Eichenbaum wins group’s endorsement, again

From Staff Reports

SKYLAND — Four Republicans and one Democrat shared their viewpoints during a more than four-hour candidates forum hosted by the Asheville Tea Party on Jan. 28 at the Skyland Fire Department.

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum, who is seeking the 11th District Republican nomination, was endorsed on Feb. 2 by the ATP,” Chairwoman Jane Bilello told the Daily Planet. He was “the only one to go through the ATP’s requisite iCaucus process completely.”

Eichenbaum was endorsed by the ATP for the same post in the last election, but was defeated by Jeff Miller of Hendersonville in the GOP primary. Bilello added that “there are are whole bunch of other endorsements” the local tea party will be announcing soon.

About 150 voters attended, beginning with a hour-long reception at noon. The forum continued until about 5:20 p.m., when only one candidate remained, as others excused themselves toward the end to fulfill other commitments.

A strong police contingent was present — based on concerns that members of Occupy Asheville might show up and disrupt the proceedings. However, no demonstrators showed up.

As for the candidates, three Republicans, the representative of a fourth Republican, one Democrat and their entourages filled the remaining seats. 

Appearing were Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell, the lone Democrat; Eichenbaum, District Attorney Jeff Hunt, Mark Meadows and Vance Patterson. Expected but missing were Republicans Kenny West and Ethan Wingfield.

All of the candidates, except for Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Cherryville, are seeking the N.C. 11th District seat held by Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville. McHenry, who was absent and represents the 10th District, was represented by campaign staffer Laurie Moody.

Following Gov. Bev Perdue’s announcement that she will not seek re-election, Shuler reportedly was considering a run for her job  However, Shuler announced Jan. 31 that he will not seek the top state post.

Several of the candidates mentioned during the forum that, since the ATP endorsed Eichenbaum in the last congressional campaign, they had concerns about whether they will be given a fair shot for an endorsement, since Eichenbaum is running again.

Each of the candidates was asked the same series of six question, while the others were sequestered in a room where they could not hear one another’s answers.

The questions focused on job creation, deficit spending, immigration and health care reform, also known as ObamaCare.

All of the Republicans said they favored reduced federal spending and the repeal of ObamaCare and expressed similar views on the other questions.

Bothwell stressed that he entered the race “chiefly in response to corruption in government.”

Bothwell, who will face Shuler in the May 8 Democratic primary— if Shuler decides to run again — said he thinks the federal government should be involved in job creation by funding work projects. These would be similar to the projects that built the Blue Ridge Parkway or funded the Tennessee Valley Authority during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

“We have a lot of work to do, and now is the time for it to be done,” Bothwell said.

Eichenbaum said, “I’m running because we are being run by an interchangeable gang of crooks and liars” from both major political parties. He asked for a limit of three terms for congressmen, noting that he has pledged to personally abide by his proposal.

Hunt said he is “the only candidate for Congress (at the forum) who’s been fully vetted” — as was required of him to serve as a D.A. He also noted that he “has been married to the same woman for 35 years.”

He added, “The reason I’m running is America is gone unless we get to a zero (budget) deficit. Then, we need to work on our national debt ... We can’t do it by raising taxes. It would kill the private sector.”

Speaking for McHenry, Moody said, “We’re thrilled to bring conservative change into Asheville.” She stressed that McHenry favors limited government and an emphasis on personal liberties.

Meadows touted his credentials as “a conservative Christian businessman.” He said the nation “needs to cut back on spending that’s gotten us where we are” — broke. (Meadows recently was endorsed by Jeff Miller, the GOP’s nominee in the last election who failed to unseat Shuler.)

“I stand for life, liberty and less government,” Meadows said, adding that he is pro-life and a proponent of traditional marriage — “one man-one woman.”

Patterson — who exhibited a sense of humor that often had the crowd laughing —  said he is, first and foremost, “a businessman. “I’m running because I want to work for my family” instead of the government.

Patterson said that, as a child growing up,  he never dreamed the United States would put itself in a position of depending on borrowing from China to stay afloat financially, and advocates drilling for oil domestically to make the country energy-independent.