Anyone interested in preserving democracy in Asheville should immediately demand that City Council abandon the move to make our city elections partisan affairs. What this motion will do is effectively shut out citizens from voting in primary elections unless they pledge allegiance to either corporate duopoly party. As it stands, any citizen can weed out prospective Council members in general primary elections, regardless of political affiliation, as it should be. The only purpose this antidemocratic proposal will ultimately serve is to concentrate more power in fewer hands and further disenfranchise our citizens from an erstwhile system of self-governance. It will limit participation, choice and competition.
It would behoove the Council members who are behind this ill-conceived plot to recognize that many people who voted them into office did so not because they love the Democratic Party, but based on their would-be individual platforms.
There is nothing “progressive” about this power grab whatsoever. It is a naked, self-serving effort. It insults the intelligence of our community for any Council member to explain this move in any other way. What a waste of taxpayer time and resources to even be considering this issue. And it is not ironic that Democratic Council members are pushing this agenda. It is anecdotal. And it is a profound disgrace.
— Eamon Martin
Asheville
