From Staff Reports 

 

The Buncombe County Republican Party took direct aim at Buncombe County Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger in late July with a press release titled “Snow Day: Why is there no accountability ... Part of an ongoing pattern we see ... Reisinger consistently propped up by Democrat -controlled County Commission.”

The aforementoned was the view expressed on behalf of the BCGOP by Communication Director Nathan West in a July 25 press release, emailed to the Daily Planet and other area news media.

Kathy Sinclair, chair of the Buncombe County Democratic Party, contacted twice for a response to the BCGOP allegations by the Daily Planet, but did not reply by the newspaper’s early July 30 press deadline.

However, Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell, a progressive Democrat, provided the Daily Planet with an opposition response, asserting, “The N.C. GOP has been skating away from responsible governance for the last four years. If our register of deeds went sledding on one day when road travel was deemed too hazardous for school buses, I say sled on!”

Speaking for the BCGOP, West noted in the fourth week of July that, “earlier this week, the Buncombe County GOP filed a public records request with Buncombe County government to obtain a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding a recent decision by the Democrat-controlled Buncombe County Commission to spend approximately $500,000 on employee vacation time, in the name of fairness. 

“This decision was prompted by a recent decision by Buncombe County Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger, who shut down the register of deeds (office) in February due to a heavy snow. The scope of this records request will provide the BCGOP with the necessary tools to inform Buncombe County residents who have expressed concern over the situation.

BCGOP Chairman Henry Mitchell was quoted in the press release as saying, “As Republicans dedicated to more efficient and smarter government, our goal is to conduct an inquiry that is rooted in fairness, is fact-driven, and worthy of the trust of our community.

“The records kept by the Register of Deeds are vital to the fabric of our community.  The Register of Deeds holds the birth records of our children, the death certificates of our loved ones, records of our marriages, documents our property transactions, and is entrusted with many other papers critically important to the people of Buncombe,” Mitchell said

On Feb. 23, 2011, “the Buncombe County Democratic Executive Committee appointed Mr. Reisinger, then-27 years old, as the successor to Otto DeBruhl. Questions were raised at that time about his experience and whether he was qualified for the position. Again, serious questions are being raised about his ability to effectively manage the register of deeds,” the BCGOP press release noted.

West added, “Mr. Reisinger’s decision to shut down his office and go sledding has us wondering about his commitment to the people of Buncombe and reflects on the lack of trust the community has for his protection and management our records.

“Regardless of political affiliation, as a community we need to trust that decisions are being made for the good of our community and not made for political favors. Mr. Reisinger has had a meteoric rise here in Buncombe — and we are seeing a pattern of preferential treatment by County Government towards him,” West said.

The BCGOP noted that it “will continue its efforts to inform the public of our findings and, if necessary, will make additional inquiries to provide the community with the information they need to make informed decisions regarding those they are entrusting with their community.”