Black Mountain candidates field community questions in forum
Aspiring elected leaders discuss wide range of local issues
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 22, 2022
Nathan West, of the Black Mountain Project, hosts a forum with all seven candidates running in the 2022 Black Mountain General Election. The event was held at the WNC Outdoor Collective. Photo by Fred McCormick
All seven candidates vying for Black Mountain leadership positions in the November general election responded to questions from residents, Sept. 21, at the WNC Outdoor Collective.
The forum, presented by community-based group, The Black Mountain Project, featured both mayoral candidates—incumbent Larry Harris and Michael Sobol, who last held the position in 2018. Five aspirants for two town council terms, including Bill Christy, who was appointed to his current seat in 2021, also participated in the event, which included challengers Rick Earley, Weston Hall, Alice Berry and Sonny Moore.
Nathan West, who founded the BMP in 2021 with Kiersten Hall, the wife of Weston, organized and moderated the forum. Eleven questions, submitted by Black Mountain residents, were shared with the candidates in advance. Approximately 50 people attended the event, which BMP recorded to be uploaded to its YouTube channel by Friday, Sept. 23, according to West.
Each candidate opened the forum with a brief introduction, while Harris fielded the first question, which asked if he supported potential limitations on short-term rentals in the town. The mayor acknowledged the impact of the growing number of vacation properties, citing pressure on local real estate inventory and neighborhoods. The issue is a “big topic that covers a lot of territory,” he added.
“There was a lawsuit against the City of Wilmington recently, after they took a pretty bold approach trying to regulate short-term rentals, and that ended up with a multi-million dollar settlement,” he said. “I would not take a position on restricting or controlling short-term rentals without a detailed study. Also, once a study is done and we’re able to communicate facts to the public, we’re going to have to have a lot of community input, because the public has to buy into it.”
Black Mountain Mayor Larry Harris, one of seven candidates running in the November general election, responds to questions from the community, Sept. 21, in a candidate forum. Photo by Fred McCormick
Sobol later responded to the same question.
“You need to think back to the 1800s, when people started coming to Black Mountain as tourists,” he said. “They’ve been coming to Black Mountain ever since, and we are a tourist town.”
The popularity of online vacation rental platforms, such as AirBnB and VRBO, have transformed the modern industry, Sobol added.
“Now they’re taking away a lot of the housing stock, but I think it’s up to the short-term rental owners and realtors to form a commission and supervise themselves,” he said. “They could also make recommendations to the town council on how to limit this, because it can’t continue to grow the way it is.”
Mike Sobol, who served as the mayor of Black Mountain from 2013 - 2017, answers questions during a candidate forum at the WNC Outdoor Collective. Photo by Fred McCormick
Berry, in a reply to the same question, said it was time to have a conversation about short-term rentals and “find balance” in a complex local issue.
“It has so many different components,” she said. “There are people here who own short-term rentals and folks with long-term rentals. There are people who have watched their street go from being a street of locals to one of different visitors every week, so everyone’s going to get fired up about this. But, we need everyone to participate in finding a solution.”
Alice Berry, one of five candidates campaigning for two seats on the Black Mountain Town Council, responds to questions submitted by members of the community in Sept. 21 candidate forum. Photo by Fred McCormick
Earley and Hall were asked to identify specific initiatives or projects they would address if elected.
“I have serious concerns about responsibly managing development,” Earley responded. “I’ve been on the planning board for a year and half, and I’m really concerned that when some of our existing zoning densities are built out, the town will be really strapped to build the infrastructure to support them.”
While downzoning, or reducing the density allowed in a particular district, is not allowed, he continued, potential alternatives exist.
“We may have to look at requiring some infrastructure in the technical review committee process,” Earley said. “That will help us maintain our safe, walkable neighborhoods, but if we do nothing we’re going to be in trouble.”
Hall emphasized the need for workforce housing.
Weston Hall, a candidate for the Black Mountain Town Council, addresses the community in a forum on Sept. 21. Photo by Fred McCormick
“There’s affordable housing, and there’s workforce housing,” he said. “Workforce housing is based on the area’s median income, and that is what we need to focus on. I have a plan to do it, and that’s to work with Buncombe County on a plan to turn the women’s prison into affordable housing with parks, tennis courts and pickleball.”
Christy, when asked about support for Black Mountain’s public safety employees, replied that compensation for all town employees is a top priority for the town council.
“The current council has tried to work with the police and fire chiefs on equipment, and we’ve been very responsive to those needs,” he said. “During a town council retreat earlier this year, we decided that supporting town employees, and making sure they’re paid fairly, is our number one priority. It’s difficult to hire and keep first responders, and we need to do everything we can to do that.”
Billy Christy, who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Black Mountain Town Council in July, 2021, campaigns to retain the seat in the 2022 general election. He was one of seven local candidates who participated in a forum, presented by the Black Mountain Project. Photo by Fred McCormick
Hall, an assistant fire marshal for the City of Asheville, highlighted the need for upgrades to the BMFD station on Montreat Road.
“I’ve been in the station in Black Mountain and it’s a little rough. If you’ve seen the kitchen, the infrastructure is bowstring (truss) construction, which really scares firefighters because it tends to cave in during a fire,” he said. “I know we’ve had an engineer come in and say it’s safe, but when you see cracks going up the walls and the floor sinking, it’s hard to believe.”
Moore, who previously worked as the homeless outreach coordinator for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry for six years, was asked why he decided to seek a seat on the town council.
Sonny Moore is one of five candidates seeking a seat on the Black Mountain Town Council in 2022. Photo by Fred McCormick
“When this opportunity came up, the first question I asked myself was how I can make a difference,” he said. “What areas would my running for town council benefit Black Mountain? To begin with, the ability to listen and hear what your needs are, and move in a direction that would develop a pathway.”
Christy, fielding the same question, responded that he considered the time commitment required to effectively serve on the board.
“When you start out, there is a steep learning curve, but the answer for me was that I do have the time, and willingness, to do it,” said the retired Black Mountain attorney who is currently serving as interim president of his alma mater, Warren Wilson College. “I have enjoyed serving on the council, and I believe I have the capacity to do it.”
Sobol, Harris and Earley were each asked about concerns that the town was experiencing too much growth, and how to address continued development in the future.
Rick Earley, one of five candidates seeking a seat on the Black Mountain Town Council, speaks during a forum. Photo by Fred McCormick
“We not only have folks investing in residential real estate for short- and long-term rentals, and folks coming from other places to retire or raise families here, we also have folks from within the county moving here. We’re an attractive place to be,” Harris said. “But I’m not anti-growth, because we need to have growth. Resident won’t be able to have the services they’re accustomed to without growth in the tax base. But, we have to plan carefully for growth.”
Sobol highlighted a pair of recent developments that he believes underscore the need for increased accountability in town hall.
“We have got to start tightening up on some of our restrictions,” he said. “I’m sorry, but we’ve got to have more restrictions, and some teeth in those restrictions. We also need to make sure we have a building inspector.”
Black Mountain’s biggest draw is currently one of its top challenges, according to Earley.
“The problem is we have a great place to live and a lot of people want to come here, and the problem is we have a great place to live and we don’t want a lot of people wanting to come here,” he said. “We want to keep the small town charm, with the walkability and safety, and put our heads together on how we’re going to do this. It might involve some restrictions on the types of developments, and not simply how many houses per acre. We have to have revenue, but we need to be careful how we do it.”
A question about affordable housing, and how the town council could encourage wider access to it was directed to Berry and Moore. While Moore touted the need for federally subsidized housing in the area, while Berry recommended collaboration with the county.
“There is a bond initiative, towards affordable housing, on the ballot this November, and if this is your issue you need to check that initiative out,” Berry said.
Each candidate was allowed two minutes to explain why he or she warranted the public’s vote.
Harris concluded the evening by stating his belief that his two years in the office have proven he’s earned the opportunity to retain the position.
“I think I’ve earned the respect of town council, and of the county commissioners, as the chair is supporting me in this race,” he said. “I have the support of some of our council members, and I believe I have the support of many in our community. I have the skills to do the job.”
Harris emphasized the mayor’s role as a facilitator of efficiency.
“The mayor’s job is to try his or her best to make the council a strong council, and to work with the town manager and council to make town staff a strong staff,” he said. “It’s tough job, and it isn’t done by running over people, it’s done by listening, honest communication and through respectful actions toward each other.”
Sobol stated his position that the town was in need of new leadership.
“I think we need to look at town hall, the town manager and town planner and direct them a little more sternly than we have been,” he said. “I think we need to address a major issue, which is parking.”
The former mayor advocated for the town to purchase property to provide additional parking near downtown and espoused the need for a more aggressive approach on projects related to stormwater and greenways.
“It’s time we start addressing these things,” Sobol said. “Let’s start thinking about the future and have some vision.”
While Christy lauded his fellow town council candidates, he highlighted the value of his experience on the board.
“The issues the town is facing are very complex, and it’s easy to say they’re simple, but they’re not,” he said.
A love for his native town prompted Earley to run, he said.
“Fifty years ago, there were town leaders who planned for 50 years in the future, which is now,” he said. “We are living in the good decisions they made. I feel like I have a pleasant place to live and a delightful inheritance, and I want to be a part of the 50-year planners now that will guarantee this year’s high school graduates can come back here and think surely they have a delightful inheritance.”
Accountability and accessibility represent two key principles for Berry, who also reiterated the need for affordable housing and sustainable growth.
“As I referenced before, I really stand for equitable solutions,” she said. “I can only speak my truth, and from my own life experience I’m a good listener and I’m really curious about other people’s life experiences. This is what I do everyday as a therapist, and I want to know how I can serve you better, absorb your experiences and be a great advocate.”
Moore addressed the crowd by advocating for heightened restrictions on development.
“We don’t want to sell out Black Mountain,” he said. “How is outside development taking a toll on Black Mountain? When it it comes to an outside investor buying a property just because they see it can be profitable for them, that doesn’t show any interest in the town, whatsoever.”
Hall described himself as a “voice for the people,” while calling for collaboration to address various issues in the town.
“If you look back, we’re going over the same problems that we went over in 2008 and 2017: AirBnBs, stormwater, parks and trees,” he said. “We’ve had two comprehensive plans since I’ve been here, and they kind of get shelved and dusty. We have to come together, have subcommittees, and say ‘this is what we want, we want it this way and we want it now.’”
To learn more about the seven candidates running in the 2022 Black Mountain General Election, read The Valley Echo’s Candidate Q&A, linked here.