Asheville News

Word on the street: Cecil Bothwell considering taking on Shuler in Democratic primary, rather than running unaffiliated

Jason Sandford April 17, 2011

Jason Sandford

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

I’ve been hearing more and more buzz that Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell, who has declared his intention to run against U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler in WNC’s 11th District, is considering taking on Shuler in the Democratic primary in next year’s election.

Bothwell said a couple of weeks ago on the Scrutiny Hooligans blog that he planned to run as an unaffiliated candidate. Bothwell, a registered Democrat who won election in City Council’s nonpartisan elections, said he wanted to run as an independent to talk about his ideas and to avoid any undue influence from the Democratic Party at the national level.

But supporters of Bothwell, a progressive Democrat, are tired of Shuler’s brand of conservative Democrat politics and want Bothwell to take him on in a primary. Doing so would save the Bothwell a ton of work, because running unaffiliated means a significant petition drive to get thousands of signatures just to get on the ballot. Campaign supporters have also noted a bit of history: no independent candidate has ever run successfully for congress in the mountain’s 11th District.

There’s still plenty of time for Bothwell to decide, and it’s an important strategic decision. We’ll keep an eye on it.

Jason Sandford

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

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10 Comments

Msgt Michael, USA, Ret. April 24, 2011

running unaffiliated means a significant petition drive to get thousands of signatures just to get on the ballot. Where do I go to sign the petition?

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Dick April 18, 2011

Chad Nesbitt 2012

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Scott April 18, 2011

The Republicans are licking their chops over this. A Bothwell win would surely hand this seat back over to the Republicans. I can promise you that they (Republicans) won't offer up another milktoast candidate like Miller again.

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Asheville Dweller April 18, 2011

Sad that Bothwell Thinks the 11th district is only downtown asheville, Hes in for a rude awaking with those other "pesky" Counties.

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Murphy April 18, 2011

… your right Brother JIm … anything to win ….

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Watching April 17, 2011

Q-Bothwell stands for BIG government. If you think the Tea Party will support him, you're as delusional as he is.

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QMarkJones April 17, 2011

Bothwell appeals to Libertarians, Tea Partiests (revoke corporate citizenship), and disenfranchised voters. He will win. Watch.

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Brother Jim April 17, 2011

Can't wait for the announcement that Bothwell has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.

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Ron April 17, 2011

The only reason Shuler hangs on in this district is because he's a conservative Democrat. A liberal atheist??? C'mon. This guy's ass is being pumped full of sunshine by a teeny, tiny minority of misfits.

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D April 17, 2011

Bothwell is dreaming. This district is not as radically liberal as his base in Asheville.

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