Mayoral Candidates, Week 9

Brian Peterson
Charlie Worley

Brian Peterson

BRIAN PETERSON: LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY

As a member of City Council over the past two years, I have made an extra-effort to go out and listen to city residents. I have attended hundreds of community meeting all across Asheville. I have tried to hear what problems residents have with city government and what issues they think are important. I have worked to keep the public informed on what city government was doing and how they could be involved. In addition, I tried to help city residents solve any problems they were having with city government.

I have conducted five Town Hall meetings this year to give folks an opportunity to have a dialogue with me. As each Town Hall meeting I would update residents on what city government or others were doing in their area. I would then answer questions or take comments on any subject. I found these Town Hall meetings very helpful to understand how people viewed city government and what they were most concerned about.

I have attended hundreds of neighborhood and community meetings all across Asheville. I worked with neighborhoods on problems such as street and sidewalk repairs, traffic control measures, dangerous dogs, zoning issues and new developments.

I believe I can better serve our city as Mayor because of my efforts to go out and hear from all parts of our community. As Mayor, I will continue to reach out to all of Asheville. I will continue to work to make city government more open and responsive.

Biographical Information about Brian Peterson:

Home: 42 Vance Crescent; Asheville, NC 28806
Home phone: 251-1477
Work phone: 251-0800

• Married to Cynthia Cooke
• Attorney and Partner at the Law firm of Grimes & Teich

Current Community Involvement:

• Asheville City Council 1999 - present
• Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods, current Board member
• Vice-President, West Asheville Estates Neighborhood Association
• VFW Post 891
• Asheville Humane Society

Past Community Involvement:

• Vice-Chair, Parks & Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee
• Asheville Greenways Citizen Advisory Committee
• Homes for Asheville-Buncombe Task Force
• Asheville-Buncombe Historic Resource Commission
• Citizens for Safe Drinking Water and Air

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Charlie Worley

This campaign for mayor is being categorized as one of business vs neighborhoods and that is very unfortunate for Asheville. In fact, this is a campaign about recognizing that we are all part of the community of Asheville and the surrounding region.

It is imperative that the mayor of Asheville look not at the narrow focus either for neighborhoods or for businesses but look at the broad picture and strive to find the balance between the needs of neighborhoods and the needs of business so that the entire community benefits.

Neighborhoods are composed of individual homes, whether single family residences or multi-family residences. As occupants of those homes, each of us are concerned about meeting our basic needs of paying the mortgage or rent, paying the bills, and putting food on the table. Neighborhoods start with each of us and collectively we create a neighborhood.

Without good jobs and a healthy economy we will struggle to meet our basic needs. If Asheville does not continue to thrive economically, we will see a loss of jobs (as we already have in some sectors), pressure on our families will grow, and many of us will have a difficult time meeting our basic needs. Asheville will suffer and neighborhoods will suffer.

In addition, neighborhoods themselves have basic needs that must be met - needs such as good streets, sidewalks, recreational opportunities, and basic city services. Even now, neighborhoods pay a disproportionate share of the cost of such services and the need is much greater than the resources currently available. Residential areas comprise 40% of the land area yet they pay 60% of the property taxes. As residents of neighborhoods, we pay more than our fair share! But, we can change that!

If we don't find a way to improve our economy, if we don't provide better jobs, if we don't better utilize our commercial areas, our families and neighborhoods will continue to pay a higher and higher portion of the property tax. The people of Asheville don't need added pressure in taking care of their homes, families and basic needs.

As a member of City Council for six years and as a candidate for mayor, I recognize the need to look at the "big picture", to find the balance necessary to protect our neighborhoods while insuring that we have good jobs and a growing economy.

Biographical Information about Charlie Worley:

• Current member of Asheville City Council serving 3rd term. Chaired the Council's UDO Committee in 2nd term.
  
• Native of Asheville (West Asheville)
• Leadership and experience on numerous boards and commissions including Water Authority (Chairman), Downtown Commission, Task Force for the Future of the Civic Center, Salvation Army Board (Chairman), Crimestoppers Board (President), Leadership Asheville Forum Board and others.
• Chairman of the North Carolina Joint Regional Commission, a statewide group of elected officials appointed from each planning region of NC to advocate regional issues
• Involved in all aspects of the community such as volunteering in playground builds, Bele Chere (Chair 2000), recreation (active soccer participant, helped develop indoor soccer center), jogging, bicycling)
• Married (Nancy K. Worley), two children (Charles A. Worley - 26, and Megan R. Worley - 21)
  

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