Asheville News

Word on the street: Jenny Bowen will not actively seek Asheville City Council seat

Jason Sandford August 28, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Word on the street is that Jenny Bowen will not actively pursue her run for Asheville City Council. I don’t have details, so I can’t say for certain whether she’s dropping out totally.

It seemed to me that Bowen was never fully invested in a run for City Council this year from the start. She announced that she was running late. And she announced that she was officially seeking the seat held by incumbent Councilwoman Robin Cape, who said she wasn’t going to seek re-election and then recently announced that she would, in fact, launch a write-in campaign for another term.

Bowen’s lack of activity probably won’t affect the dynamic of the race. My top six to win the primary is the following, in no particular order: Gordon Smith, Cecil Bothwell, Kelly Miller, Esther Manheimer, Carl Mumpower and J. Neal Jackson.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Windows on the park, 2

Pyle takes stand in his own defense

16 Comments

Journalism? September 10, 2009

In response to Jenny Bowen’s comment about Ashevegas’ lack of journalism — duh!

Ashevegas isn’t a journalist. At least not in the sense that he has to meet the standards of an Associated Press reporter or someone who works for a real newspaper.

He’s a blogger. What that means is he’s not that concerned about the truth and isn’t held up to the standards regular reporters. He can print what he likes and if he gets it wrong — so what?

So, a bit of education for you all: take bloggers with a grain — no, make that a massive chunk — of salt. The information they provide can be interesting but it can also very often be wrong or deeply slanted.

Reporters that work for reputable papers have to a lot of pressure to write only what they can prove. Going out on a limb can mean lawsuits and loss of jobs. Smaller papers and blogs have no such pressure. That’s good in a way, because they’re not afraid to throw stuff out there. But it often is bad information.

Reply
Cecil Bothwell September 2, 2009

Per Bryan Freeborn’s observation that Ashvegas has been dead-on in past predictions … I just stumbled on this.
http://ashvegas.squarespace.com/journal/2007/9/22/the-official-ashvegas-city-council-prediction-post.html

Reply
Cecil Bothwell August 30, 2009

My bio/curriculum vitae is on my Web site:
http://cecilbothwell.wordpress.com/about

Reply
Politics Watcher August 29, 2009

Mr. Bothwell’s remark about Mayor Bellamy’s lack of experience/expertise when she was first elected to City Council is interesting. Do all the current candidates have their curriculum vitae posted on their Web sites so we could, in effect, compare all the "job applicants?" Educational credentials, business/professional accomplishments, public service accomplishments, etc., etc. It would help this voter to see some comparative info. Maybe AshVegas could help facilitate this; invite all the candidates to submit their full resumes, as job applicants do.

Reply
Asheville Dweller August 29, 2009

Lived here a long time and I still live here inside the city limts. And those limits go past downtown.

The fads I speak up are the horrible rust objects that money could be used useful elsewhere. Everytime this town buys a piece of thats another years wage, job, and help gone forever especially during a recssion.

Im a local that is tired of having his tax money squandered on this faux hippy lifestyle, giving money to people that don’t give anythng in return.

And none of that mention is qualified to do anything, If she was qualified what hasnt she raised more the $175 at the time of the AC-T. and that website tells us nothing.

Reply
Politics Watcher August 29, 2009

Thanks for your reply, Ms. Bowen. It would be helpful if you would answer the candidate’s survey on the Get There Asheville Web site. I’ll look forward to seeing your survey there.
http://getthereasheville.com/?page_id=22

Reply
Cecil Bothwell August 29, 2009

I’d note that Jenny Bowen has more government experience than Mayor Terry Bellamy was when she first won a Council seat, and she’s a year older as well

And Asheville Dweller seems to be strangely misinformed about actual allocation of city budget money, Of course, being anonymous, one can’t actually check on how long AD has been here or if he/she even lives in the city. What "fads" does the city spend money on?

Since I know this post will see me attacked as an "outsider," I should note: I’ve lived in Buncombe County for 28 years (longer than many or most natives, since half of the natives are under 25). In the city for 8. I’ve attended more Council and County Commission meetings than probably 90 percent of the citizens here in my capacity as a reporter and editor.

By the way, I completely agree about sidewalks, jobs and businesses.

Reply
Asheville Dweller August 28, 2009

"My political experience includes: serving in the US Congress for Charles Taylor, personally assisting Marie W Colton, serving as a successful Student Body VP & Pres of UNC-Asheville, and currently sitting on city committees such as the Public Art Board & DT Master Plan. This is more experience than several other ‘leading’ candidates."

So lack of a straight answer she dodges the quesiton. Fills it with alot of "Looky at what I did" None that even closes to begin to give experience for city council, or any other higher public office. Student council at UNCA is like being class president back in elementry school. Its joke . . .Just like our ENTIRE city Council and city leadership.

Going to School here doesnt make you a local either. This is why our City Council is a sad state of affairs, no "real" leaders no "Real" experience just a bunch of people that have no clue what the people "need", City NEEDS jobs, less tax on businesses, A FRIENDLY downtown to other business’s, the city DOESN’T need any more "Art". This town right now Would rather spend tax money on garbage art and fads, pouring endless funds into downtown fads and let the sidewalks go. Give money to "Artists" that actually no artistic talent and lay off and fire city and county employee’s. All for the sake of a fad, this town will stop wasting money when the locals relize they do out number the tragically hip and transplants that littler our fair city and vote for real leadership. A infrastructure that works, pass laws for districts for city council so that only one part of town doesnt rule the roost. Build side walks for its citizens to enjoy, provide safety in ALL parts of the CITY of Asheville. Beacause the city goes further then the tunnel, the bridge, Haywood Rd, and Grove Park, much further at that.

Just another unqualified Transplant, that thinks fuzzy feelings and Claiming to be diverse fixes an ENTIRE towns problem.

Reply
JBo August 28, 2009

Bryan – I did grow up here, just one more thing AVL Dweller & GreenAVL have little clue or factual info on. Not surprising.

Political Watcher- My political experience includes: serving in the US Congress for Charles Taylor, personally assisting Marie W Colton, serving as a successful Student Body VP & Pres of UNC-Asheville, and currently sitting on city committees such as the Public Art Board & DT Master Plan. This is more experience than several other ‘leading’ candidates.
.
Ash- not sure who you get your info from but next time email or better yet call me before you start spreading rumors. The lack of ‘journalism’ on this post dissapoints me. Normally this blog is trustworhty in intent & integrity. When I’m ready to make an announcement you’ll be sure to know.

Reply
mike August 28, 2009

@AshevilleDweller

Don’t know if she was born here, but she went to high school and college here. Left for a one-year Americorps VISTA assignment elsewhere, then returned home to Asheville.

Reply
beaverlake August 28, 2009

Attn City council

– Less Traffic calming – humps okay the other crap is a waste
-more $$ going into maintaining existing buildings (aka city hall and it’s need for 3 million cause the current city council could not budget for it)
– Remove all Speed bumps from state maintained roads (aka Zillicoa)
– side walk on lakeShore more important than side walk on beaverdam. More people walk/run on LakeShore than beaverdamn.. However side walks on edgewood would be nice for all the UNCA folks that walk too
– Need ordinance passed to prevent or disallow Telephone poles in the middle of a sidewalk (aka not wheel chair friendly / up and down merrimon)

Reply
Bryan Freeborn August 28, 2009

I thought Bowen grew up here.

Reply
greenashevilleblogspot.com August 28, 2009

oh, the drama – I can hear it now…

Reply
Asheville Dweller August 28, 2009

1 unqualified Asheville Transplant down . . .

Reply
Bryan Freebron August 28, 2009

Ash…good assessment of the line up and situation. If i remember correctly you’ve been dead on in the past with your predictions of the council races. Questions. Does Cape have a chance? Is she really running or just making a show? Is there room in the winner’s circle for both Bothwell and Smith?

Reply
Politics Watcher August 28, 2009

Did Jenny Bowen have any qualifications to be on City Council? Any political experience?

Reply