Name: Larry Dodson
Profession: Asheville Fire Department Captain
In up to two words, describe your political affiliation: Hardworking Democrat.
In one brief sentence, describe yourself and why you’re running: I am passionate about healthy communities and equitable governance.
General questions
These questions are about problems, challenges or topics facing county government and how you would try to deal with them if elected.
1) Should the county work with the city of Asheville to extend transit service into more areas of the county? If so, what should be the priorities for this expansion?
Considering the limited funding available for Asheville’s transit system, I believe the Asheville Transit Committee and Asheville City Council has done much to improve service throughout the county over the past several years. And yes, the county should work with the city to extend service. As development expands into the county, we should constantly be reassessing the needs of commuters to find better ways to serve them. Improvements to the system are good for workers, businesses and consumers county wide.
2) North Carolina has an increasing problem with teacher retention. If elected, what specific steps would you deal with this situation and improve the county’s education system?
First, in the short term, we must pay teachers fairly and continue to support them on a county level where Raleigh has failed. Looking long term, as elected officials, we must advocate alongside citizens to encourage our state representatives to do the right thing and prioritize public education as an investment in the future we want to see.
3) The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office began using body cameras for its patrol and corrections officers last year. What policies do you believe should be in place to ensure transparency and protect the rights of the public in this matter?
Policies governing use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies are still evolving nation wide. Balancing the legitimate interests of transparency while protecting our right to privacy must be navigated carefully. Officers should activate their cameras during all contact with citizens, assuming privacy rights are not being violated. Officers should inform citizens of activation when possible. I applaud the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for both the implementation of body-cam use and for their balanced approach on policy.
4) As Buncombe County’s seen growth it’s also seen more questions about rules on development and an affordable housing crisis that extends well outside of city limits. What policies should the county pursue on land use and dealing with the housing crunch?
The county needs to look at increasing density in compact neighborhoods that are accessible by public transit and greenways and that provide convenient access to the services we all need. We should also take a look at land use policies that will accommodate smaller homes on smaller lots. We need to look a better ways to expedite the permitting process and reduce fees to incentivize developers willing to build lower priced homes.
5) What’s your position on the county’s greenways and trails master plan? What should be the priorities for funding greenways and multimodal infrastructure at the countywide level?
Greenways and trails are a wonderful way to connect the many communities and natural places in our county. I believe they add immeasurably to the quality of life and sense of community for all of us. We should move forward with local funding, feasibility studies, and designs that will allow us to pursue grants that bring us closer to implementation of the greenways master plan. Connecting with existing and planned city greenways should be prioritized.
Yes/No
These questions are about specific proposals the commissioners have 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.
6) The area has seen a sharp increase in short-term rentals — the practice of renting out homes on sites like Airbnb — spurring a major controversy involving the housing shortage, property rights and the changing nature of the area. Would you support restrictions on short-term rentals similar to those Asheville City Council reinforced last year?
No, I do not believe that short-term rentals significantly impact our housing shortage. We could ban STR’s in the county and we would still have a housing shortage that we need to deal with. And yes, the nature of the area is changing as more and more people move here and visit here. Locals wanting to build a business based on this popularity should be permitted to do so.
7) Do you support the county’s recent move to raise the local hotel room tax to provide more funds for marketing the hospitality industry?
No, we do not currently need more funding for marketing of the hospitality industry. We do need more funding for local infrastructure.
8) Will you approve county 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 local black citizens?
Yes, absolutely.
9) Charlotte’s City Council recently passed increased protections for their LGBT citizens’ access to facilities and public accommodations, including private businesses. Do you favor Buncombe County passing a similar measure?
Yes. Every voice of opposition that I have heard is based on fear, not on facts.
10) Until 2009, Buncombe County provided a free wireless network that covered much of downtown. The FCC ruled last year that Wilson had the right to operate a similar network. Do you support using county funds to restore that service?
Yes. Of course we would need to look at the cost, but what a nice service to provide to locals and visitors alike.