Archive for Cecil Bothwell
Exit Shuler
Posted by: | CommentsRep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) will not run for reelection after three terms in office.
“This was not an easy decision,” Shuler said. “However, I am confident that it is the right decision. It is a decision I have weighed heavily over the past few months. I have always said family comes first, and I never intended to be a career politician.”
Year Two: The Vote Spreads
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Last year I made a couple of posts recapping my first year in office: One Year In – The Wins; and One Year In – The Vote Spreads. I’d intended to do the same this year, but there weren’t enough hours in my days to get it done.
The good news is that City Council Member Cecil Bothwell found the time to review City Council’s votes for the year 2011. After the jump you’ll find his list of vote counts, which doesn’t include unanimous votes. We hope you’ll find it illuminating. Big thanks to Cecil for sending it my way.
You Know It’s Time For Another Occupy Thread
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An ordinance was advanced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that would regulate camping and storage on public-owned property. I moved that the ordinance be referred to Asheville’s Public Safety Committee for some review, vetting, consideration, etc. That motion passed 5-2 with Councilman Davis and Mayor Bellamy opposed.
Also on Tuesday I became a member of the Public Safety Committee, along with Jan Davis. Cecil Bothwell is a continuing member and he accepted the role of Chair when asked by Mayor Bellamy to serve.
I want to ask for your thoughts as we think this through – How can we best protect the free speech and civil liberties of the people, ensure our public spaces are welcoming to all, maintain the priorities set by our precedent-setting 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, and create just, enduring policy?
The Public Safety Committee will consider these issues at a special public meeting on January 3rd at 3:30. Thanks for any thoughts you can offer.
Take Back the American Dream Conference Live
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Streaming live here: http://rebuildthedream.com/
Watch for Cecil Bothwell, attending this year courtesy of Democracy for America.
Dogs and Cats Living Together
Posted by: | CommentsAt the privately run group blog known as “Scrutiny Hooligans”, a controversy has erupted, spilling over into a Congressional campaign, Asheville City politics, a political community, the local twittersphere, and the lives of the bloggers.
The brouhaha began when the Administrator of the site, deemed “sovereign” by the other front-page writers, including City Councilman Gordon Smith, chose to disallow a frequent commenter, community activist Barry Summers, from posting to the site. The administrator, who chooses to remain anonymous, took this action after Mr. Summers made frequent attacks on one particular writer, Michael Muller, former campaign manager for Carl Mumpower and Bill Russell, after Muller’s comments about Joe Minicozzi and Mayor Terry Bellamy.
Congressional candidate Cecil Bothwell leapt into the fray to admonish the site’s Administrator and everyone else involved. The Administrator retorted with some harsh words for Mr. Bothwell, who is also an Asheville City Council member. The hullaballoo has exploded into a full-on display of Blogdrama.
The Administrator, according to Smith, has, “released the reins”, leaving the site adrift on the waters of the Asheville blogosphere. The site has always operated without editorial control, but this is the first time it has been absent an administrator.
Scrutiny Hooligans has operated for over seven years and has become the Asheville home for off-color political commentary regarding area goings-on. Frequent commenters’ reactions have ranged from outrage to confusion to mild annoyance to apathy.
We will have to await the next chapter in this cyberruckus to determine whether it will have lasting political impacts on the Asheville blogosphere, inter-Council relations, congressional politics, and the well-being of the Scrutiny Hooligans community.
Scrutiny Hooligans invite everyone with an opinion to fire away.
Cecil – Democrat
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t have much time this morning, so I’m going to drop this topic and head out the door. Cecil Bothwell, who had previously announced an intention to run for Congress as an Unaffiliated or Independent candidate has changed his mind and is going to face Heath Shuler in the Democratic Party primary in May, 2012.
Here’s Cecil’s press release in its entirety:
Cecil Bothwell, who announced his congressional bid on March 27, has decided to enter the 2012 Democratic primary. “I originally believed that the best way to address issues too long ignored, and to challenge the corporate power over the national parties was to run as an independent,” Bothwell explained. “But I’ve heard from hundreds of people, from WNC to Washington, DC, who believe the most likely path to success is up the middle instead of trying for an end-run. Groups are smarter than individuals, and I’m following advice gleaned from a wide network of friends and supporters.”
Cecil Open Thread
Posted by: | CommentsAsheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell posted this comment to Scrutiny Hooligans this morning:
And this seems as good a place as any to be seen; (Note the deep breath I am taking as I post this …) http://bothwell4congress.wordpress.com/
Discuss.
51 Biltmore – Point/Counterpoint
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It’s an important vote tonight on the future of the 51 Biltmore Avenue property. In an effort to get lots of information in one place, Scrutiny Hooligans today features essays by Vice Mayor Brownie Newman and by Councilman Cecil Bothwell. There are compelling cases for both points of view, and it’s an important conversation to have.
How did I decide in what order to put the essays? I let a 1987 quarter make the call:
Sidewalk Cleanup – 11/20
Posted by: | CommentsBig kudos to Councilman Cecil Bothwell for keepin’ it realz and walking the walk. Cecil’s leadership in reclaiming our city sidewalks has been a great way to get folks involved. Now he’s inviting you to participate. On November 20th, folks will come together to make Asheville better, one sidewalk at a time.
I’m planning on working on my own stretch at the lower end of Haywood Road. If you’d like to help with that bit, let me know. Otherwise, contact Cecil at Z-Link, and he’ll get you oriented. All you need is yourself, though a pair of gloves and few tools wouldn’t hurt. Watch the video to see what Z-Link’s been accomplishing and how you can help.
The Sidewalk Cleanup Story from Bruce Kennedy on Vimeo.
