Ashvegas has barely detoxified from the November elections, but we’re political junkies and we need a fix. And it’s a new year. So we’re going to kick off a mini-series looking at who might make news on the political scene in 2007.
Let’s start with Ashvegas City Council. As y’all know, we’ll have three seats up for election this year – the seats now held by Bryan “Freebie” Freeborn, Carl “the Power of Mum” Mumpower and Jan Davis Tire Brownie Newman.
Freeborn, as you recall, has never been elected to anything. City Council appointed him to his current seat to fill the remaining two years of once-council member Terry Bellamy, who won the mayoral seat. Freeborn finished just out of the money, started whining that he deserved the seat, and council gave it to him.
Freeborn will certainly be targeted. He’s kept up the whining and the power plays (can you say “Ashvegas Airport Authority?), something that’s gotten on more than just our nerves. He’ll need the same smart campaign team he put together last time, plus a lot more votes, to remain on council.
Speaking of petulance, Mumpower’s got no shortage in that department. Just witness his latest e-mail exchange with the city manager and city police chief, action that MountainX recently blogged. Mumpower definitely has ambitions for higher office (state House, maybe congress?). As council’s Republican naysayer, he’s carved a niche and gotten a lot of attention, which translates into votes. But he needs to keep his eyes on the current prize.
Davis, as far as we can tell, will seek re-election. As the carrier of the Civic Center albatross, he’ll need to show some movement on that front or he could be facing an uphill climb.
What to say about Brownie? He’ll probably win again. The city seems to be leaning more toward his kind of progressive politics right now, and he hasn’t done anything to really outrage people.
Who else might run? We have no idea, but we’ll throw out some names to get the party started: Alice Oglesby, another West Ashvegas activist, has been talked about as a potential candidate; Chris Pelly, the Haw Creek neighborhood activist who ran a tough race but still fell short two years ago, will probably seek a little payback; same goes for Keith Thomson, who ran last time but didn’t pull it off.
Other past candidates we could see again: no-chance-in-hell Jan Howard, restaurant owner Dwight Butner, and sistah Selina Sullivan. We also think Heather Rayburn should stop running her mouth and start running for council. The same for eternal gadfly Fred English, who ran a few years ago.
As usual, we want to know your thoughts, your ideas, your rumors. Pass it along, sheeple.
4 Comments
Thank you Selina. And good luck.
Please note that the third seat up for re-election belongs to Brownie Newman. And I must say that with the issues in our city that continue to be "talked over", I am passionate about running for Council to win this time.
My last run was to uncover some issues and hold individuals who run for public office accountable. You must be able to critically think in this leadership position and have vision!! You must listen to the concerns of all citizens, and yes, even those who don’t agree with you. There can not be hidden agenda’s and decisions must be made for the good of the whole, no matter who threatens you or blows a gasket.
I believe I have the drive, the time, and the dedication to fight to see Asheville become what it has the potential to be. A Stellar City for all who reside. See, the reputation of a place is only as good as the condition of the people that make it up. So yes, sistah Selina will become one of the newest City Council members because it’s time to handle business.
For the life of me, I cannot figure this guy Freebie out. For a "progressive" he sure says some pretty christo-fascist things.
I think he is toast.
Yes, Heather Rayburn should run!
I think Chris Pelly should just give it up already. How many times has he run now?
I also agree that Freebie has an uphill battle. He’s more hype than happening.