Ashvegas political update

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The Buncombe County Sheriff’s race

Looks the High Sheriff’s staying put, after all. I wrote earlier (click “Ashvegas politics” link at bottom of post) about talk that the Buncombe County Sheriff was going to step down because of ailing health, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Here’s why:

Nobody could get behind the new guy the sheriff wanted, Capt. Stafford. Stafford, a registered Democrat, went so far as to change his registration to Republican to get in line (the High Sheriff is a Republican), but the party didn’t get behind the choice.

So the High Sheriff decided to stay put.

Stafford would have been a decent choice as an appointee. Not sure he could get elected on his own. A couple of people have already started getting their name out there as possible candidates to run for sheriff next year.

Here’s a guy a lot of people apparently like. Van Duncan is a Democrat. I’ve heard his name a bit, but I’m not sure what he’s all about. I’ll work on learning more.

Ashvegas mayor

The jockeying continues for Ashvegas mayor. Candidates will file for office this summer, with the election in November.

So far, it’s the usual scenario – a bunch of egomaniacs already on council expressing their desire to run, even though the Ashvegas system doesn’t give the mayor any more power than other councilmen. Here was last year’s crop. The highlight of the race was the mudslinging, with the muck sticking to Brian Peterson, a guy who liked to take prostitutes to the Biltmore McDonald’s.

The Power of Mum continues to be most outspoken voice on the water negotiations. He’s not accomplishing anything except being a stick in the aforementioned mud. But I guess that’s his strategy.

Terry “Which way is the wind Blowin'” Bellamy is dying to be mayor, but she hasn’t got enough widespread support. She’s working on it, but last time she ran, she had too many advisors in her ear. She tried to please everyone, and ended up pleasing none. As I say to all politicians – pack your moral compass and stick to it!

Mayor Charlie Worley wants it again. The guy ran twice before winning. Then he spent an unthinkable $120,000 for his victory. Now he wants to run again? He’s shown no leadership during his tenure. Zero on the Civic Center, the water negotiations, etc.

The name I’m most interested in, which I’ve just heard, is Patsy Keever. Formerly of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Keever ran a spirited campaign last year for U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor’s 11th Congressional District seat.

By spirited, I mean she was well-funded and held a lot of “kitchen table talks.” She so convinced herself, and her supporters, that she was going to win that she called Taylor’s people on Election Day to be sure that Taylor had her cell number so he could call to concede.

Keever got drilled.

Still, in a city election, Keever could do well. Ashvegas is a liberal island that seems to be growing more liberal. In the mold of Mayor Leni Sitnick, she could pull together the North Asheville Dem base while still appealing to more conservative types in other parts of town.

We’ll keep the watch on. Candidates file in August.