As Obama precinct co-captains for the 2008 North Carolina Democratic Primary, my wife Shonnie and I enrolled volunteers, knocked on doors and made phone calls in Asheville Precinct 3. We also drove neighbors to early voting, and we worked the polls all day long on primary election day. I was then hired as an Obama Field Organizer in southern Ohio where Shonnie visited me numerous times as we both labored long hours, seven days a week during the presidential campaign to elect Barack Obama. Needless to say, we were both deeply gratified at the results of the primary and the general election.

Consequently, once I was home and I’d taken a few weeks off, it was only natural that I’d gravitate toward the candidacy of Cecil Bothwell in his race for Asheville City Council. I have known Cecil for nearly a decade now, and during that time he has modeled that same authenticity and compelling vision for our community that I found in candidate Obama. And his was also a grassroots campaign—inclusive, bottom-up, egalitarian, cohesive, self-governing—a powerful and passionate team effort in which volunteers (more than 700 of them!) are empowered to participate in a way that fits for each of them.

Moreover, during his decades of service as an investigative reporter, green builder and author in Western North Carolina, Cecil has consistently and courageously spoken truth to power in support of:

• the rights of every citizen regardless of sex, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, socio-economic status, political beliefs, religious/spiritual faith, age, or lifestyle,
• the health of our planet and all its inhabitants and
• the creation of a community that works for all of us.

In times past, many seeking elected office seemed to be trying to sell us something, as if we, the citizens, were merely consumers. Conventional political wisdom called for candidates to appear affable and knowledgeable while uttering nothing contentious, to craft a clever and persuasive message and to broadcast that message to the masses in hope that we would buy what they were selling. Well, fortunately those days are past, at least for informed voters in our community. We are seeking authentic servant leaders, leaders who will tell us the truth, leaders who will involve us in the decision-making process on matters that directly affect us, leaders who will not forget how they got into office once elected.

I believe Cecil will provide leadership for Asheville that is principled, effective, accountable, transparent, inclusive and predicated on citizen participation. He will work with us to create a truly sustainable community, including smart growth, protection of our city’s natural beauty, green jobs and action to help curb climate change. But perhaps most importantly, Cecil is one of us—someone who works for a living, someone who lives among us, someone who understands our wants and needs, someone who will hear us when we speak, someone who truly abides by the Golden Rule.

Let’s elect Cecil Bothwell as the people’s representative on Asheville City Council.

Bruce Mulkey is an Asheville writer, a former Obama campaign staff member and communications director for the Bothwell for Asheville City Council campaign. Find out more about Cecil Bothwell’s campaign at http://cecilbothwell.com.

• Buncombe County Board of Elections, 189 College Street, downtown Asheville
• North Asheville Branch Library, 1030 Merrimon Avenue
• South Buncombe Branch Library, 260 Overlook Road
• Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department Building, 70 Gashes Creek Road
• West Asheville Branch Library, 942 Haywood Road

All five of these early voting locations are open during the following hours:

• Weekdays: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, 10/31: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

ELECTION DAY
On Election Day, Tuesday, 11/3, you must vote at your regular precinct polling place from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. To find your precinct polling place, visit the URL below:

http://www.buncombecounty.org/common/election/precinct_Address.pdf

Shonnie and I have been in Asheville exactly 12 years, having moved here from Austin, Texas on October 9, 1997. We’re having dinner tonight with Ken and Loyd Kinnett, our only two friends when we first arrived.

Jubilee! Community, our faith community is 20 years old, and the birthday celebration last night was an excellent reflection of the inclusiveness, irreverence, joy and compassion that brings us all together.

It was good to see Jeremy Bird, the number two guy at Organizing for America, on MSNBC last night speaking in support of health care reform. Jeremy was in charge of Obama’s highly-successful field organization during the presidential campaign in Ohio, and I was one of his field organizers.

Shonnie and I have finished our fourth week with Crossfit Asheville. Tough workouts (I almost threw up on Wednesday), but we can both already tell the difference in our bodies and our conditioning.

I was surprised but pleased by the announcement that President Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize. There is no question that he has shifted the U.S. from a stance of confrontation to one of cooperation with the other nations of the world. But more importantly, he personally models and calls on us to act out of our highest values–compassion, connection, generosity, authenticity and integrity among others. I can only hope that this award will provide a greater urgency to get our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan at an early date.

Two of our cats are sharing Chocolate’s former duties now that she’s no longer with us physically. Desmond takes the day shift with me in my office, and Bandit sleeps with me most of the night. A great comfort, but I still miss my old companion of 21 years.

I’m going to join Cecil at the Asheville Humane Society fund raiser and the Blue Ridge Pride gathering later today to talk with voters. Hope the rain holds off!

Below is the Candidate Scorecard from the forum. You will notice that Cecil Bothwell was the only candidate participating who offered a “yes” or “no” answer on every question. In addition, Cecil was also the only candidate who said “yes” to #7–taking back our park land from Stewart Coleman by Eminent Domain and #10–creating a green space on city land in front of the Basilica.

You may watch the video version of the questions by clicking the links below:

Click HERE for questions 1, 2 and 3.
Click HERE for questions 4 and 5.
Click HERE for questions 6 and 7.
Click HERE for questions 8 and 9.

You may also wish to check out City Council candidates’ responses to the WNC for Change questionnaire by clicking here.

Remember to vote in the city primary election this Tuesday, October 6 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at your precinct polling place.

In 2008, heartened by Barack Obama’s hopeful vision for our nation, his authenticity and the grassroots nature of his campaign, my wife Shonnie and I worked diligently for him in Asheville Precinct 3 during the North Carolina primary. I was then hired as an Obama field organizer for the presidential campaign, and the challenging and fulfilling effort continued. Needless to say, we were deeply gratified at the results of both elections.

Having completed my endeavors for Obama, it was only natural that I’d then gravitate toward the candidacy of Cecil Bothwell in his race for Asheville City Council. I have known Cecil for nearly a decade now, and during that time he has modeled that same authenticity and compelling vision for our community that I found in candidate Obama. And his was also a grassroots campaign, empowering volunteers to put their passion into action.

Moreover, during his decades of service as an investigative reporter, green builder and author in Western North Carolina, Cecil has consistently and courageously spoken truth to power in support of:

• the rights of every citizen regardless of sexual orientation, ethnic origin, socio-economic status, political belief, religious/spiritual faith or lifestyle,
• the health of our planet and all its inhabitants, and
• the creation of a community that works for all of us.

I believe Cecil will provide leadership that is principled, effective, accountable, transparent, inclusive and predicated on citizen participation. He will work with us to create a truly sustainable community, including smart growth, protection of our city’s natural beauty, green jobs and action to help curb climate change. But perhaps most importantly, Cecil is one of us — someone who lives among us, someone who understands our wants and needs, someone who will readily hear us when we speak.

Let’s elect Cecil Bothwell as the people’s representative on Asheville City Council.

I have known Cecil for nearly a decade now, and during that time he has courageously spoken truth to power in support of:

1. the rights of every citizen, regardless of sexual orientation, ethnic origin, socio-economic status, political beliefs, religious/spiritual faith or lifestyle,
2. the health of our planet and all its inhabitants and
3. the creation of a community that works for all of us.

Many seeking elected office these days seem to be trying to sell us something. It’s as if we are merely consumers, and if they can just craft the right message, we’ll somehow be induced to buy what they’re selling. Well, fortunately those days are past, at least for informed citizens. We are seeking authentic servant leaders, leaders who will tell us the truth, leaders who will involve us in the decision-making process on matters that directly affect us, leaders who will not forget how they got into office once elected.

I believe Cecil will provide leadership for Asheville that is principled, effective, accountable, transparent, inclusive and predicated on citizen participation. He will work with us to create a truly sustainable community, including smart growth, protection of our city’s natural beauty, green jobs and action to help curb climate change. He will listen to us when we have something to say.

Let’s elect Cecil Bothwell as the people’s representative on Asheville City Council.

* * *
Voting in the Asheville City election

You can vote in the Asheville City Council Primary beginning this Thursday, September 17. You will be able to cast votes for three candidates for city council (including, of course, Cecil Bothwell) and one candidate for mayor.

Six city council candidates and two mayoral candidates will advance to the November General Election.

Primary voting information

• One-stop early primary voting: September 17 through October 3, 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. (Vote at Board of Elections, 189 College Street, downtown Asheville)
• Primary Election Day: October 6 (Vote at your precinct voting location)

General Election voting information

• One-stop early general election voting: October 15 through October 31, 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. (Vote at Board of Elections and during the last week, four additional sites to be determined)
• General election day: November 3 (Vote at your precinct voting location)

Registering to vote

• Primary registration deadline: September 11, however, you may also register and vote during early Primary voting from September 17 through October 3.
• General Election registration deadline: October 9, however you may also register and vote during General Election early voting from October 15 through October 31.
• You will not be able to register to vote in the primary on Primary Election Day (October 6), nor will you be able to register to vote in the general election on General Election Day (November 3)
• Register to vote at: Buncombe County Board of Elections, 189 College Street, Asheville, NC, (828) 250-4200