School’s almost out. The rain has stopped (at least temporarily) and the sun is shining. It feels like summer. So it seems as good a time as any to check in on Asheville City Council elections. Candidates can’t actually start filing for the elections until July 6, but there’s lots going on.
The Mountain Xpress reports that Asheville City Councilwoman Robin Cape will not seek re-election, and will not run for mayor. That means her seat is wide open. The seats held by councilman Kelly Miller and Carl Mumpower are also up for re-election, and as far as I know, both men are planning to seek re-election.
Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy is also up for re-election. Nobody has officially stepped forward to challenge her, although I blogged recently that the heavy rumor was that Vice Mayor Jan Davis was considering a challenge. There’s no requirement on council that Davis give up his seat to run for mayor, so if he lost, he would still be on council. If he won, council would appoint his replacement.
The big buzz this week is being generated by Esther Mannheimer, who plans to officially launch her candidacy for council on Thursday with a little party. She came to the forefront last year, when she threw her name in the ring and applied to be appointed to council to fill the seat being vacated by Holly Jones, who won election to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Miller got the nod, but lots of folks were interested in Manheimer. (Her statement of organization filed with Board of Elections.)
Esther joined Van Winkle in 2002. Her practice focuses on civil litigation and transactional support with a concentration on land use law. She spent her first four years after law school as an attorney for the North Carolina General Assembly, serving a number of committees as committee counsel. Among those were the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary and Utilities Committees. She also served on a number of special legislative committees including Utility Deregulation and Legislative Redistricting.
Manheimer’s connections to the prestigious local law firm, and her general experience as a lawyer and working for the General Assembly, make her one strong candidate. But does anybody really know who she is? What she stands for?
Meantime, newcomer Gordon Smith has been attacking his first run for political office with the tactical precision of a battlefield commander who has no intention of leaving any stone unturned in his bid to win. He’s assembled a strong team of workers and volunteers. He’s been holding a series of weekly meetings to talk policy and drink beer. He’s been canvassing with computer-generated lists of voters. He’s been raising money. But summer’s a long way away from November. Will he burn himself out?
Cecil Bothwell is the other strong candidate that’s already put together a campaign and is planning for a win. The former Mountain Xpress editor/reporter came close to winning his first bid for public office in last year’s Buncombe County commissioners election, and his chances have to be stronger in a city-wide race vs. a county-wide one. I’ve read less about the nuts and bolts of Bothwell’s campaign, but he’s a smart man that knows how to connect with Asheville. Will it be his progressive voice that rises above the rest for a win later this year?
In other news, I see that J. Neal Jackson has filed a statement saying he plans to run for City Council. Anybody know anything about Mr. Jackson?
So much can change over the next five months. We’ll just have to keep watching. Meantime, anybody have any thoughts, or news, about the upcoming City Council elections?
14 Comments
Juma has a problem with police, he apparently does not like them in his store, tells then they are trespassing and to leave, what does he have to hide?
Does J. Neal also go by ‘Juma’ – because if so we took the Asheville Citizen’s Academy together last Spring. I have to say that he was one of the shining stars of the group, a real pleasure to work with and very interested in the issues. As a charismatic young man who gets things done, he’s got a lot going for him & represents some important aspects that need be be addressed both in a campaign and on council. Hat’s off & good luck to him.
In response to RHS – I saw the same thing on Esther’s website. She’s got the support of the Jewish Community, the Law-Firm community, and the Chris Peterson crowd. Other than that I didn’t see much in the way of service & community contact, although she has worked heavily with Pisgah Legal Services which counts for something. She’s got the money as one can see from her list of supporters, but does she have the walk & the talk to back it?
Because of my father I learned how to take a dream and turn it into a plan. Because of J. Neal Jackson I learned how to take a plan and turn it into reality. Your Chariot Awaits probably would have remained a dream and a wish if it weren’t for J. Neal. He listened to my idea, and encouraged me to do something about it. Look out Asheville!
Correction: He has two daughters, and a wonderful supporting women. He is a family man.
Don’t see much at Esther Mannheimer’s web site about what she stands for, but I do see that she has the support of Jerry Sternberg, Albert Sneed, and Chris Peterson — a who’s who of the anything goes wing of developers in Asheville.
Pass.
It should also be noted that Brother Christopher is planning on a write-in candidacy as well.
Your mother just called and told us to check out the blogs, We are so PROUD of you back here in Greensboro. You have always been a go getter just like your mother. So I expect you to give it your all and work hard on this campaign. Let us know when you have a fund raiser. We love you
Well son I see you are about to do it again. I remember when you made up your mind to run for Student Body President at Page High School. No one could stop you, and as always you did your best. You then became Page first Black Student Body President and I was so proud. I will never forget your speech, God, it brought tears to my eyes. It was then that I knew whatever you set your mind to do, whoever was on the other side was in for it. Good luck Baby, and we will be praying for you.
Your mother just called and told us to check out the blogs, We are so PROUD of you back here in Greensboro. You have always been a go getter just like your mother. So I expect you to give it your all and work hard on this campaign. Let us know when you have a fund raiser. We love you
I just received a call and someone told me to check out this site, and look who’s running for City Council. Congrat J. Neal it’s been along time coming. Hope you win, this city needs some new ideas. Let me know when you have a fund raiser.
Thanks, someone.
I just read the news, and news it is. J. Neal Jackson running for City council; man Asheville is about to really see some changes now. Have you every heard Mr. Jackson speak? He is the MAN. Go J. Neal, you have my VOTE.
I know J. Neal Jackson, he was born and raised in Greensboro NC. He’s a former student of UC Irvine, he now owns a convience store in downtown Asheville NC. He has a daughter, and one sister. His mother along with the rest of his family still resides in Greensboro NC. He really enjoy helping people, and he knows history like the back of his hand. The color of a person skin means nothing to him, if you will listen, he will talk. I think Asheville is in for a TREAT.
Thank you, Kora!
You can take a look at Esther’s website to find out who she is and what she stands for here: http://www.esther4asheville.com