Asheville’s community leaders support Esther in her candidacy for City Council. This diverse group illustrates Esther’s broad backing and highlights her ability to work with all of our citizens to move our community forward on important issues such as economic and community development; multi-model transportation; sustainable, affordable tax rates; repairing critical public infrastructure; and fostering a business climate that grows quality jobs.

Early Voting Runs Through Saturday, October 31st

Board of Elections
189 College St.
Asheville, NC 28801
Time: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. weekdays October 15-30. 

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2009;
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 2009.

Esther Voting Early for the Asheville City Council General Election

Remote Voting Locations (October 24, 2009 – October 31, 2009 only):
North Asheville Branch Library
1030 Merrimon Ave.
Asheville, NC  28804
South Buncombe Branch Library
260 Overlook Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Dept Building
70 Gashes Creek Rd.
Asheville, NC  28805
West Asheville Branch Library
942 Haywood Rd.
Asheville, NC  28806

Remote Voting Locations Hours of Operation:
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2009 and October 26-30, 2009; ending Saturday, October 31, 2009, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

I want to preserve Asheville and maintain what brings us great quality of life and that’s community.  Asheville is unique in the way that we have a real inter-generational community where people genuinely interact with one another and care for one another.  But how is this preservation accomplished?  In many ways: Through controlled growth, by building greenways, bike lanes, and putting in all the infrastructure that gets people to turn off the TV, get out of their houses and interact with one another.  By supporting the arts, by continuing to support community-wide festivals and other cultural events.  And by supporting and respecting neighborhoods, each with its own community and particular concerns and needs.  Without this active preservation of our community, Asheville will go the way of what I call “generic USA” – strip malls, sprawl, etc.

With regard to development, I favor a system where, with the input of our citizens, the City codifies all the development standards we want and need to preserve Asheville.  These standards could include requirements regarding: height restrictions, green building standards, percentage of affordable housing in any project, impact fees that go to support sidewalks, greenways, etc., and other standards that we think are vital to preserving the Asheville we know and love.  Currently, these standards do not exist in the City’s ordinances.   Right now, projects over a certain size, go before council without being subject to specific standards.  Council must decide the fate of the project based on a standard that is more or less as follows:  “Is this project good for the City?”  This question is obviously answered differently by different people.  Developers try to sell their project by adding components that they hope are attractive to council, such as affordable housing.  However, there are  not specific requirements for affordable housing, height limitations, and other elements of the project.  I am proposing that the citizens decide now, through a public process, what those standards should be and then put those standards into law.  Developers who can meet these standards can do their project.  Under this system, citizens would maintain the right to appeal if they felt the standards were not being enforced or met.  This process allows everyone to have a clear understanding of the strict development guidelines and everyone will understand what they can expect from the process.  With strict development standards built into the zoning ordinances, citizens can be assured that future councils cannot stray from the rules we adopt today.

October 3, 2009
Meet and Greet the Candidates
Hosted by the Buncombe County Democratic Party
Location: Buncombe County Democratic Headquarters
951 Old Fairview Road
1:30-3:30
Cost: $25

October 6, 2009
THE PRIMARY
VOTE! at your local precinct

October 12, 2009
Kenilworth Candidate Forum
Location: Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 123 Kenilworth Road
6:00

October 13, 2009
Asheville City Council Candidate Forum
Hosted by Asheville Civitan Club
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, Downtown Asheville
Tuton Hall
12:00

October 13, 2009
Haw Creek Candidate Forum
Hosted by Haw Creek Homeowners’ Association
Location: Evergreen Community Charter School
50 Bell Road
6:00

October 14, 2009
Get There Asheville – Candidate Transit Forum
Location:  Asheville Design Center
8 College Street
6:00

October 15, 2009
West Asheville Business Association Candidate Forum
Location: West Asheville Library meeting room
942 Haywood Road
6:30

October 22, 2009
Council of Independent Business Owners’ Candidate Forum
Location: Magnolia’s Restaurant
12:00

October 22, 2009
WENOCA (Sierra Club) Candidate Forum
Location:  Jewish Community Center of Asheville
236 Charlotte Street
7:00

October 29, 2009
South Asheville Candidate Forum
Location and Time: TBA

November 3, 2009
THE GENERAL ELECTION!

For more information contact us at esther4asheville@gmail.com

GO VOTE and take a few friends with you…And remember to Vote for Esther.

Early Voting Runs Through – Saturday, October 3

Where: Buncombe County Election Services Office located downtown at 189 College Street.
Time: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.…m. Saturday, October 3rd, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Residents who are not registered to vote may still register and vote during the early voting period.

Early Voting for the Asheville Primary begins TODAY!

GO VOTE and take a few friends with you…And remember to Vote for Esther.

Esther voting on the first day of Asheville City Council primary early voting

Early Voting Runs from September 17th – Saturday, October 3

Email us esther4asheville@gmail.com to get your gear

]]> http://www.esther4asheville.com/2009/09/get-you-esther-4-asheville-campaign-gear/feed/ 0 http://www.esther4asheville.com/2009/09/wnc-for-change-town-hall-forum/ http://www.esther4asheville.com/2009/09/wnc-for-change-town-hall-forum/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:28:04 +0000 admin http://www.esther4asheville.com/?p=238

Where: 135 Hill St., Hill St. Baptist Church
When:  Thursday, September 3, 6:30 PM

WNC for Change made the following statement with regard to this forum:  “Our mission is to support local politics in-line with President Obama’s agenda. Our Board and Local Politics Committee created a questionnaire and invited all Asheville City Council official candidates to respond. After receiving the responses, our Board and Local Politics Committee reviewed each response and voted on whom to invite based on our mission.

Based on their responses, we have invited:
Cecil Bothwell
Esther Manheimer
Cesar Romero
Gordon Smith

For more information about WNC for Change, please see their website at www.wncforchange.com

Join Esther and her friends and family for some fun. Bring your kids for the opportunity to take enjoy the lighter side of life while getting to know Esther and more about how she will bring qualified leadership to Asheville City Council.

When: September 12, 2009
Where: Biltmore Park Clubhouse parking lot
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
What: Meet the Candidate and Get Out the Vote
Snacks, Bouncy Houses, and Face Painting
Free and Open to the Public

It’s official, I filed for the Asheville City Council Election on July 9th, 2009. Look for me on your ballot.

Primary Election: October 6th
Vote Early: September 17th-October 3rd
General Election: November 3rd
Vote Early: October 15th-31th