Who’s running for Asheville City Council? Looks like a blogger, a Bothwell and a businessman

A forum post over at Mountain Xpress sheds some light on who’s lining up to run for Asheville City Council later this year.

The forum post notes that several potential candidates have filed paperwork setting up their election committees. The filing period for candidates to declare themselves doesn’t actually open up until July, but it’s never too early to start speculating. The four seats up this year are those of Mayor Terry Bellamy and council members Robin Cape, Kelly Miller and Carl Mumpower.

The early paperwork shows that newly appointed council member Miller, the vice president/executive director of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, has organized a committee. It should be interesting to watch him launch a campaign. An early campaign issue for Miller is clear — he wants to fight graffiti. 

Bellamy announced last year her intention to run for re-election. She’s a dogged campaigner who now has some seasoning under her belt. She’ll be tough to beat. Who will challenge her? Councilman Carl Mumpower, might be a potential contender, but that’s just a guess.

I’m assuming Cape will run for re-election, but haven’t heard anything definitive from her camp. Cape will be called by progressives to a more detailed accounting of why she voted to appoint Miller to the board.

Speaking of progressives, Cecil Bothwell, the former Mountain Xpress reporter and unsuccessful candidate for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners last year, is already advertising his campaign for City Council. Bothwell came extremely close to breaking into the winner’s circle last year and will likely run a tough campaign later this year.

Then there’s blogger extraordinaire Gordon Smith, of www.scrutinyhooligans.com. Smith filed the paperwork for “The Committee to Elect Gordon Smith” one month ago.

Gordon is one of the most well-known political bloggers in Western North Carolina and beyond, and he’s worked behind the scenes for other politicians. Last year, Smith coordinated the volunteers of Holly Jones, the former councilwoman who won a seat on the county Board of Commissioners. Smith’s blog is currently sporting one of Bothwell’s political ads. So Smith has the connections and know-how. Can he translate that into a seat? We’ll see.

Finally, there’s wild card Councilman Mumpower, whom I mentioned earlier. Mumpower’s seat is up for election, and there’s some talk that he might challenge for mayor. If Mumpower runs, expect another colorful campaign, such as the one he ran last year against U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler.