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Robin Cape asks voters to write her in for City Council General Election

News or Press Release

Because it is something most of us have never done before, some voters are asking, “Is a write-in success possible?” My answer, from my own experience, is “Absolutely!”

I entered political service in 2003 as a write in candidate for the Woodfin Water Board. A group of citizens, frustrated with the Board’s decision to log the Woodfin Watershed, organized a write in campaign to elect me to represent them. In 2003 I was WNC’s first successful write-in candidate, and with your help I can win as a write-in for Asheville City Council.

A write-in is NOT breaking the rules! Write-ins are a legal right for North Carolina voters. According to the general statutes governing voting, every official ballot shall “have a means by which a voter may cast a write in vote.”

When you go to vote in the Asheville City Council General Election – either on November 3rd or through early voting - you will receive a paper ballot and a pen with which to mark your votes. On the ballot you will see 6 candidates and also a blank line. You are entitled to vote for 3 candidates since there are 3 Council seats to fill.

To vote for me as one of your three choices:

* Fill in the circle next to the blank line.

* Write “Robin Cape” on the line.

That’s all there is to it.
Just nine simple letters and 5 more seconds of your time.

The State Board of Elections lawyer ruled that voters are not able to write in on the primary ballot. We are sorry for any confusion this decision has caused voters. You can only write in on the General Election Ballot.

I an asking for you to Write-in and Re-elect me as your Asheville City Council representative. And, I am asking for your help to spread the word about how easy it really is. Let’s make some more history together!

Important Dates:

Oct 9th Deadline to register to vote in the general election Oct 17th Start of General Election Early Voting Nov 3rd General Election Day

Remember: Fill in the circle.

Write “ROBIN CAPE”

Thanks for your support!

What Robin has Accomplished on Asheville City Council

September 27, 2009

The day to day work of Council is made up of so many things. Everyone understands the importance of the role of Councilmembers as one of the seven people who sit every other Tuesday evening representing the people of Asheville; voting about developments, ordinances, budget and operations. Though a council person can not make every constituent happy with every vote, overrall, Robin’s record stands as someone who takes an informed, reasoned and approach to this work.

But there is another role a council person assumes when undertaking this work. That is in the relationships they build, the collaborations they encourage, working with others to lead Asheville toward a healthier, more resilient future for us all. It is here, looking back, that Robin has been an especially effective public servant for our city. Let’s look back on a few things that have happened by her efforts since she began serving this community in political service:

In 2003 at the Woodfin Water Board she was elected as a write in candidate to save the 1800 acre wood shed from logging. The newly elected board of three members put the whole watershed in conservation with the State of NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund and received $4.6 million dollars to do so. Reorganized and restructured the Woodfin Water Dept to modern, accountable and transparent operations. In 2005, after being elected to Asheville City Council, Robin was instrumental in leading the City of Asheville to:

*Form the citizen’s Sustainable Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment (SACEE) to focus on the city Of Asheville’ (the organization) as a model for the community regarding energy reduction and clean air initiatives *Join the ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability *Establish a 2% annual energy conservation goal *Establish Gold LEED Standards for all municipal buildings *Create an energy coordinator position to oversee organizational energy footprint reduction. This position has now expanded to be the Office of Sustainability directly under the City Manager. *Develop the City’s green house gas baseline footprint using ICLEI software so the City could set energy conservation strategies *Purchase and conserve Beaucatcher Overlook Park, the 30 acre natural park behind McCormick field *Ask and receive permission from our State Legislators to create incentives for Green Building *Institute a practice of checking greenway plans as a routine part of land review to ensure no potential city owned land that is part of a future greenway system is left intact *Ask and receive permission from State Legislators to create a Local Government Energy Loan Program to help property owners finance renewable and energy efficiency upgrades. *Encourage the Green building Council to begin building Green Bus Stops. First one is on Clingman Avenue *Develop and Adopt a Sustainability Management Plan to guide city operations

Robin also stood firmly in support of Council’s decision to:

*Institute Living wage for City Employees *Fund the Downtown Master Plan Fund and adopt the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan *Support funding for the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness *Begin funding capital improvement upgrades on the Civic Center *Increase Transit Ridership by instituting Fare free promotion and transit upgrades *Upgrade and repair water infrastructure, including lines and production facilities *Provide constantly improved Police and Fire Protection services *Develop a one stop shop to enhance citizen service for permitting *Support the Reid Center construction *Improve Recreation Centers across the city *Support NEMAC modeling center for better decision making tools *Support the anti tethering and backyard Chickens ordinance *Develop a Transit Master plan with recommendations for route improvements *So much more….

Robin’s work with others outside of Council, on the Asheville Hub, the Community Energy Advisory Council, the Asheville Buncombe Sustainable Community Council has been instrumental in efforts to:

*Begin a county wide Sustainability Management Plan *Design and support Reading Riding and Retrofit, a comprehensive program to green the area school systems *Progress Energy’s home and commercial incentive programs for energy conservation

There is a lot more work ahead and Robin has established the knowledge and relationships to keep this work moving forward. In the past four years, as a rookie council member, Robin has had a positive impact on our city. In the next four years, her experience and foundation can bring even more benefits to our community.

Write in Robin Cape in the General Election for Asheville City Council.