On Tuesday October 16th, Blue Ridge Public Radio and the Asheville Citizen-Times hosted a forum with the candidates for the District 3 seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Republican incumbent Robert Pressley and Democrat Donna Ensley took part in the forum. Pressley was first elected to the board in 2016.
Early voting in North Carolina starts Wednesday October 17th and runs until November 3rd. You can find a polling place near you here. Election Day is November 6th. Those who did not register to vote by last week's deadline can still vote but only during the early voting period. They will not be able to vote on Election Day.
0:00 - Introduction
1:02 - Opening statements
5:39 - What will you do to restore faith and trust in Buncombe County government in the aftermath of the Wanda Greene scandal?
8:47 - How do you think commissioners have handled the aftermath and fallout from the scandal thus far?
11:35 - Recent reporting by the Citizen-Times shows that portions of revenue from a sales tax increase approved by voters earlier this decade specifically for construction at AB Tech has instead been used to balance the county budget. What are your thoughts on this, and are commissioners responsible for keeping promises made to taxpayers of this nature?
15:30 - What role do you believe the board of commissioners should play in combating the opioid crisis in Buncombe County?
17:54 - What challenges are specific to District 3, and how you would advocate to fix those as a commissioner?
21:34 - What are your thoughts on school resource officers and what do you believe is necessary for school safety?
24:46 - In general, what is your philosophy on development and what role should commissioners play in handling, restricting, or promoting development in Buncombe County?
28:17 - What do you see as the biggest difference between you and your opponent?
31:02 - Closing statements