THE SIERRA CLUB 2007 QUESTIONNAIRE
1) Would you like your candidacy to be endorsed by the Sierra Club and why?
I perceive myself to be a fair minded moderate running an independent campaign for City Council. I need all the help and support I can get because I am not running with the benefit of party support in this election. I look forward to our conversation. It was one of the most enjoyable moments of the last campaign for me.
2) How do you plan to win the election, and what resources do you expect to have available to your campaign? How do you plan to raise funds?
I plan to make my views know to the electorate and hopefully they will identify and agree with my positions on a variety of issues. That way I will be able to win votes. Like most viable "independent" candidates, I am a successful businessman in the community and if my campaign fails to raise significant funds through donations, I have personal resources I can commit to getting my message out.
3) Are you a member of the Sierra Club or any other environmental group?
Just as last time, my efforts at public service are centered in other areas. I remain committed to the idea that maintaining the environment and quality of life in this area is good business, as well as morally justified. That does not mean that I think that environmental issues are any less important to the overall welfare of the community, it just means that my strengths and talents have been better used elsewhere.
4) What environmental issues have you been involved with? Did you achieve any success?
The Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (I was a founding member and first president) has explored the possibility of composting waste from our restaurants and using the fertilizers produced to help the wine industry in North Carolina. The pressure of other interests has kept that initiative on the back burner for the Association and I do not consider it a success.
5) What do you anticipate will be the most important environmental issue you will face if elected? What actions do you plan to take to address this issue? Do you think it is important to engage ordinary citizens in your efforts? How would you do this?
The most important environmental issue facing this area is the fact that Asheville is the number one commuter city in the state. Every morning our population increases by more than 50% (72,000 at 7:00 am to 112,000 +/- at 9:00 am) as people drive to work inside the city limits. The primary reason for that is the farther we travel from the city limits, the more affordable the housing becomes. The most effective way to engage the citizenry is to make living inside the city limits more desirable and more affordable. (This is also the number one economic concern facing the city/region by the way. It offers a tremendous opportunity for collaboration between two groups that have been traditionally in opposition with one another). Addressing housing concerns is the key issue in all of this. We cannot have effective, efficient mass transportation without "masses". We cannot have "masses" without making it more desirable to live, as well as work, inside the city limits.
6) Do you consider urban sprawl to be an issue in Asheville and if so what would you do to minimize it?
Referring to the above question, clearly I see this as a major concern. That is why I am on record voting for tall, infill development in downtown Asheville. I believe that all the commercial corridors that feed Asheville should be explored for "mixed use" zoning in order to encourage residential development along roads that are already served by our bus system. This was successfully done in Arlington, VA to reduce a "commuter" mentality. Lastly, I believe that there are several ways to offer incentives to contractors and builders which would encourage accessibly priced housing options inside the city limits.
7) How would you protect open space in Asheville & Buncombe County?
See the above answer, in part. I think finding ways to finance parks and greenways is important. I would like to see the Wilma Dikeman plan financed. I also believe that a unified city/county Parks and Recreation Department would lead to cost savings and a more co-coordinated approach to this issue.
8) Given the rapid rate of development in the Asheville area, how would you deal with the problems of building on steep slopes? Do you believe the steep slope ordinance adopted by city council and Buncombe County is strong enough?
I think we need good models of development and we need to look at our successes as well as our failures to guide us in these issues. I don't know if the current ordinance is strong enough or not because I do not have any "context" in which to evaluate it. For example, during the discussions leading up to the passing of the ordinance, I suggested that we find an existing, "successful" steep slope development in the area that we could all agree on. That we lay the proposed ordinances down on that topography and see what would happen. That way we could gauge whether or not the proposed ordinances were too strict or too lenient. My suggestion was not implemented. Until we, as a community do something like that, all of these discussions are matters of opinion and basically "hypothetical".
9) Are you aware of the energy legislation passed by NC General Assembly this year? (bills S3, S670 and S668) What is your position on these bills and what do they mean to citizens of Asheville?
I am not aware of these two bills and thus I can't comment. Hopefully, you will be able to help me with my education.
10) Asheville City Council has done a great deal regarding public transportation. Do you think it's effective and do we need more? What are your ideas on alternative transportation, e.g. bike paths?
I think the increased efforts on the part of the public transportation department concerning the bus lines have been helpful. I supported and encouraged the extension of the hours of operation of the bus lines. I didn't believe that the original hours of operation made the bus service a viable alternative for second and third shift workers. I think we may need to extend those hours even further. I am still not convinced that bike paths will ever be a viable transportation option in this area, other than for the young. I think the topography of the area limits the use of this option when it comes to our older citizens.
11) What are your views on "new urbanism"?
I'm not familiar with the term. I've been out of college for some time and I look forward to familiarizing myself with the concept.
12) Do you think Asheville's storm water and erosion regulations function well and are adequately enforced? Are there enough personnel to adequately monitor environmental regulations?
No and No.
13) Given that Global Climate Change is with us, Asheville City council has adopted a number of energy policies including: Cities for Climate Protection, reduction of Asheville's carbon emissions by 80%, adoption of LEED Gold Standard for green building, and becoming a "Cool City". Are you familiar with these programs and what other measures would you propose to reduce our carbon footprint? What can we learn from other cities that have taken up the challenge of climate change?
See above answers concerning sprawl etc. I am in support of the "green" roof on the civic center. My understanding is that Colban Company in Enka is a world wide expert in "green" roof technology. I would strongly support learning from ourselves before we seed responsibility for our future to other "municipalities".
14) In passing the Clean Smokestacks Bill we have made progress in cleaning up our air. Yet every summer we have hazy days and code yellow and orange days. What other things can we do to make our air cleaner and improve visibility for residents and tourists in WNC? Are you aware of the health risks of high levels of ozone in the air?
Referring to my earlier answers, I believe the best answer to this issue is make Asheville proper a more accessible, desirable place to live and thus reduce the amount of commuting into our city. We need to grow in and up to accomplish this. I would like to see us do a better job laying the ground work necessary to make alternative energy options available and functional.
