ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Four candidates for two seats on the Buncombe County Board Commissioners share their viewpoints during a candidates forum hosted by the  Council of Independent Business Owners on Aug. 7 in UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center.

About 100 people attended, CIBO Execitive Director Patty Beaver told the Daily Planet immediately afterward.

The forum participants included Anna Stearns (Democrat) and Rob Stetson (Republican) for District 1; and Lonnie Israel (Democrat) and Greg Parks (Republican) for District 2.

CIBO emcee John Carroll, the club’s past president, recognized candidates in attendance, including, among others, Anthony Penland (running for a state House seat) and Gary Parris (running for county sheriff).

Carroll also recognized a number of elected officials, including, among others, commissioners Terri Wells, Al Whitesides and Drew Ball.

The meeting’s format included making opening statements, answering prepared questions and giving closing statements.

Giving the first opening statement was Stearns, who said, “I’m a practicing attorney in Black Mountain. I grew up here in Buncombe County. I’m a graduate of Owen High School, A-B Tech, UNCA — and went to law school at Campbell University.”

Stearns, who said that she once worked as an intern for then-state Rep. Brian Turner of Asheville, noted, “I have a lot of experience working in and around government. After (Tropical Storm) Helene, I opened up my law office, where people could do their FEMA appeals. The recovery has been uneven. That’s one of the reasons I elected to run.”

Stetson said in his opening statement that “I have zero experience with government.” He also said that he has “attempted to volunteer to work in government, but never have been given an opportunity... My education is real estate, strategic finance and economics... I am running to give the county more of a business approach, especially with the budget.”

Israel opened by asserting, “I’ve always been a farmer and a businessman. One of the reasons I decided to run for commissioner is because of Hurricane Helene... My family and I have been fortunate and wanted to pay the county back. I’ll work to strengthen the economy here in Buncombe County. We just need to create more opportunity for the people here in Buncombe County. They’ve been hit hard.”

Giving the final opening statement, Park said, “I was born and raised in Haywood County. However, I’ve worked my entire life in Buncombe County. I understand what hard work is. I understand what its like to go to work every day and try to pay your bills. I’m going to bring common sense to help us change the status quo.”

Carroll, the CIBO emcee, began the questioning by asking: “What is the biggest challenge facing Buncombe County today — and what would you do to address it?”

Stearns replied, “I think housing affordability is the biggest concern,” adding that “one of my children (recently) bought a double-wide on a nonconforming lot in Swannanoa...”

Stetson answered, “22 to 23 percent! Wouldn’t you like to increase your sales or revenue by 23 percent in one year? My property tax just increased 23 percent in one year... My point is to work with the county commissioners to help them formulate a credible budget.”

Israel responded, “It’s a combination… We need to rebuild our infrastructure… Also, we need more affordable housing. We can secure federal and state matching funds to do that...”

Parks replied, “I think it’s interesting to hear about ‘affordability,’ when we don’t have ‘accountability.’  If you want anything different on affordability, you have to get away from just one party running everything... When you reduce inventory, prices go up... We need to reduce the budget to make those hard decisions...”

 Regarding how to handle the county budget deficit, Stetson said, “However, I can… If you’ve never been in business, maybe you can’t identify what a business is. I want to work as part of a team to teach what a business is....”

On the same question, Israel said, “As far as the budget, I think it needs to be accessible to everyone in Buncombe County. I will cut the red tape. If I feel we need to cut the budget, I will get to work on it...”

Parks answered, “If you look at the budget and ask why it keeps going up, it’s because we’re not willing to make the right decisions… Our schools are under-utilized. If we really wanted to improvise and reduce spending, we can....”

Stearns replied that “Buncombe County has the same hard choices as small businesses have. Customer service for 911 could probably wait another year. The biggest part of that is Raleigh is not paying teachers a living wage, so we have cost supplements for teachers...”

Another CIBO question noted that many landowners are concerned about the issue of conservation goals versus private property rights.

Israel responded, “We had standing-room-only when we mentioned that we would be having a meeting on land conservation… So we’re not taking land away from affordable housing.”

Parks replied, “So I don’t think we would need the conservation if we didn’t stop taxing people to death. When you’ve got land in conservation, you’re losing any developmental freedom for 100 years. People should do what they want without any fear.”

Stearns answered, “I think putting land in conservation is the goal of private property rights. It is beneficial to our local economy to do the conservation and it’s good from a public safety standpoint,… “

Stetson asserted, “I live here (in the Asheville area) because I think it’s the most beautiful place in the world. As far as development, there is a heck of a lot of empty, abadoned real estate that’s not being used. We need to revitalize the community by taking property and ‘refreshing’ it.”

Carroll then asked, “How would prioritize funding K-12 when A-B Tech needs money for workforce development?”

Parks answered, “We’re throwing money after bad. It’s not all about teacher pay. Our buildings are falling apart. They’re prioritizing salaries, but we’re not educating anyone.” 

Stearns replied, “I’m a proud product of the Buncombe County educational program. We have to strengthen those partnerships. Those are challenging decisions and we have to work with our school boards, both the county and the city....”

Stetson stated, “My son went through education from K-12. It’s incredible. My voters tell three things: cut taxes, fix the roads and we need more money to pay our teachers... That’s not me, that’s what the voters are asking.”

Israel noted, “I’ve long been an advocate for public education. I believe we need to teach more by hands-on. Everyone in high school should be required to take at least one course that is hands-on -— from home economics to shop class... Why can’t the county expand sewer and infrastructure to reduce the cost of building homes, instead of the developer having to shoulder all of the cost?”

Stearns answered, “I’m hoping in the recovery money… that we’ll be able to secure money for sewer development. to reduce cost of extending housing, I would hope to work with the MSD on those sewer extesion plans and see that done.”

Stetson noted, “They don’t want to. The land is already there and it’s not fair that the builders have to shoulder the cost.”

Israel replied, “Part of it I can answer and part of it I can’t answer. The city does not have water for the fire departments. They’re going to have to have a bond referendum.”

Parks answered, “Before we start looking at expansion, during Hurricane Helene I was so thankful I was not tied into the city water system. I had a well. First, I think we need to solidify our system before we do anything else.”

Following other questions, the program closed with summations by each candidate during which Israel spoke first, thanking CIBO for its forum and saying that “all of the candidates should shake hands and be friends.”

Israel also said that “the Buncombe County Detention Center is the biggest ‘general hospital’ in Buncombe County... The people of Buncombe County deserve someone who is transparent and careful with taxpayer dollars. I will listen to residents and encourage public input. I care deeply about our community and have a clear vision for its future.”

In his closing statement, Parks said, “Some of you may say: ‘He seems angry’… I want to represent regular citizens of Buncombe County. I’m not going to be a ‘polished politician.’ If you’re not happy, you’re going to have to change. For change, you need to elect someone different… You have to understand if you’re not happy with… crime, drugs, panhandling… you cannot continue to elect the same way of thinking... You don’t have to always agree.. This county has been run by one party” for too long.

Stearns said in her summation that “we’re not trying to turn a profit in county government. Unfortunately, those costs are going up every year for the government, too,. The truth is government is hard. It requires working with city of Asheville, as well as state and federal officials. We have a job to do together. This is a beautiful place to call home.”

In his closing statement, Stetson said, “So we do have commissioners here. I want to work with you guys. I want to help. I’m not going to be an adversarial person. It’s voluntary to live here. I’m a compassionate person. If one of my neighbors” has a problem, “I want to help.”

As for the Asheville area, Stetson asserted, “We’ve become known as a homeless utopia. We can’t continue to do that. I don’t know if I’m really going to make a difference... I’m going to try — and then I might get out of it. After that, I’m probably going to get out of politics completely.” 

\