things. “Getting things done is more about listening and understanding … Effective leadership is not about polarizing and dividing people.”
Joe Grady: The former city elected official from Ohio and retail manager for Best Buy International spent his time presenting his resume. That included work at several levels of politics, business and philanthropy. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have the business and the government experience to represent every one of you,” he said. Grady said he understood running a business and did so for 25 years as a real estate broker. He also worked as a high-ranking staff member in the Ohio legislature, meaning he understood state-level politics. “I will not hesitate to get in the car and go to Raleigh and lobby on behalf of every one of you.”
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