Introduction
Briefly, why are you running for office?
To ensure Asheville’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene, including stewarding the more than $225 million in federal funding I helped secure for greater opportunities for residents, community resilience and sustainability, and economic recovery and transformation.
What are the most important issues facing your locality?
Effective advocacy in Washington to force the Department of Homeland Security to release the funding that has already been allocated by the Congress specifically for Helene recovery, affordable housing for our residents, resilient infrastructure and environment, and an economy that works for locals.
What role do unions and union members play in your locality?
Unions and union members are essential to improving working conditions for everyone and for improving outcomes for communities. I continue to be a supporter of the nurses unionizing at HCA Hospital (formerly Mission Hospital). This union formation is critical to addressing the conditions that nurses are working under at HCA hospital which directly affect the quality of care received by patients, people living in Asheville and Western North Carolina. The City of Asheville relies on unionized bus drivers to support our public transportation system. They are essential to serving the basic needs of many people in our community. But even where collective bargaining is not authorized, workers associations such as a firefighters association or teachers association are invaluable advocates not just for their members but also for the resulting quality of care community members receive.
Issues: Support for Unions
The United States Constitution guarantees freedom of association to all, and federal labor laws protect most workers from retaliation by employers when choosing to unionize.
Do you believe all workers should be free to choose to form and join unions without fear of retribution?
Yes.
How will you publicly support workers in your community during union organizing drives and contract negotiations?
I will continue to be an ally to union organizers in all the ways asked of me, and I appreciated that the nurses at HCA welcomed my support at the time they were organizing. It is not my place to insert myself when not asked, but, if asked, I am glad to provide any support needed.
How would you promote the procurement of union goods and services by your locality?
North Carolina is a modified Dillon Rule state, and in a council-manager system the mayor and council do not write bid specifications or pick vendors. But the council sets policy and controls the budget and through the CDBG-DR funds the city is receiving we can invest in workforce development partnerships and business incubation to grow a stable, skilled and empowered workforce so local union labor is ready, available, and competitive for city work. In addition, the city can and does do outreach to make sure that businesses, including unionized businesses, know how to bid and understand our processes for city awarded contracts. We need to make sure red tape and bureaucracy don’t stand in the way.
Issues: Public Employees
Most private and public sector workers alike have the freedom to negotiate union contracts known as “collective bargaining agreements” with their employers. North Carolina is one of only two states with a blanket prohibition on such contracts for public employees. A simple repeal of this ban would restore the freedom of public workers and their employers to negotiate collective bargaining agreements without requiring them to do so while continuing to forbid strikes by public employees.
Do you support the freedom of public employees and their employers to negotiate collective bargaining agreements?
Yes.
Would you write a letter to your state lawmakers in support of public employee collective bargaining?
Yes.
Do you support the ability of public employees to pay union dues via payroll deductions the same as they would fund other contributions?
Yes.
Issues: Living Wages
There is no county in the United States where a person getting paid the federal minimum wage can work full time and afford an apartment or support themselves and their families. Local governments can ensure people working for them get paid family-sustaining wages and don’t live in poverty.
Do you support the concept of paying living wages of at least $22 an hour to workers employed by your local government and those employed by local government contractors?
Yes.
Do you support requiring companies that receive state or local tax incentives to sign enforceable community benefits agreements (CBAs) that guarantee living-wage jobs, local hiring, workforce training, and neutrality on union organizing?
Yes. Asheville currently has a policy for economic development that includes living wage requirements. I supported this policy and will continue to do so. If job safety standards are not being met by any employer, including but not limited to companies that receive incentives, I would want to understand how the City can use policy and practices to encourage or require compliance.
Issues: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility provides a set of tools for building communities and institutions where everyone belongs and is able to thrive by addressing systemic barriers that have historically excluded women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, and other marginalized groups.
How would you use your position to foster racial, gender, accessibility, and immigrant justice in your community?
I will continue to be a steady, reliable advocate focused on safety for our community members. See my consistent public record of advocacy, voting record, and volunteer and community service on all facets of this issue and my current response to the NC Legislature’s recent DEI inquiry into our city’s policies. Remaining grounded and true to the clarity, principles, and values that I uphold are key to being useful and effective in fostering justice.
How would you use your position to make immigrant worker issues visible?
I will continue to use my position and ability to effectively communicate across perceived barriers and differences with leaders at the state and local level to make immigrant worker issues visible to the extent that our local impacted community wishes receive heightened visibility. See the recent joint letter that County Chair Amanda Edwards and I worked to bring our governing bodies together on and which voiced our collective support for our immigrant communities in the face of a possible ICE invasion in Asheville and Buncombe County. And we heard our immigrant community’s recent request for City Council to pause a resolution that could have heightened scrutiny of our immigrant community.
If you have the chance, would you recommend a qualified union member to serve on a local board or commission?
Yes.
How would you improve the accessibility of public transportation and of affordable housing?
Accessibility in terms of ensuring that all people, regardless of ability, can equitably utilize public transportation and affordable housing is both something I personally advocate for and have learned much about as a result of my public service and also is required by law and written into how we offer public transportation and the permitting of accessible housing units. Specifically regarding transportation accessibility, see the city’s GAP plan which will connect all modes of transportation while making needed improvements to ensure ADA accessibility. Individuals should be able to move throughout the city safely regardless of one’s mobility differences. Where and when shortcomings are identified, by resident, staff, or anyone else, I will advocate for solutions so that accessibility is ensured.
Accessibility in terms of ensuring that all people, regardless of income, location of residence, social status, etc., can equitably use public transportation and affordable housing is also something I personally advocate for and have affirmatively worked to expand through my public service. My advocacy for increased opportunities for housing for our lowest income residents as well as the missing middle (which would alleviate so much housing pressure) is public record, and I’m especially proud of partnerships with the Housing Authority, Mountain Housing Opportunities, Homeward Bound, Habitat for Humanity, Haywood Street Congregation, and others, to bring affordable housing to Ashevillians.
Specific to transportation, which we know primarily serves people who ride the bus out of necessity, I’ve voted to increase the funding for transit, increase the number of routes, add Saturday and Sunday service and other service expansions, enhance bus stops, and plan for the redevelopment of the transit center by acquiring adjacent land and envisioning a new transit center combined with affordable housing. I will continue to support the improvement of Asheville’s public transportation system toward the ideal of efficient, frequent, reliable service.
