Name: Carl Mumpower
Profession: Psychologist
In up to two words, describe your political affiliation: Conservative Republican
In one brief sentence, describe yourself and why you’re running: There are reasons to believe our homogenized governing council of 7 Progressive Democrats would benefit from minority representation by a conservative voice skilled in care with other people’s money, liberties and opportunities.
General questions
These questions are about problems, challenges or topics facing city government and how you would try to deal with them if elected.
1) According to recent studies, Asheville has an extremely low amount of available housing and the city’s currently making national lists as an unaffordable place to live. What steps would you pursue to deal with this issue?
Maintaining Asheville’s affordability while simultaneously increasing taxes, regulations and elitist policies is not possible. A quick look around our city reveals who’s winning in the silent power struggle between the rich, powerful and connected and the average man, woman and family struggling to live here. One piece of a winning affordable housing strategy finds us incentivizing private contractors (the only ones with the pockets to make a difference) toward two things – (1) Maximizing density development in our urban core and (2) Micro scale apartments (250 Sq. Ft. avg.) that are thus permanently tilted toward affordability.
2) During the past year, we’ve seen an increasing numbers of concerns raised about de facto racial segregation in Asheville, an issue worsened by the impacts of redlining, racism, urban renewal and the state of public housing. If elected, what specifically would you do to help address this problem?
It’s a personal belief that the majority of the racial initiatives in our community are well motivated but ineffective. Most are dependent on habituated and hollow rhetoric. The racial antagonism commonly assumed to be a color issue just as often tracks to a resistance to the choices, character, and culture of those we avoid. Obsessing about color, something over which we have no control, while we ignore factors over which we have great control, assures a permanent racial divide. Respect and parity are never given, guilted, or forced – they must be earned – by everyone, regardless of color. That success potential tracks most specifically to the choices, character and culture we embrace.
3) From internal disputes and problems with morale to concerns about racial disparities, many are wondering about the state of the Asheville Police Department. What specific steps do you see as necessary to reform the APD and improve relations with the community?
The new chief brings a breath of fresh air to APD. That’s a good place to start. Police officers face a daily parade of politicized administrators, fickle citizens, opportunistic politicians, antagonistic special interests and dangerous criminals – that’s a tough juggling act. Supporting balance requires persistence, informed oversight and political sincerity that has been little evidenced over the past year. My favorite management principle – questions down/answers up. If our police chief is as smart and savvy as I think she is, she will learn from our officers what she needs to know to stabilize APD. The savings potentials in terms of reduced recruitment, training, turnover and overtime costs are exciting. The quality of life impact on our citizens and officers – equally so.
4) Wages in Asheville are well below the state average and federal data shows pay for many jobs here remains stagnant despite the tourism boom. If elected, what specific steps would you pursue to help boost local wages?
Asheville has always suffered a geographic wage penalty – part of the price most of us pay to live here. Keeping taxes low, services good, regulation down and safety up are the 4 best ways for city government to attract higher wage jobs. Higher wage jobs, are, in turn, our community’s best social service.
5) The last city budget estimated the total cost of the city’s infrastructure needs at around $400 million. What steps would you encourage to address this problem, what funding sources would you use and what would the top priorities be?
From experience I never trust these sorts of figures – they are so commonly under or over estimated as to be essentially useless. More genuine action has us filtering out budgetary waste (the unbelievable dollars going into police recruitment, training, replacement and overtime offer example) and dedicating ourselves to an infrastructure repair/replacement schedule each year. History demonstrates we are much more inclined to fund special interests knocking on our front door than acting on the roof leaking above our heads.
Yes/No questions
These questions are about specific proposals Council has or may consider, and how you would vote on them. The first word of each answer must be Yes or No. An explanation of one’s position — or an alternative proposal — may follow.
1) A majority of Asheville City Council recently approved increased fines and enforcement to strengthen the ban on short-term rentals (i.e. Airbnb and similar sites) in most areas of the city. Do you support this move?
No – for many homeowners short-term rentals to visitors hold more benefits than renting that same home to longer-term tenants. I do not believe we have a pattern of neighborhood disruption by short-term rentals. I do believe we have a serious pattern with speeding and drugs in our neighborhoods – neither of which is successfully enforced. Short-term rentals by in-resident homeowners are a viable way for some people to afford to live in our increasingly unaffordable city.
2) City staff recently proposed a detailed plan to restrict busking in downtown in three major spots, with specific rules on the numbers of performers and the amount of space they can occupy. Do you support this proposal?
No – again, I think we are finding problems where they do not exist while we ignore bigger problems that do. The disrupters downtown are the predatory vagrants/addicts who generate fear, discomfort and danger on a routine basis. Let’s fix this issue (there are ways to do so) before we go after the people who entertain others and generate income in a more constructive fashion. Over time natural forces of competition will keep busker numbers in check. Occasional misbehaviors can be handled through existing ordinances.
3) Do you support a $12.50 minimum wage for all city of Asheville employees, regardless of classification or status?
No – I do not believe artificial wage requirements work for the people we most need to help. Such actions, however, do sooth the consciences of politicians busily implementing the elitist policies mentioned earlier.
4) Will you approve city funds to support the proposal, backed by the city-county African-American Heritage Commission, for a monument on Pack Square marking the contributions and history of Asheville’s black citizens?
No – this should be a fully philanthropic endeavor – as should be the art museum.
5) This year’s city budget included a property tax increase, with a majority of the current Council claiming this was necessary due to revenue changes at the state level. Do you support that increase?
No – I believe the council misused state action to justify increasing taxes as a means to sidestepping the challenges of separating the necessary from the nice and finding points of savings. Again, APD realities offer example.