History in the making–First black mayor of Asheville sworn in
On Tuesday night I saw history being made. At the Asheville City Council meeting council member Terry Bellamy was sworn in as the first black mayor of Asheville. And two other women–incumbent Holly Jones and new-comer Robin Cape–were then sworn in.
But that’s not the whole story. When Terry assumed the position as mayor, her seat on the council became open. Thus, Bryan Freeborn, a thirty-something carpenter from West Asheville, was appointed by the council to take the open seat. With environmentalist Brownie Newman already on the council, we now have four progressive council members (Brownie, Holly, Robin and Bryan), two centrists (Terry and Jan Davis) and one conservative (Carl Mumpower).
So we have taken the first step in creating a city council that represents all of the people of Asheville. We have selected council members who are true public servants. We have worked for them, and we have gone to the polls and elected them. Now the real challenge begins–involvement on an ongoing basis, supporting our council members to be successful, letting them know when we think they’re on the right track (and when they’re off), attending city council meetings, sitting on city boards and commissions, holding them in our thoughts and prayers as they go about conducting the business of our unique mountain city.
I believe that what we’ve created in Asheville is a harbinger of things to come. Out of the Democratic presidential caucuses in 2004, when progressives in Asheville and Buncombe County gave Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) a victory with approximately 40 percent of the vote, and the 2004 presidential election when many of us became deeply engaged in the political process, we have awakened to our numbers and our power. While the electoral process is still predisposed toward rich white men (most notably lawyers), we have shown what we can do when we put our hearts, minds and spirits into creating the world we wish to see. Now it is time to start preparing for our 2006 county election and for the upcoming 11th congressional district race.
Saturday, December 10th, 2005No Comments »
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