Posted April 16, 2009

DWIGHT BUTNER: Vincenzo's owner * File photo: MediaBear

MUMPOWER POINTS ICY FINGER AT FRIENDS AND FOES
For Carl Mumpower's initial accusations of Vincenzo's Dwight Butner and others, Click Here>

VINCENZO'S OWNER RESPONDS TO MUMPOWER'S ACCUSATIONS

*VINCENZO'S OWNER DWIGHT BUTNER: 'If I'm wrong, I'll take care of it. If I'm not, I'll expect an apology from Carl [Mumpower]'

In an exclusive telephone interview on Thurs. afternoon, April 16, 2009, Dwight Butner, long-time Asheville resident and respected restauranteur, addressed Mumpower's serious accusations about illegal aliens working at Butner's long-time established restaurant, located near city hall. Said Butner to DowntownAsheville.com: "I spoke with Carl today and he refused to tell me who gave him this information."

Butner said: "I consider Carl to be a friend. I've known him for years." He added: "I thought better of Carl. ... I'm disappointed."

Dwight Butner said that he has only two foreign nationals who have or had worked for him "off and on for years" at Vincenzo's.

He said that one of his chefs, who is from Haiti, has worked for him "off and on for seven years," while another employee "who has a green card and Social Security card has been with me off and on for 13 years."

Butner confessed that while he has "not validated them for years" to the degree that he might have now given immigration and political environment of today, he said, "I've done the best that I can" given what he knows about his employees, adding "I would be very much suprised if they are not legal."

Said Butner, "I take what Carl has to say, as I should, seriously. But if he is wrong, I'll expect an apology. If I'm wrong, I'll certainly take care of it and apologize to him."

IS DWIGHT BUTNER RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE THIS YEAR? Butner told DowntownAsheville.com that although he has not decided for certain whether or not he will be running for Asheville City Council this year, he said, "I'm leaning against it. I just started up a new business and, quite frankly, I'm not sure I would have the time to give to being a city councilmember. That's really the bottom line for me. If I can't give the time that I need to serve the citizens of Asheville, then I won't run. And I'm not sure I have the time to give right now." | Butner did say that he didn't know whether Carl Mumpower's accusations of Vincenzo's employing illegal aliens were politically motivated or not, but Butner did consider Carl to be "opportunistic" in doing it in the manner that he did. That is, Butner considered that given the seriousness of the accusations, he faulted Mumpower for "not being man enough to back them up" with any specifics or details. | In the final analysis, Vincenzo's founder and fine restaurant owner Dwight Butner had this to say about Mumpower's public accusations: "I think Carl is just trying to remain relevant." | DOWNTOWN FACTOID:  Vincenzo's is considered by many locals and tourists to be one of the city's best independent restaurants. It is located at 10 North Market Street, Asheville, NC 28801; 828-254-4698; vincenzos.com or Click Here> | Butner is one of the founders of the highly regarded Asheville Independent Restaurant Association or AIR at airasheville.org or Click Here>.