How They Voted
The filing period for candidates for Asheville City Council ends July
15. The council members whose terms will end are Jan Davis, Brownie
Newman and Bill Russell. If these members file for re-election, their
voting records should determine if we re-elect them. Here are some
recent votes that generated attention.
Larger Signs
Council voted to allow more and larger signs than our sign ordinance allows at the new Ingles store on Brevard Road.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Jan Davis, Bill Russell.
NO: Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
Living Wage
Council approved a resolution setting a living wage for City of
Asheville employees (full, part time, and contract employees working on
General Service contracts) from $30,000 to $90,000 in value.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
NO: Jan Davis, Bill Russell.
Caledonia
Council voted on rezoning property on Caledonia Road, where a developer is trying to build a 100-unit apartment complex. The Kennilworth Residents Association opposed the project, supported rezoning, and urged Council to vote “Yes”. A supermajority of six votes was required to pass.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith. (Esther Manheimer recused)
NO: Jan Davis, Bill Russell.
Early Voting Sites
Council voted to approve four early voting sites for the 2011 City Council election.There’s a nationwide movement to suppress the vote by requiring photo IDs, shortening the Early Voting period, and cutting back on Early Voting sites.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
NO: Jan Davis, Bill Russell.
Hillcrest Bridge
Council voted to re-open the pedestrian walkover bridge at Hillcrest. Residents of Hillcrest urged Council to reopen the bridge after several pedestrian deaths.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Bill Russell, Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
NO: Jan Davis.
Domestic Partner Benefits
Council voted to provide domestic partner benefits for City employees, including health insurance, bereavement, and family medical leave.
YES: Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
NO: Terry Bellamy, Jan Davis. (Bill Russell absent.)
Publicly Financed Elections
Resolution to allow for publicly financed elections in North Carolina.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
NO: Jan Davis, Bill Russell.
Reid Center
Construction of Phase I of the new Reid Center at Livingston Street.
YES: Brownie Newman, Jan Davis, Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
NO: Bill Russell. (Bellamy absent, Manheimer recused)
51 Biltmore Parking Deck
Council voted to pay over 3 million dollars for a part of the property at 51 Biltmore (which had a tax value of $870,000 for the whole thing).
With construction costs, the city will spend over $14 million, and still be paying it off 25 years from now.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Jan Davis, Bill Russell.
NO: Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith.
Deregulation of Downtown Development
Council voted for the Downtown Master Plan, which gave up City Council review of downtown development and increased the size of developments not requiring review from 100,000 square feet to 175,000 square feet. The plan is so unpopular that the Buncombe County Democratic Convention voted to ask that Council repeal it.
YES: Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, Esther Manheimer, Jan Davis, Bill Russell, Gordon Smith.
NO: Cecil Bothwell.
Visit www.ashevilleparc.org for more information, or write to PARC, PO Box 4093, Asheville, NC 28805.
