Asheville’s three mayoral candidates expressed widely varying views on future economic development for the city during a Sept. 19 public campaign forum.

Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer said she favors continuing what she termed “a balanced approach” to economic development.

In sharp contrast, former city employee John Miall said the city has “all the pieces necessary to make Asheville the health and wellness mecca it is destined to be” and that that would be his focus. He also said he wants to boost tourism.

Taking yet another tack, restaurant waiter Martin Ramsey said Asheville should seek a completely new path to make it less reliant on tourism. He said tourism “needs to be critically looked at” because it creates so many jobs with low wages and no benefits.

On a question asking for a simple “yes” or “no” about their confidence in embattled city Police Chief William Anderson, only Manheimer spoke positively — and even that was qualified. “I’m standing by the chief of police — at this point,” she said. Miall and Ramsey gave “no’s” on their confidence in Anderson.

As for the question “Yes or no, does City Manager Gary Jackson have your full confidence?” Manheimer said “yes;” Miall, “initially, yes;” and Ramsey, “no.”

A standing-room-only turnout of more than 130 people attended  the event in the board room at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce in Montford. A 30-minute informal “meet and greet” with the candidates preceded the 60-minute question-and-answer session.

The three candidates will square off in an Oct. 8 primary, with the two top vote-getters advancing to the Nov. 5 general election. The city’s current mayor, Terry Bellamy, has chosen not to seek re-election, noting an interest in running for a higher office.

Welcoming everyone — and praising the turnout — was Karen Oelschlaeger, president of the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, one of the forum’s sponsors. She emphasized that the LVM “is a nonpartison organization, so we don’t support or oppose candidate.” She also said men, as well as women, are welcome to join the LVM.

She noted that the questions asked of the candidates were submitted on index cards by forum attendees to the moderator, David Hurand, of WCQS-FM (88.1). The moderator also was allowed latitude to ask some questions and to keep the candidates on focus.

In her opening statement, Manheimer said, “I currently serve on Asheville City Council and have since 2009, when I was elected. I love Asheville. I care about Asheville. My husband and I are raising our three boys here in Asheville. My husband is a social studies teacher at Enka High. This community is special to all of us in this room…. If elected, I will carry out what is the heart and soul of this community, going forward. … Engagement… is what Asheville is all about… For instance, we’re working on the Haywood Road corridor… I’ve been by and seen the project… This is about the community and the city working together to further our collective ideas and vision for the City of Asheville. I ask for your vote and I’ve been honored to serve you thus far.”

Next, Miall said, “It’s good to see so many faces. I’m encouraged that maybe we’ll have a good turnout for this election. I’m a lifetime resident of Asheville. I worked for the city for 30 years. The idea of serving this community is what appeals to me. … That said, I’d like to think we can do better than we are through local government… I’d like to concentrate my remarks on expanding our economy…. I’m interested in health care (too). We have some of the greatest physicians anywhere…” Miall spoke of his involvement with the Asheville Project. “I think we’ve got all the pieces necessary to make Asheville into a mecca of health and wellness that it is destined to be.“

Finally, Ramsey said, “The future is bleak by all objective standards. We are rendering people invisible.… We believe people can and should be making decisions on the spending of their (tax) money. Doling out money to corporations to locate in our city is a losing battle and results in diminishing returns.” He said the city and other local bodies should look at using their spending power to spawn worker-owned businesses. “To those who believe that’s impossible, we would point to other cities. Another Asheville and another world are possible. .. We have to demand a real alternative. The future belong to us… and we’re not going to take this lying down.”

 Following are some of the questions and answers from the forum:

What will you do to improve the city’s relationship with Raleigh?

Ramsey — “We have to realize we’re not being negotiated with in good faith… I’d do my very best to remedy that in the short term” — and, in the long term, make sure new legislators are elected to serve in Raleigh.

Miall — “I’d offer that some of the seeds for the current water issue were sown when the water agreement was made a few years ago… I think it was a lesson we were all taught as children, which was ‘Do unto others.’ And I think if we follow it, we will have a better future for our water system.”

Manheimer — “North Carolina is not unique in this. But we’re an extreme example of this conflict between cities and the state legislature. Our own representative,. Tom Apadoca (R-Hendersonville), said…. ‘Cities are getting too strong....’” In response, Manheimer said, “This is going to require working with all of the cities in North Carolina to educate our legislators on the need for cities — and to work with them. I’d also encourage everyone to change the legislature in Raleigh because, ultimately, that may be what is required.”

Would you drop the lawsuit water?

All three candidates answered “no.”

What is your stance on tourism as a form of economic growth?

Miall — “I was going ‘downstate’ to speak to a group and I passed Durham and the city limits sign. I saw a sign saying ‘Welcome to Durham, City of Medicine.” I thought, why don’t we have signs saying, ‘Welcome to Asheville, City of Health and Wellness’? All the pieces are here — just not the vision and leadership to drive it... Just a few short years ago, we were told by the chamber of commerce that a company chose not to locate here because of health costs… I want to diversity the economy, not at the expense of tourism, but in addition to tourism.”

Ramsey —”Cooperative economic development is part of my strategy. I think we ought to follow the example of Cleveland, Ohio. .. I think that model holds some interesting possibilities for those of us in Asheville. .. I think we can encourage a worker-owned and worker-managed future for the City of Asheville. I’m the only one up here whose (payment of his) power bills depends on the tourism industry… The tourism industry is the only growing segment of our (Asheville) economy, post-recession. We can do better than that.”

Manheimer — “Asheville is currently the city with the lowest unemployment rate in the state… Even so, we can do better… We need to seek higher-wage jobs and more diversity of jobs… The city can strengthen itself in many areas, such as the arts… We as a City Council have adopted an economic incentive policy. And it’s worked to bring in companies such as New Belgium and Linamar.”

What efforts do you support to bring in private-sector jobs?

Manheimer — “I’ve spent a lot of time on council learning what you (the citizenry) want. I’ve spent several years learning about the different groups, each of which has a role. I’ve been working with City Council on an economic development plan…. One is a project involving the River Arts District… I feel I am now in a position to contribute to that going forward.”

Miall — “To contrast,” while others talking about spurring economic development, “I’ve done it. The Asheville Project — I hate to keep going back to that. … I’ve done it, I’ve led the charge and it’s part of my vision to see Asheville take it to a whole newer level.”

Ramsey — “While I think the health care industry is an important component in or economy,… I think ultimately it could be dangerou” for Asheville to depend too much on it for job growth. “With problems with health care nationally, I’d hate to see Asheville be a part of another bubble economy… We need to do better than that.”

What about the $2 million city budget allocation for the art museum?

Ramsey — “I’d personally like to see the Asheville Art Musuem have more free days and be more accessible to more people. That said, … I think regular people in our neighborhoods can come together for our spending decisions. If the people agree on that, I’d respect that. But I also think we should consider projects like Sunday bus service.” His comment on the bus service drew loud applause from some inthe crowd.

Miall — “Bus service, indeed. Our sidewalks and streets are crumbling,” despite tax and fee increases, which he termed “a great sleight of hand in the budgeting process. Folks, I’m here to tell you, for the first time in the history of this city, we don’t get our garbage picked up without paying a fee... It’s like planning a trip to the beach when we don’t have money to eat — when we give $2 million to the (art) museum.” Miall’s jab at council’s art museum expenditure garnered loud applause.

Manheimer — “We need to make investments in our community so that we can rely on our own revenue. We raised taxes 4 cents. We are putting that into sidewalks and into roads. Asheville owns the Pack Place building. Art museums in downtowns are proven to pay for themselves in short order…. We need to keep in mind the balance needed, including sidewalks and roads — and the arts, which bring all of us to a higher place.”

Which is more important to you: lower taxes or increasing public services?

Ramsey — “I think we can avoid making the city unlivable for the poor. I’d also prioritize to avoid soaking the rich.”

Miall — “We all remember the drill … I was careful to listen. The city’s own audited financial statements for 2012 showed the city had nearly a 4 percent increase in revenue. This year, 2.6 percent. If your income is going up, but your expenses are going up four times higher, you’ve got a spending problem. … I’d also suggest the vice mayor fact-check her statement that the city owns the Pack Place. The city does not own that building.”

Hurand, the moderator, allowed Manheimer to respond to Miall’s challenge to her statement about Pack Place. She said, “I’ve reviewed the lease and it’s complicated,” but she held to her contension that the city owns Pack Place. What’s more, Manheimer said, “You do have to pay for city services - ... police and fire service.” Among North Carolina cities, “we have the greatest change of daytime vs. nighttime population — a 50,000 (person) difference,” which puts pressures on a city to provide services to non-taxpaying commuters.

Identify essential services beyond police, fire and garbage.

Ramsey — “We should maintain control of our public water system. I think affordable housing should fall under that category. Also education is important... It’s not like we can decide not to pay for the coming generation’s education.”

Miall — “I agree with all of those, especially the water. I’m not an attorney, as is Ms. Manheimer, but there is an inspections requirement and (also) parks and rec” that the city must cover. “So I’d add parks and rec to that list of core services.”

Manheimer — “The city, in addition, provides storm water mitigation services. It’s statutory. That’s a major issue for our community. Public works is another thing. Planning and permitting — the vision we see for our community going forward. Hopefully, the Merrimon Corridor Project, after the Haywood Road Corridor Project. Transit... Parks and rec is an $8 million subsidy. That’s a very real expense, when you first have to pay for police, fire and garbage. Affordable housing is an essential issue.”

In closing statements, Miall said, “I’d like to talk briefly about visions. I think we have to be more fiscally responsible. If our expenses are growing at a rate of five times our revenues, we need to get control of our expenses.”

Ramsey said, “It’s my opinion that Asheville will grow. Who will it grow for? I’d like to be part of a movement for egalitarian growth, where everyone gets to matter. Let’s stop chopping down every acre of trees and despoiling the world around us.”

Manheimer said, “I think Asheville is a great community. I’d like to lead this city as your next mayor. I feel my time and experience has” given her excellent preparation for the job.