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Tuesday, 14 November 2006 14:59 |
By DAVID FORBES
When Buncombe County voters went to the polls on Nov. 7, they gave Democratic candidates victories in several high-profile races, with Heath Shuler unseating Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, in the congressional race and Van Duncan defeating incumbent Sheriff Bobby Medford by wide margins.
In all partisan races on the ballot in the county, only one victory went to a Republican, with Charles Thomas narrowly defeating Democratic candidate Doug Jones in the race for the 116th State House district.
After leaving the polls, many voters said that concerns over the war in Iraq and corruption had motivated their votes in this election.
"I think itës time for a change ÇƒÓ a big change," Sharon Whitley of Haw Creek said.
Her husband, Richard Whitley, echoed her concerns.
"A big change," he said with a chuckle. "Itës time to clean house all the way, get those bones out of there."
Over at St.
Markës Lutheran Church in North Asheville, John Clawson said that his
concern about issues such as the war on Iraq, corruption ÇƒÓ and his
personal impression of Taylor, were driving his vote.
"Charles Taylor
sucks," he said. "Iëm sorry, but we saw him speak and it was just
embarassing. The war in Iraq is a concern too and also lying, we really
need to cut down on the lies."
His wife, Juliet Clawson, shared similar concerns.
"Lies, lies and
lies," she said, concerning her grievances with the current government.
"As for the issues, whether itës education or health care, everything
starts locally."
Those concerns
over national issues mark a change in the regionës voting patterns,
UNCA political science professor Bill Sabo told the Daily Planet last
Wednesday.
"You saw an 11
percent increase in the number of votes cast ÇƒÓ and that increase was
largely driven by national issues in a district that has historically
been immune to them," Sabo said.
That was a
conclusion with which county Republican Party Chair George Keller,
speaking to the Daily Planet last Wednesday, did not disagree.
"From what we
can fathom from the information thatës coming in, concerns with the
war, the need for a border fence, federal spending ÇƒÓ those were what
was driving people to vote," Keller said. "You have some people angry
that weëre in Iraq, others angry because they say weëre not prosecuting
the war vigorously enough. A lot of conservatives were angry about
illegal immigration, how we donët take our borders seriously enough.
"People were mad
at Republicans from both sides," he sighed. "You had people voting for
the N.C. House and Senate based around whatës happening in Iraq, even
though the state has nothing to do with that. Next time, we need to do
a better job of educating people."
Earlier,
standing in front of St. Markës on Election Day evening, with an
umbrella over his head to ward off the rain, Taylor campaign volunteer
Charles Davies emphasized what he felt to be the congressmanës
accomplishments in the region and his conservative stances on social
issues.
"Heës done a lot
for the people here, with the V.A. Hospital, with bringing broadband
into the area, creating more jobs," Davies, who came up from Rutherford
County, said. "I also like his stands on conservative values, Christian
values."
But Taylor lost
Buncombe County for the first time ever ÇƒÓ and the race with it, Sabo
said, and the high profile nature of that race and national issues had
an effect on other Republican candidates as well.
"Charles Taylor
was down 6.5 percent from his last race ÇƒÓ his worst showing ever," Sabo
noted. "That means there were obviously a lot of swing voters out there
who not only were voting against Taylor, but decided that Shuler
presented himself as a viable alternative ÇƒÓ and thatës how he carried
the race."
However, John Clawson noted that he wasnët exactly enthusiastic about Shuler.
"Iëm not
thrilled about my choices in the congressional race ÇƒÓ but Iëm holding
my nose and voting (for Shuler)," he said. "In some of the other races,
the choices are a little more clear."
| A cluster of campaign signs stand outside St. Markës Lutheran Church, a polling place in North Asheville, Nov. 7.
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As for other
Democratic victories, such as the sheriffës race, Sabo noted that "I
wouldnët exactly call it coattails, because that implies that people
vote for one candidate because theyëre tied to another in a larger
race. But the increased attention on the Taylor/Shuler race got a lot
of attention on other races, too, and boosted Democrats there. All of
that helped Duncan. Plus, in the sheriffës race, it didnët help that
Bobby Medford isnët exactly a slick spin artist."
Standing feet
away from Taylor volunteers on Election Day, Democratic precinct chair
Ed Schell was exultant about his partyës chances.
"Turnout is
fantastic!" Schell said, clutching pamphlets in one hand and an
umbrella in the other. "I think people are angry, people are mad,
especially here in Asheville. Hopefully, weëll be able to offset some
of that county vote that doesnët think the same way we do."
Sabo said that the scope of the Democratic victory surprised him and many other election analysts.
"Usually there
are two factors that influence midterm elections ÇƒÓ the economy and the
presidentës popularity," he noted. "The economyës doing fairly well, so
based on that, we predicted about half of what the Democrats actually
gained. We underestimated how deeply unpopular the president is."
But Keller noted that the Republicans are already preparing for the next race ÇƒÓ and are setting their sights on regaining power.
"Weëve already
got an eye on the city council races next year," Keller said. "Two of
our members, Selina Sullivan and Matt Hebb, who both ran in 2005,
declared their candidacies on Tuesday (Nov. 7) night.
"Weëve got a lot
of work ahead of us, weëre still the party of family and mountain
values ÇƒÓ the Republican Party has been here, is still here today and
will still be here tomorrow. Weëve learned some important lessons for
next time."
Asked what those
lessons were, Keller laughed and replied: "Next time weëll find a way
to turn off those stupid robo-calls. I think those annoyed a lot of
people."
Nadine Bomar of Haw Creek mentioned the robo-calls right after casting her vote.
"Iëm voting
today because Iëm tired of all those commercials on TV and all those
phone calls," Bomar joked after leaving the polls.
Asked how she voted, Bomar answered: "Democrats, straight through."
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