Moffitt Says Three is Enough
By
Rep. Tim Moffitt (R-116) has introduced a bill, HB 471, that will reduce the voting power of Buncombe County voters. Whereas you can now vote for all five Commissioners regardless of where you live, Moffitt’s bill would restrict you to voting for only three out of a newly expanded Board of seven. The bill would divide the county by district, and each district would have two reps on the Commission. The Chair would be elected at-large.
Apart from some Tea Party activists, no one has asked for this measure. Rep. Moffitt did not deign to consult with voters in Buncombe County or with County government before introducing the bill to the Republican controlled legislature in Raleigh.
“I just felt that the majority of the county is underrepresented on the Buncombe County Commission,” Moffitt said of the bill.
Is there a dearth of representation for County residents as Moffitt asserts? No. Three of the five Commission members live outside the city limits, and it would be hard to argue that city resident Bill Stanley isn’t a strong voice for non city residents.
I’m baffled by Rep. Moffitt’s unilateral decision to limit voter choice.
If you’d like to register your comments about Moffitt’s dictum with your County government or your state representatives, here are some handy email addresses:
Tim.Moffitt@ncleg.net, Susan.Fisher@ncleg.net, Patsy.Keever@ncleg.net, Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net, Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
commissioner@davidgantt.com, bill.stanley@buncombecounty.org, carol.peterson@buncombecounty.org, ray.bailey@buncombecounty.org, holly.jones@buncombecounty.org;
Twitter: dixiegirlz
says:
This might be a positive measure to reduce the over reaching influence of the religious conservatives who seem to have lot of power in the County.
Rate this comment:
4 
3
Yes Gordon, never mind that this will actually diversify the county’s representation on the whole and maybe undo the trend that sees county candidates winning in their own rural communities only to have the Asheville vote landslide them out.
Instead let’s keep making cheap comments about Tim Moffitt “limiting” voter choice in order to stifle more diverse representation and centralize power into pockets of Democratic control.
Oh wait, that seems to be the Democratic way. (see also President Andrew Jackson through Senator Robert Byrd)
North and West Buncombe havent had ANY county commission REPRESENTATION in over 50 years that is known, maybe longer.
WHY should the county conform to what an all democrat panel who lives South and East, with one in Montford happen to DICTATE, which they DO??? Buncombe Co people are too dumb to know they arent represented.
Twitter: gordondsmith
says:
We are all County residents. Those in the city and outside the city.
Anyone from any part of the County can run and win a campaign in Buncombe County.
Limiting voter choice in favor of a geographic quota system doesn’t make sense to me. Unilaterally issuing sweeping changes in the way we select our representation is poor governance.
I want to be able to vote for all of my representatives rather than being limited to voting for only a minority. I’m also rather weary of the antipathy directed towards Asheville, the economic and cultural hub of western North Carolina, that’s consistently rated as the best place to do most anything.
Rate this comment:
5 
1
@ Gordon-If “Limiting voter choice in favor of a geographic quota system doesn’t make sense to me.” Why dont we do away with all districts in the state and just just let Raleigh and Charlotte deside who will represent us in the House? Would this be good for the 11th district? I don’t think so…Is it starting to make sense now?
Lets be honest, you do not like the idea of teh entire county being represented opposed to Asheville city limits esentially deciding the commission, because this will work against your agenda…
Chris Eck explains it nicely on another local blog called The Dogwood Caucus, if you would like to check it out…Google it…I think this falls within anti-spammer guidelines…
Rate this comment:
3 
3
Twitter: gordondsmith
says:
Dogwood,
No, it’s perfectly fine to recommend your blog and even link to it.
There’s clearly an argument to be made that once one crosses certain thresholds of population or vast geographic sizes that proportional representation is more effective. However, in this case neither the population nor the geography support such a move.
As to representation. The majority of the current Commission lives outside the city limits and are considered moderate to conservative depending on your perspective. This is effective representation.
What Mr. Moffitt’s dictum seeks is fragmentation and limiting voter choices.
North Carolina has not had any REPRESENTATION in the White House … ever.
Rate this comment:
1 
2
Thanks Gordon, I am glad you are interested in some dialogue and I appreciate your willingness to allow us to comment…Looking forward to future debate…
Rate this comment:
4 
0
Residents of the city are outnumbered by residents of the county by about 2-1. The county can easily outvote the city so this business about the city outvoting the country is a red herring.
In Mr Moffitt and the Republican controlled GA are going to insist on increasing the size of government (something I thought Republicans were against) why not do it one of two other ways:
1) Have candidates run from the three proposed districts but be voted on county wide. This would make the entire Commission accountable to the entire county while still giving a geographic balance.
2) Have each of the three districts elected one commissioner every two years, have three commissioners and the chair elected at large every four years. This would give staggered elections and still mean that a majority of the board is accountable to the entire county.
Rate this comment:
1 
0
Aren’t all three districts currently composed of both city and county? Is this going to coupled with redistricting at the state house level?
Rate this comment:
2 
0
Twitter: gordondsmith
says:
Yes, Hazelite. You’re correct.
Rate this comment:
1 
1
Why not let the voters of Buncombe County decide in a referendum? Why should state legislatures who do NOT live in Buncombe County get to vote on this matter while the people who reside here don’t?
Rate this comment:
3 
0
1. How is that smaller government?
2. So the math would be two “county” districts and one asheville district = 4 Rs and 2 Ds plus the chair either way = Rs in majority every time.
3. Ugh
Rate this comment:
1 
2
“. So the math would be two “county” districts and one asheville district = 4 Rs and 2 Ds plus the chair either way = Rs in majority every time.
3. Ugh”
That must be the new math I heard about.
Ditto… :::ugh:::
Rate this comment:
1 
0
There’s a straightforward counterargument, which is that districting institutionalizes a politics in which it’s beneficial to act against the interests of the county as a coherent entity. You might perceive a city/county divide now, but a commissioner whose district encompasses only a third of the county has no political incentive whatsoever to consider the interests of the other two-thirds. Republicans in Leicester and Weaverville might think they have common interests with those in Swannanoa and Fairview, but it won’t take long for them to find out otherwise.
(How about the county commission votes on dividing up Tim Moffitt’s statehouse district into three subdistricts, each with a presidential-style elector? Two out of three wins! Or does electoral diktat only go one way?)
Rate this comment:
3 
1
Republicans in Leicester and Weaverville might think they have common interests with those in Swannanoa and Fairview, but it won’t take long for them to find out otherwise.
Thanks for saying what I’ve only been thinking. It reminds me of the time I was there at the founding of an independent church. We thought ourselves pretty homogeneous in our beliefs until it came to writing a statement of faith for the IRS. That’s when all the unuttered differences rose to the surface.
Rate this comment:
2 
1
” We thought ourselves pretty homogeneous in our beliefs until it came to writing a statement of faith for the IRS. That’s when all the unuttered differences rose to the surface”
Then, imagine all the unuttered ones that remain unuttered-either because someone is not bold enough to say so, or they fear judgmental attitudes from their “neighbors,” or just not being the personality type to speak up.
Of course, some would say if they don’t speak up, they deserve what they don’t get.
Time to visit a church and see who my “neighbors” are… at least on Sunday.
Rate this comment:
2 
0
I deplore Moffitt’s actions. He acted unilaterally, with secrecy, to fundamentally alter the political structure of Buncombe County. This should be unacceptable to anyone who believes in limited governmental power. Whether you agree with the end result or not should be immaterial- this is setting a very, very bad precedent. Moffitt cut a few deals with fellow legislators in Raleigh and slapped a few backs, and we citizens will just be told “This is how it’s going to be”. What data did Moffitt use to determine that this was a needed/wanted change in Buncombe County?
Just because a commissioner comes from your district does not make them a sterling representative. I used to live in Henderson County, where Commissioners are elected by district. My Commissioner was no more responsive to community concerns than he would have been had he been elected countywide. Supporters of this arrangement will soon be disappointed. It’s all about the quality of the candidate, not where they live. I’d rather be able to vote for the best candidate(s) from other parts of the county than have my choices limited to only those who happen to live nearby.
I understand the argument for more Commissioners. I understand the argument for geographic representation.
What I don’t understand is why this needs to come from Raleigh? Surely, advocates for geographical representation can go to voters for this.
- pvh
Rate this comment:
2 
0
Twitter: matcatastrophe
says:
Because if it were up to the people, the leftist voting block of teh city would far outweigh the good Christian Americans of the backwoods.
Doncha know? It’s only Democracy when you agree with the people in charge.
Rate this comment:
2 
0
Twitter: gordondsmith
says:
Hey, y’all – I hope you’ll write Letters to the Editors of our fine local papers to discuss your views. Especially you, SueTwo. Your comment just needs cut and pasted into the AC-T LTE page.
AC-T Letters to the Editor page
Mountain X LTE info
Rate this comment:
1 
1
Twitter: gordondsmith
says:
From Holly Jones’ e-newsletter:
Rate this comment:
4 
1
Its time for change however we can get it…seven commissioners seems top heavy but three is too few…each area of the county NEEDS their own commissioner, then things would shape up and IMPROVE. Do you people really WANT an ALL democrat county commmission??? Are you that naive and dare I say ignorant??? Just look at what 150 years of total democrat domination and corruption has brought to NC! Billions in DEBT, amidst vast EVIL from the long time controlling party, the party of SLAVERY and the KKK.
Rate this comment:
0 
1
Brainshrub, unlike MOST other states, NC cities and towns are totally controlled by the Legislature. Most all things MUST be approved by the controlling democrats who are nothing but power mongers…This is why individual towns in NC are so strapped by state gov, but the people are too ignorant to realize what has been done to them by the long time controlling party of slavery and the KKK.
Rate this comment:
0 
1