One of the hottest topics in Asheville is the partisan/nonpartisan election debate. Council voted June 12 to change the city charter to make elections partisan. This would give those who asked for and supported the change a major statistical advantage, as registered Democrats (58%) outnumber Republicans (20%) in Asheville. Even Unaffiliated voters (22%) outnumber Republicans.

The synchronicity of the decision was amazing, as the matter was considered at the last possible meeting for the change to apply to the incumbents’ campaigns; but too late for Unaffiliated voters to adopt a party. Now, while Democrats and Republicans are simply going to the Board of Elections to pay their filing fees and get on the ballot, any Unaffiliated voter wishing to run for local office must petition for signatures from 4% of Asheville’s registered voters, or 2250 signatures.

Concerned citizens challenged council’s decision, which was supported by a bloc of four progressives and opposed by Dr. Carl Mumpower, Mayor Terry Bellamy, and Jan Davis. Davis is a moderate running for re-election who would likely have his constituents split among parties in the primary process.

The citizens’ group, led by Charlie Hume, launched a petition drive to force a referendum challenging council’s charter amendment. Petitioners were given thirty days to collect signatures from 10% (5000) of Asheville’s voters for this initiative. The deadline is July 16, but only half the needed signatures have been obtained.

Mumpower attempted to use his clout as a councilman to launch a city-mandated referendum. His efforts were shot down by the Progressive bloc. Justification included not only legal concerns. Councilman Brownie Newman argued that people who did not declare themselves to be either Democrats or Republicans were not being honest. His colleague, Bryan Freeborn, indicated that third parties didn’t have a chance at winning, and if people wanted to be a part of the process, they needed to choose between the two parties. Robin Cape said flatly she was not ashamed to unlevel the playing field to her advantage because certain national issues (the War in Iraq and global warming?) needed local support and would not wait.