From Staff Reports

Sixteen candidates have filed to run for three seats up for election on the seven-member Asheville City Council.

The relatively large field of candidates dwarfs the 2013 field, when only eight people sought four seats that were open. However, the large field is not unprecedented either, as there were 14 candidates on the 2007 ballot.

The race will include an Oct. 6 primary, which will narrow the field to six candidates, followed by the Nov. 3 general election. The council election — to four-year terms — is, at least officially, nonpartisan. 

Not filing was Jonathan Wainscott, who ran unsuccessfully in 2013 and had announced plans earlier this year to seek a council seat. However, the 44-year-old has been arrested four times over a roughly two-month span and did not file by the deadline. He was the only declared candidate not to file.

Wainscott, an East West Asheville neighborhood activist, was arrested July 6 on two counts of misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon and felony breaking and entering with intent to assault. It was the fourth time Wainscott had been arrested in two months. On June 20, he was charged with assault in connection with an incident with one of his tenants.

In May and June, Wainscott was charged twice with violating a March 2 domestic violence protective order involving his wife. He ran unscuessfully for council two years ago in a campaign in which he got into a much-publicized shouting match with Councilman Cecil Bothwell.

The only incumbent running is Vice Mayor Marc Hunt. Councilmen Jan Davis and Chris Pelly decided not to seek re-election.

Not currently serving on council but boasting previous experience are Ken Michalove a former mayor who served as city manager; and Carl Mumpower, a former vice mayor and councilman.

Mumpower, a psychologist, is seeking a seat by advocating the need for diversity of thought on what he calls an all-liberal council. He he says a conservative voice is needed on council to represent citizens with that viewpoint.