City
Council Candidates, Week 7
Joe Dunn
Jim Ellis
Ed Hay
Holly Jones
Carl Mumpower
Brownie Newman
Joe Dunn
People have asked me many times "why are you making jobs and
business such a big deal--we have so many other problems?'' My answer
is simply this. Asheville is in very serious trouble. Water problems
have driven up bills! Our school drop out rates are high! Senior
citizens are strapped to pay their property taxes, when they are
on a fixed income! Our young workers can not afford a place to live!
And the list goes on and on. Folks, our city is running businesses
out of town and making it difficult for them to even come into the
city. People who want to build housing and businesses have to fight
all the red tape, and city bureaucrats to get anything done! Asheville
can only raise money by taxing you and me to do anything in the
way of serving its citizens! To make matters worse, their 88 million
dollar budget only placed $50,000 to develop and attract new businesses
to our city!
Since I began my campaign, I have preached the fact that jobs
must come to Asheville. Not just service type jobs that pay small
wages, but high tech jobs with a future. If city council was really
serious about it, would they not spend more to attract business?
Instead they focus on special interest projects that only benefit
a chosen few! Good jobs give power back to people! It gives them
the freedom to better plan their future! Good jobs put more money
into Asheville's economy which in turn helps provide money for better
schools, affordable housing, cleaner water, paved roads and sidewalks.
These things help all of our citizens. City Council has concentrated
on the needs of a few and not the needs of all the rest of us. It
will be very important that all of our citizens focus on the candidates
who have the business experience and knowledge to make this happen!
Don't you think it is time for
a new council? One that will focus on the needs of all of it's citizens?
Asheville spent $680,000 on Pritchard Park, but around the corner
at the bus station, our citizens can not stay dry when it rains
while waiting for the bus because the roof is poorly designed! Council
wants to spend $31-51 million dollars on the civic center, when
our water system is loosing 25% of its water a day! And to top it
all, now they want to raise water rated again!
These, and many other factors made me decide to run for city council.
I want to serve you for the next 4 years. I do not have anything
to gain by running. I do not want to be a mayor. Therefore, I will
call a spade a spade! I will not try to please the special interest
groups. I am retired and have the time to serve. My campaign is
to help all our citizens and make you proud of your leadership again.
In conclusion, I will protect our neighborhoods! I get tired of
terms like "smart growth" and urban sprawl! I do not live
in what some people call urban sprawl, I live in a neighborhood!
And I will not let people in city hall destroy these places we call
home! Please take a hard look at all the candidates, look for common
sense and maturity as you decide what you want Asheville to become
in the next four years. Thank all of you for your votes last Tuesday.
I will always try to be worthy of your trust.
Biographical Information about Joe Dunn:
(No information submitted)
Jim Ellis
 As
a candidate for the Asheville City Council I have spoken to many
folks and attended meetings almost every day. It is my belief the
greatest problem facing all of us in the City of Asheville is the
perceived differences now being emphasized. I hear and read about
business vs. environment, neighborhood vs. the community as a whole,
city vs. county, and on and on. Let's stop and think! If we've learned
anything from our horrible September 11th tragedy, it is that we
as Americans, with all of our differences, have an amazing capacity
to come together for a common purpose when needed. In spite of our
differences, our similarities enable us to work through our challenges
and create what works for the greatest nation on earth. Unless we
come together in dealing with issues and listen to all sides, giving
credence and understanding to all opinions, we will produce gridlock
instead of the type of community we all want. Some folks will agree
we have been experiencing a degree of gridlock for a number of years.
I believe we have similar ideas about the results we want, just
differences about the best way to get there.
My candidacy is dedicated to bringing folks together. I have over
forty years of leadership training and community involvement to
offer. I have made the tough management decisions during times of
recession as well as those wonderful years of growth and prosperity.
My varied career allowed me the opportunity to manage approximately
250 employees at Western Carolina Center and 125 employees at Black
Mountain Center. I was honored to serve as Chairman of the Board
of Trustees of UNCA, President of the North Carolina Chamber Executives
Association and more than 20 other civic, professional and community
organizations during the past forty years. I currently serve as
a member of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, Director and
Treasurer of the Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council,
Director of Blue Ridge Mental Health and director of the Center
for Wholistic Health.
During my campaign meetings and candidate forums, the buzz words
have been jobs, affordable housing, education, and the environment.
Almost every candidate has emphasized these community needs. I agree
they are important and must be addressed. It seems to me that all
are connected. You can not attract good jobs if we're lacking in
education, or the air is dirty or if reasonable priced housing is
not available. In addition, taxes, highways, water, sewer, safety,
livable neighborhoods, zoning, recreation and many more community
requirements are similarly connected. Elected officials, community
leaders and residents of the community must address all these needs
because none of them can stand alone.
Please vote for Jim Ellis on November 6 and I'll be honored to
go to work for ALL Asheville residents.
Jim Ellis responded to the following Forum Q&A:
Do you favor an elected Asheville School board?
The primary education responsibility given to the Asheville City
Council is appointment of the City School Board. There are pros
and cons concerning an elected vs.appointed school board. The Asheville
Buncombe Community Relations Council recently sponsored a forum
on this subject. The forum was held at UNCA in the Owen Conference
Center with 40 to 50 folks in attendance. My observation was over
90 percent of those attending expressed a preference for the appointed
board. Several reasons expressed for an appointed board included
an assurance of highly qualified and interested appointments and
some assurance of minority representation. Elected politicians should
have a very limited role in the education of our children and for
this reason and those mentioned above, I support an appointed school
board.
Biographical Information about Jim Ellis:
Jim grew up in Asheville, joined the US Navy at 17, returned to
Asheville and completed 2 years at Asheville Biltmore Junior College.
During his working career, Jim completed numerous management programs
at Notre Dame University, Michigan State, Syracuse University and
the University of Georgia. He had a successful career in chamber
of commerce management and was CEO for Asheville, Lawrence, MA,
New Haven, CT and Hickory NC. He spent the last 15 years in hospital
administration and recently retired as business administrator of
Black Mountain Center. Jim is proud to have served as Chairman of
the Board of Trustees for UNCA and many other civic, charitable
and professional organizations. He now serves on the Asheville Airport
Authority, Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council, Blue
Ridge Mental Health and several other organizations.
Ed Hay
When I was first elected to City Council in 1995, I pledged that
I would work hard, and I think I have kept that promise. I know
that important changes don't happen overnight, and have not backed
away from any issue because it was too difficult or politically
treacherous. The record of accomplishments in the past six years
shows just how much more we can do by committing ourselves to long-term
goals. I pledge to continue to work hard for our City and to see
each issue through to its end, knowing that we are at our best when
we listen carefully to what the citizens want and are creative and
flexible in finding long-term solutions.
Taxes: Local governments cannot continue to rely solely
on increases in property taxes to meet the growing needs of the
community. This is especially true in Asheville, where the tax burden
falls disproportionately on residential property taxpayers. We must
identify new sources of revenue which insure that all who benefit
from growth share the cost, and that those who bear the burden fairly
enjoy the benefits. Local officials must insist that the Legislature
give citizens the authority to make these decisions for themselves.
Economic Development: It requires years of effort to create
one new job, but 500 jobs can disappear overnight. It is no longer
good enough to simply replace jobs as we lose them, we must build
for the future. I am convinced that the new Internet and Information
Technologies industries can provide permanent, lifelong-employment
opportunities in the full range of income and education levels,
offering careers our children can plan and train for. Asheville
is uniquely positioned to attract that kind of investment, but we
will squander our advantage if we fail to commit to a long-term
effort to provide the infrastructure ( technological and otherwise)
and the trained, ready workforce the new industries require.
Civic Center: There is no tougher issue facing the City,
which is why I devoted so much time and energy to it over the past
five years. There is no perfect solution, but I am pleased that
we have adopted a plan which has received widespread community support.
The challenge now is to bring together the right combination of
private giving, commercial investment, and public funding to make
the plan a reality. Based upon the response I have had in just the
past few weeks from those who can provide that funding, I am more
confident than ever that we can meet that challenge, and would like
to see the project through to its end.
Transportation: I am pleased that my proposal to operate the bus
system as a city department has already resulted in a significant
expansion in ridership and services. Without any increase in city
funding, we now have the freedom to match transit resources with
other projects, to seek new funding for innovative ideas, and to
be flexible to meet new needs,. In the next few years, I look forward
even more improvements, such as inter-city service, routes on "demand"
and in the evenings, and service to Civic Center events.
Affordable Housing: I have been an active participant in
the City's efforts to meet our housing crisis. We have accomplished
a great deal, as shown by the such moments as the Habitat for Humanity
100th house in July, but we must work even harder to be creative
to bring private, as well as non-profit, builders into the effort,
to lower the barriers to creating affordable homes, and to maintain
the housing stock we now have.
Local Government: When I was first elected, Asheville had
a reputation as a city which was so divided that it didn't work.
As a community we decided that was unacceptable, we committed ourselves
to change, and that reputation has in large part been put behind
us. It i frustrating that now our local governments are so busy
bickering that very little seems to be getting done. Elected officials
must show that what is unacceptable for our community is also unacceptable
when it comes to public issues. The issues between us can be resolved,
but we must first acknowledge that the community expects us to work
together. I believe that can be done, and commit myself to it.
Biographical Information about Edward C. Hay, Jr.:
Home: 210 Blake Mountain Circle, Asheville, NC 28803 (828)
687-3723
Office: 137 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 255-8085
Email: hay@cheta.net
Fax: (828) 251-2760
Personal Information:
Age: 52
Education: Davidson College (1971), University of Georgia
School of Law (1974)
Managing Partner, Pitts, Hay, & Hugenschmidt, PA., Attorneys
at Law. In law practice in Asheville since 1976.
Wife: Diana Soileau (writer)
Four Children: Sarah, Mary, Craig Hay (college students),
Laura Buckner (junior at Asheville High)
Representative City Council activities:
- Vice Mayor (1997-1999)
- Chair, Task Force on the Future of the Civic Center
- Housing and Community Development Committee (Chair, 1997-1999)
- Economic Development Commission (city appointee)
- Board of Directors: Asheville-Buncombe Vision, Pack Place
- Liaison: Community Relations Council (former Board Member),
Civic Center Commission, Airport Authority, Asheville School Board
Representative Community Activities:
- Recipient, 1997 Circle of Excellence Award, Leadership Asheville
- Pisgah Legal Services (founding executive director)
- Helpmate, Inc (founding director and past president)
- Asheville-Buncombe Discovery (past president)
- Asheville Fair Housing Commission (past president)
- Building Bridges Steering Committee
- Consumer Credit Counseling Service (past president)
- Leadership Asheville Forum (past president)
- Legal Services of NC, Inc. (past State Board member)
- New Hope Medical Center
- First Presbyterian Church and related Presbytery Committees
Holly Jones
 Thank
you for your support in the primary election! It is an exciting
time to be running for City Council. Throughout my campaign,
I have been inspired by the concern and passion people have for
our community. Going door to door talking to neighbors, meeting
new people, and attending forums, I have learned a great deal about
the opportunities and challenges facing Asheville and our region.
Your support sends a clear signal that our community wants forward
thinking and progressive leadership.
One of the issues I've focused on throughout my campaign is affordable
housing. By some measures, Asheville is the least affordable
housing market in North Carolina, causing hardship for many people
with a wide range of incomes and household types. Contributing factors
include persistently low wages, increasing land prices and construction
costs, a tight market for homes to buy and rent, and opposition
to new development.
We should not be sorry that demand for property is high in Asheville
- it is one sign that we have a community where people want to live.
However, families working full-time at a minimum wage job or
as teachers, health care and factory workers, service and retail
employees should be able to afford a home in the city where they
work and live, and too often this is not the case.
Four years ago, the City of Asheville passed a Unified Development
Ordinance (UDO) that placed tight restrictions on housing development.
If elected, I will work to reform the UDO by following these key
principles:
- Addressing the need for a wide range of incomes and household
types - not only the very poorest citizens, but also the many
middle-income and wage-earning families and individuals;
- Providing special help for those with the greatest needs
(homeless, disabled, frail elderly, and low-income families);
- Increasing the affordable housing stock with safe, attractive
homes in new, existing and revitalized neighborhoods;
- Preserving existing housing stock and promoting mixed use/mixed
income development.
Affordable housing is more than just a roof over one's head. It
is a stable environment in which children can learn and grown;
it is a place to relax at the end of the day; it is where communities
are built that are healthy and free of crime.
It is time for new, progressive leadership on Asheville City
Council. If elected to City Council, I will help develop an
environment that is cooperative and effective and that makes real
improvements in peoples' lives. I am committed to working for good
jobs and livable wages, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods,
and quality education. I ask you to vote for Holly Jones and
Brownie Newman on November 6.
Biographical Information about Holly Jones:
Qualifications and Background
Education:
- Master of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, 1991-1993
- Master of Divinity, Duke Divinity School, 1984-1987
- Bachelor of Arts, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
1980-1984
Employment:
Executive Director, YWCA of Asheville, 1996 to present
Responsibilities include: developing and managing $1.1 million
operating budget with eight program departments and 24,000 square
foot facility; Accomplishments include increased operating budget
66%; increased net assets 169%; completed $3.9 million capital
campaign; established collaborative relationships with 75+ entities.
Community activities:
Buncombe County Board of Health; North Carolina Human Relation's
Commission; Buncombe County Education Coalition; Kid's Voting;
Western NC HIV/AIDS Consortium; United Way Minority Involvement
Council; 2001 Athena Award from Asheville Chamber of Commerce
Neighborhood: Montford homeowner
Carl Mumpower
With the primary now behind us, I would like to say thank you to
everyone who honored me with their vote on October 9th. My thoughts
are less on winning than accountability. It is important to me to
deserve the support I received. I understand that this is a time
for growth more than celebration. A time for reflection more than
assumption. A time for laying personal ego aside and picking up
personal responsibility. I intend to press myself in these directions.
Over the next month I intend to stay the course that I began two
months ago. I intend to use my model for running for Council as
the foundation for my model for serving on Council. I invite you
to watch my consistency in this regard, and welcome your comments
should I stray. Specifically, I intend to focus on issues versus
conflict. I will be honest and open on my positions, and avoid pandering
and catering to individual agendas. My goals are simple. I reserve
my strongest interest for fairly distributed and responsive basic
city services. I value common sense decisions that give consideration
to the average person's real life reality. I view good jobs and
a balanced economy as our best social service. I believe that governmental
restraint and efficiency should come before tax increases. I believe
that Asheville, as the population center of our region, should serve
as a model of cooperation, leadership and vision. I have 5 guiding
principles that I will use in upholding a positive role on Council.
1) Aim for the common good.
2) Focus on solutions over conflict
3) Provide leadership instead of control.
4) Be guided by principles over pressures.
5) Focus on balance, practicality, and restraint.
Over the coming month I'll look forward to sharing more of my position
with you.
Biographical Information about Carl Mumpower:
General Background:
- Practicing Psychologist
- 48 years of age
- Vietnam service ~ l971-72
Education:
- Ph.D. - Psychology
- M.S.W. - Social Work
- M.A. - Education
- B.A. - Psychology
Community Service:
- Chairman - Asheville Civic Center Commission
- Chairman - USCU (Mission/St. Joe Credit Union
- Member - NC State Family Therapy Board
- Past Chairman - NC Social Work Licensure Board
- Past Co-Chair - Vision Committee on Neighborhood
Brownie Newman
 Brownie
Newman- Bringing People Together for Asheville's Future!
On Tuesday October 9 the people of Asheville went to the polls
and voted for their choices for Asheville City Council. The Election
was about the future of our community. I want to thank the more
than 4000 Asheville voters who voted for me. I'm excited to campaign
for the next four weeks and to meet many more Asheville residents
who agree with me on the most important issues facing our community.
I believe that we must:
- Attract Sustainable Businesses that Pay a Living Wage
- Support Our Downtown & Locally Owned Businesses
- Create Affordable Housing & Home Ownership
- Encourage Clean Air through Expanded Public Transportation
- Raise High School Graduation Rates in City Schools
- Promote Safe, Walkable Neighborhoods with Sidewalks &
Parks
- Come Together as a Community to Face Our Challenges in a
Fair & Open Way
As many of you know, I am working closely with fellow City Council
candidate Holly Jones. Holly and I have a proven commitment to
our community. Day in and day out you'll find both Holly Jones
and I working on the issues that matter most to the people of Asheville.
Through my work at the Western North Carolina Alliance, I work everyday
to pass the Clean Smokestacks Act which will clean up our air, for
our kids and for our future.
Holly and I are committed to running a campaign about real people
and important issues. To that end, we will not take money from
business PACs. We will not allow narrow special interest groups
to control the debate here in Asheville. Instead, we will focus
on bringing people together to make decisions that are right for
Asheville's future.
Over the next four weeks we will be reaching out to people from
all of Asheville- from the Clingman neighborhood, to Haw Creek,
to Shiloh, we will be out talking to people about the issues that
affect their lives.
Unfortunately, over the last couple of weeks right-wingers here
in Asheville have attacked the Clean Smokestacks Act, they've begun
unfounded, untrue rumors about our personal lives and our campaigns,
and they've attacked Holly as a 'flower child.' I'm calling on the
right-wingers to stop this dishonest divisiveness and instead work
for positive change that matters to the people of Asheville. With
the events going on nationally, this is the wrong time for the far
right to be slinging mud and attacking people like Holly Jones and
I who work hard for our community.
To be clear: This election is about the future of Asheville. Holly
Jones and I have a proven commitment to our community. A vote for
Brownie Newman and Holly Jones is a vote for Asheville's future.
For more information about my campaign, see: www.votebrownie.com.
For a ride to the polls on Election Day, call my campaign at 251-0467
or e-mail info@votebrownie.com.
Brownie & Holly- A Proven Commitment to Our
Community!
Brownie Newman responded to the following Forum Q&A:
1. Often candidates are supported by special interest groups.
Are you?
I think it's important that elected officials not be in the pockets
of any special interest groups. I'd like everyone to look at what
I
do, how I've run my campaign, and who funds me:
1) I have a track record of working on issues important to ALL
people--especially air quality, affordable housing, and growth issues;
2) I have teamed up with another excellent candidate with a proven
track record on the issues - Holly Jones-- and we've brought a diverse
group of people together to support our campaign;
3) I am not accepting money from any PACs, nor is Holly Jones --
unlike other candidates. I encourage voters to examine each candidate's
funding.
Biographical Information about Brownie Newman:
Education: Graduate Fellow, North Carolina Institute of
Political
Leadership; attended Warren Wilson College
Employment: Executive Coordinator, Western North Carolina
Alliance. Responsible for fundraising and budgeting, managing
staff, and directing this nonprofit dedicated to regional heritage
preservation.
Community Activities: Immediate Past President of the Coalition
of Asheville Neighborhoods; Board of Directors for the
Asheville-Buncombe Vision;Charter Member, Asheville Jaycees;
Advocate for NC Clean Smokestacks Act; Co-chair of the Community
Coordinating Committee of the I-26 Connector Project
Neighborhood: Montford Homeowner
Church: Saint Matthias Episcopal
Age: 29
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