Buncombe County Commission Scorecard
Submitted by Gordon Smith on Mon, 03/05/2007 - 9:30pm
Nathan Ramsey, Chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, recently broke the rules of order to allow a Progress Energy representative unlimited time to speak. Ramsey's petulant disrespect for those who signed up hours earlier to have three minutes of floor time is stunning in its arrogance.
Bill Stanley, County Commissioner, sat in back-room negotiations with Progress Energy for two years without approaching the hundreds of alternative energy entrepreneurs and researchers in this area to ask for healthy energy solutions.
Carol Peterson, County Commissioner and wife of Congressman Heath Shuler's District Director Bruce Peterson, also sat in on the secret meetings. She also chose not to consult with area experts on alternative energies. Mrs. Peterson prefers polluting our air to talking to progressives. She lined up with the Commission's Republicans and will need to change her position or receive a very public rebuke.
David Young, County Commissioner and rumored candidate for Liddy Dole's Senate seat, was not, so far as Hooligans know, involved in the back room dealing with Progress Energy. Despite this, he voted with Ramsey, Stanley, and Peterson. His unwillingness to ask questions about this subversion of the democratic process puts him in the role of yes-man and/or limp noodle.
David Gantt, County Commissioner and rumored candidate for Chair, also voted for the deal despite, to our knowledge, being shut out of the secret backroom negotiations. He has not demonstrated any sort of leadership on this matter. That being said, he may be the commissioner most willing to recognize his error and move to rescind or postpone granting the lease to Progress Energy.
Please write to the commissioner(s) of your choice today and/or send a letter to the editors of our fine mountain publications.
Nathan Ramsey, Chairman
(828) 768-3216 nathan.ramsey@buncombecounty.org
David Gantt
(828) 252-2852 commissioner@davidgantt.com
Bill Stanley
(828) 250-4007 bill.stanley@buncombecounty.org
Carol Peterson
(828) 250-4005 carol.peterson@buncombecounty.org
David Young
(828) 274-2555 davidy@fugazync.com
Asheville Citizen-Times
letters@citizen-times.com
Mountain Express
letters@mountainx.com
Asheville Daily Planet
news@ashevilledailyplanet.com
Asheville Tribune
tribuneeditor@bellsouth.net
Thanks for getting involved!
(c/p@scruhoo)
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Seems like a war a brewing
This is one of those times I wish I were an independently wealthy lawyer. I'd find a way to sue the hell out of anybody even remotely associated with this affront.
Take 'em to the woodshed, Screwy. They need to change this vote. All you need is one person who voted for it to have it reconsidered.
One person.
What does Easley's office have to say about this?
How can he try to sue western states for polluting our mountains and allow this?
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Progressive Discussions
Yes
There's a civil war easily averted. All that needs to happen is to have a good Democrat take the position that conservation is a universal virtue, that diesel smoke is bad for children and for tourism, and that WNC can lead the nation in alternative energies.
Not exactly unpopular positions.
The Canary Coalition is launching legal proceedings over the subversive methods employed by Ramsey, Peterson, and Stanley.
Momo,
The county commission asked Progress for an energy study and proposal. The commission o.k.'ed the lease to Progess for the property, but the plant still has to go through the Air assessment and the Utilities Commission. Easley probably hasn't even heard of it yet, but we probably ought to put him on the mailing list.
Who is getting to these commissioners?
I can't understand this. Who do they think they are being so secretive? The private meetings, the lack of public comment or even discussion by the commissioners in front of the public . . . I heard about behavior like this when I was in junior high school. Of course, then they were talking about Nixon.
The only time I've ever witnessed this kind of thing in person, I found out later the board members were bribed. Trips to the beach, stuff like that. (Some people are cheap.) I have no idea what's going on in this case but one has to wonder when the board members refuse to explain themselves.
And Carol Peterson is on the DNC . . . How can she meet privately with an energy company and expect to be reelected? Is this what democrats do?
And since when do Democrats meet privately with corporations for TWO YEARS? It took two years to negotiate a dollar-a-year lease. I could do that in about five minutes.
But, most of all, since when do real democrats not explain their votes to their constituents?
I'm furious and every democrat in Buncombe County should be hunting for candidates for 2008, starting NOW.
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the drama.