Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Election Day is Tuesday, if anyone in Ashvegas is paying attention this Memorial Day weekend. It’s a run-off between Walt Robertson and Van Duncan to find out which Democrat will go up against Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford in November.
It’s a quiet race for a paltry number of votes. Turnout in the May primary was so low it was embarrassing, and Tuesday’s turnout will be even lower. But it’s an important race for an important, high-profile position.
Let’s look at the candidates’ strategies.
Robertson appears to really be working the Ashvegas precincts, where he’s got strength among African-American voters. He’s picked up endorsements, too. The Mayor of Ashvegas, Terry Bellamy, has endorsed Robertson. Ultra-liberals Robin Cape and Bryan Freeborn of Ashvegas City Council have endorsed Robertson. One City Council liberal conspicously absent from the endorsement list – Councilwoman Holly Jones. Where is Jones on this?
Meantime, Duncan has worked every other county precinct. His strength lies with voters outside the city. We haven’t seen any endorsements for Duncan, but he’s run his campaign as the candidate of the old guard Democratic Party.
Duncan’s strategy is the better one for victory over Medford in November, though in past years, Democrats for county-wide office have been successful by running strongly in city precincts and picking up some support outside. Duncan must get out and enliven support across the county if he has any chance of overcoming Medford’s strong base of support.
So, yes – the Tuesday election will be a yawner. But Ashvegas will stick with its initial prediction – Van Duncan wins by a whisper.
