On Wednesday October 17th, Blue Ridge Public Radio and Mountain Xpress hosted a forum with the candidates for the District 2 seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. Republican Glenda Weinert and Democrat Amanda Edwards are running for the seat being vacated by Democrat Ellen Frost, who declined to run for re-election.
Early voting in North Carolina 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 the October 12th deadline can still vote but only during the early voting period. They will not be able to vote on Election Day.
0:00 - Introduction
1:01 - Opening statements
4:47 - What would you do as county commissioner to help restore faith and trust in Buncombe County government following the Wanda Greene scandal?
7:39 - What do you think of what commissioners have done already in the aftermath of the Greene scandal?
10:51 - District 2 is one of the most closely divided election districts in North Carolina (Republican commissioner Mike Fryar won by only 317 votes two years ago in District 2). How would this close split affect how you would served District 2 as commissioner?
13:55 - Do you support a binding committment to ensuring revenue raised by a sales tax approved by voters earlier this decade goes to its intended source AB Tech?
16:19 - What changes if any do you support in changes to benefits for county workers, specifically around leave time and bonuses which were found to be apart the Wanda Greene scandal?
19:48 - What would you do to increase the availability of affordable housing in your district?
22:34 - Women are running in record numbers across the U.S. in this election cycle. How did being a woman influence your decision to run for office?
24:57 - As a commissioner, what role do you believe the county board and county government can play in combating the opioid epidemic in the county?
27:47 - What is the biggest difference between you and your opponent?
30:40 - Closing statements