Charles Taylor Age: 65Residence: BrevardOccupation: member of CongressEducation: B.A., J.D., Wake Forest Univ.: bachelors, 1963, jurist doctor, 1966Party: RepublicanPolitical experience: N.C. House 1966-72; N.C. Senate 1973-90; U.S. House of Representatives 1991-present 1. What should Congress do about the federal budget deficit, which has been running at historic highs? Last year the House Appropriations Committee reduced … Read more
Charles Thomas Age: 34Residence: Buncombe CountyOccupation: Financial adviserEducation: B.A. government, Wofford CollegeParty: RepublicanPolitical experience: no previous elected office 1. What was the best piece of legislation the General Assembly passed last session? Why? While no single piece of legislation stands out, there were several notable accomplishments. HB 248 strengthened our drug laws. Legislation was passed … Read more
Doug Jones Age: 29Residence: North AshevilleOccupation: public-school teacherEducation: B.A. history, UNCA; M.S. Scottish history, Univ. of Edinburgh; M.A. constitutional studies, ASUParty: DemocratPolitical experience: activist and campaign volunteer in Buncombe County off and on since 1996; Democratic precinct officer and chairman since 2002; chairman, Buncombe County Young Democrats, 2002-05; Democratic nominee for N.C. House, 2004 and … Read more
Eric Gorny Age: 35Residence: SwannanoaOccupation: self-employed tile-setterEducation: B.A. history, UNCAParty: RepublicanPolitical experience: activist for 7 years 1. What was the best piece of legislation the General Assembly passed last session? Why? Requiring our public-school classrooms to have a U.S. and N.C. flag. Children are also to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. I believe … Read more
Martin Nesbitt Age: 60Residence: AshevilleOccupation: attorneyEducation: B.A., UNC-Chapel Hill, 1970; J.D., UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law, 1973Party: DemocratPolitical experience: N.C. House 1970-94, 1996-2003; N.C. Senate 2004-present 1. What was the best piece of legislation the General Assembly passed last session? Why? Funding for the mental-health-reform package. 2. What was the worst piece of legislation? Why? … Read more
Mike Harrison Age: 60Residence: BarnardsvilleOccupation: Col. (Ret.), U.S. Army; executive management consultant, IBM, small farmerEducation: B.A., Florida State; M.A., Central Michigan Univ.Party: RepublicanPolitical experience: Congressional liaison officer; candidate for Buncombe Board of Commissioners, 2004 1. What was the best piece of legislation the General Assembly passed last session? Why? Legislation that tightened restrictions on sexual … Read more
R.L. Clark Age: 75Residence: AshevilleOccupation: president, Walnut Cash & Carry, Inc.Education: B.A., Western Carolina College; M.A. education, WCUParty: RepublicanPolitical experience: N.C. State Senate 1995-96, 1997-98 1. What was the best piece of legislation the General Assembly passed last session? Why? Legislation providing additional funding for low-wealth county schools. Prevented schools being closed! 2. What was … Read more
Susan Fisher Age: 51Residence: West AshevilleOccupation: legislatorEducation: B.A. Univ. of Maryland; also attended Mars Hill CollegeParty: DemocratPolitical experience: N.C. House 2003-present; Asheville School Board, 8 years total, 4 as chair; former president, Asheville-Buncombe League of Women Voters 1. What was the best piece of legislation the General Assembly passed last session? I am very proud … Read more
Van Duncan Age: 42Residence: Erwin HillsOccupation: instructor/coordinator at N.C. Justice AcademyEducation: B.S. criminal justice, WCU; Administrative Officers Management Program, N.C. StateParty: DemocratPolitical experience: first run for public office 1. What are the pros and cons of maintaining the department’s sizeable force of auxiliary deputies? Qualified reserve officers can be a tremendous asset to any department, … Read more
“The WNC census data I studied showed that between 1949 and 2001, 72 percent of what was considered farmland was converted to commercial or residential development.” — Phillip Gibson, Environmental Leadership Center Buncombe’s changing face: This sequence of GIS maps, prepared by Neil Thomas of Resource Data Inc., reveals development patterns in the county from … Read more
