We’ve had a couple of days to digest the results of the Tuesday primary election, and while we’re not ready to make this our official prediction thread, we are going to firmly posit that candidate Bill Russell could be our newest Ashvegas City Council member.
On Tuesday, Russell made the cut with incuments Jan Davis, Bryan Freeborn and Brownie Newman, as well as Dwight Butner and Elaine Lite. Davis, Newman and Freeborn finished as the top three, with Lite hot on Freeborn’s heels and Russell coming in fifth and Butner sixth.
History would tell us that the top three finishers in the primary will finish as the top three in November. The difference this year is the strong challenge from Lite and the referendum on the ballot asking voters if they want city elections to be partisan or non-partisan affairs. The referendum came about after a petition drive that energized more than 5,000 registered city voters to sign.
Those two factors have somewhat overshadowed Russell, an attractive candidate to the Council of Independent Business Owners in particular and Republican voters in general. He’s inexperienced, which could be considered a plus or a minus, and on the stump he’s rather soft-spoken and bland. Yet he did well in his first-ever run.
Lite, who has received the most attention of any of the newcomer candidates, will come under more scrutiny in the next few weeks and will likely be the target of more attack ads. As she and Freeborn fight it out, we could see Russell sneaking in to snag that third seat.
Russell will need to spend more money, be more active on the campaign trail and be more forceful to pull off a win. But he’s certainly the candidate to watch these next few weeks.
11 Comments
No, Gordon. Elaine is not right. She is left, definitely very left. Bill is right, definitely right for Asheville. And by the way, that N.C. Realtor PAC donation information seems to be the only argument that you have. Maybe Elaine’s steep slope people are her supporters because they already have their homes on steep slopes and want to shut the door for anyone else.
Gordon…we should talk sometime & have a cup of coffee. You seem to know a lot about me according to your blogs and I thought you might want to really get to know me. Email me or call me. Let’s talk. -Bill
John Warren evidently has some sort of psychic depth stick not available to the average bear.
I think both Russell and LIte have deep understandings of the issues. It’s just that I think Russell’s are wrong and Elaine’s are right.
If you think that our progressive city council is on the right track but needs to shake the inertia of the go-along-to-get-along attitude of the candidates supported by the real estate developers and Republicans, then it’s simple to see how this election breaks down.
Progressives and Democrats – Newman, Lite, and Freeborn.
Butner bailed on the Democrats, Davis is getting his scratch from Realtors, Developers, and Republicans, and Russell is ready to look the other way.
did you know he had the serious hots for Charu Kumarhia – of WLOS fame??
he asked her out – i don’t think they ever did date though…
Bill Russell, because an Army of Mum needs help.
I’ve got my eye on you boy.
What is it they say about people who point with their middle finger????
Great blog! BILL RUSSELL FOR CITY COUNCIL!!!!
I agree with you on this one Ash.
When people look at the ballot, and see the Independent Primary being voted on, it will bring back a LOT of bad feelings against Freeborn (Brownie is fairly well liked and will probably be fine).
And Russel seems like a decent, well educated guy.
Lite will get smeared in campaign ads, Freeborn will get burned when the independent voters finally show up for the REAL election, and Russel will just sit back, campaign, and breeze on by them.
Plus, let us remember an even better historical fact: Freeborn has never won an election.
It’s important for progressives and other Democrats to notice who’s supporting Russell, Davis, and Butner in this race. The NC Realtors PAC is supporting all three. Davis’ biggest contributor is Jerry Sternberg, infamous "private property"/anti-zoning personality, and Carl Mumpower has also donated to Davis’ campaign.
If you’re a progressive, and you vote for Jan Davis, you’re voting for the candidate supported by Big Development and Republicans.
I imagine quite a lot of Democratic voters will see that Davis is, as far as real estate developers and Republicans are concerned, a favorite to be lumped in with Russell and Butner. Davis is going to lose a lot of D voters over the next month.
I’m voting Newman, Lite, Freeborn because I want to see our progressive policies continued and expanded upon. Davis isn’t the guy to do it.
Russel, like Lite, will not hold up to the increased focus of the next month. They are not deep enough with their understanding of the issues. Davis, Freeborn, and Newman will become the clear choice for voters. I did not see from Freeborn the effort that I saw in the 05 primary. He did have a much broader base of support in this primary apposed to the 05 one. I imagine he will widen the gap in the general election.
Who knew PJ O’Rourke was running for council in Ashvegas!