Buncombe County GOP Hosts Town Hall
Creating a Dialogue with Candidates
On Saturday, the Buncombe County GOP took the initiative in forming a bridge of dialogue between local election candidates and community members. An open-to-public Townhall session was organized where local residents got an opportunity to meet and interact with their potential representatives.
Spotlight on Issues At Hand
The meeting provided a platform for attendees not just to familiarize themselves with the candidates but also to raise critical issues that directly affect their lives. Local resident Bob Ray expressed his concern over the inflation, especially the rising food prices. He voiced, “Last weekend, I went to the grocery store to get a couple of steaks to put on the grill, $38 for 2 steaks, it is not under control, and it needs to be”, highlighting the genuine ground-level issues that are otherwise often overlooked.
Among the candidates was Paul Benjamin, running for Buncombe County Commissioner District – 1, who focused on addressing the problem of gun violence in the area. Benjamin emphasized the importance of safety and the need for proper funding for law enforcement agencies. “Gun violence and crime is up in our community. We have to protect and bring safety back to our families. The PD is down 40% in law enforcement,” he said.
Fostering Active Political Participation
Doug Brown, the BCGOP Chairman, urged participants to actively engage in the democratic process by posing pertinent questions to the candidates. “Candidates will be addressing whatever things running on their minds, whether its infrastructure, whether it’s the $28 million dollar deficit we have, whether it’s schools and how to fund them better,” Brown stressed.
Each candidate was given a chance to share their concerns, proposed solutions, their future plans. The question-and-answer-format focused on topics including, but not limited to, gun violence, homelessness, and education reform.
Coming Together Ahead of Elections
The neighborhood Townhall session is a step towards a more informed electorate as the November election approaches. As of now, we have not yet received a reply from the Buncombe County Democratic Party regarding their planned community engagement sessions. We hope all political parties will seize this opportunity to build a better understanding and rapport with community members, which will ultimately lead to a stronger, more inclusive political process.
These townhall sessions underline the vital democratic process in which every voice in the community matters. With an informed voter base, better leadership can be expected, leading to solutions for growing local issues.
