Robin Cape: 'I am reentering the Campaign for the Asheville City Council'

(EDITOR'S NOTE: FOLLOWS IS THE NEWSLETTER THAT ASHEVILLE COUNCILMEMBER EMAILED ON SEPT. 15, 2009)

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ROBIN CAPE * CAMPAIGN PHOTO

Letter from Robin, "I'm Back in the Running!"

Dear Friends,

Many of you know that I made a decision this spring to withdraw from campaigning during an extremely trying personal time. The death of my father and the dissolution of my marriage were both events of such impact and import to my children and me that I felt that I had to focus all my attention to supporting our passage through this time. 
 
I know that I did the right thing to temporarily remove myself from campaigning so that my family and I could go through this time together. I am happy to say that we all are more settled  and I am ready to continue with my life’s work of serving the City of Asheville.
 
My temporary withdrawal from the political campaign trail also offered the community the opportunity to reflect on my service. I am grateful for the support, encouragement and requests to reconsider my decision and to campaign for my seat on Council. So, with the urging of my constituents, a strengthened heart and spirit, and a rededication to working hard for this City I love I am reentering the Campaign for the Asheville City Council.
 
Due to a State Board of Elections decision there will NOT be a space on the primary ballot for write ins. This allows us to skip the primary and head straight into the General Election on November 3. State law requires that official ballots have "a means by which a write-in vote may be cast." On November 3 you will see 6 names and a blank line in the running for City Council. I ask that you write my name on that blank line.
 
With a little extra effort you can take pen in hand when you go into the ballot booth and exercise your WRITE to Vote! I am hopeful that you will do so and allow me to serve you for four more years as your Council representative.
 
Thanks so much,
For Asheville!
Robin
http://robinforasheville.com/

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: ROBIN CAPE EXPLAINS IN HER SEPT. 15, 2009 WHY SHE IS QUALIFIED TO BE RE-ELECTED AS A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)

An Experienced, Effective Leader

As you are aware, I have been a  champion of sustainability  initiatives in our community, focusing on initiatives that build strength and resiliency for our people, our economy and our environment. I am passionate about strengthening the foundations on Council that ensure that Asheville can be resilient, healthy and an integral part of the emerging green economy, and that we can respond to the increasing demands of these challenging times.
 
Sustainability has been my area of greatest focus because it incorporates ALL the aspects of effective community development: healthy and successful people, stewarding our environment, and developing a strong local economy. Most recently, my emphasis has been on creating opportunities to engage the whole community in understanding just what that actually means to each of us. As a part of the AshevilleHub’s Sustainable Community Council, I have designed a program Reading, Riding and Retrofit that saves energy and resources in the Buncombe County and Asheville schools systems, promotes local, green collar jobs, reduces school operating expenses and creates hands-on learning opportunities for our students. My service as founding member of the Applied Solutions Coalition, a national coalition of communities seeking federal funding for projects like this, is helping build support for Reading, Riding and Retrofit well beyond Buncombe County. Other accomplishments I am proud of:

* Co-sponsoring the City’s 2% annual energy reduction goals.  Last year this directive saved the City of Asheville over $65,000 in offset energy costs.

* Supporting the development of Affordable Housing opportunities through my role in the Housing and Community development Committee.

* Sponsoring legislation to provide incentives for Green Building and the City’s Gold LEED standard for Municipal Buildings.

* Working with our state delegation to authorize a Green Energy and Efficiency Loan Fund so local property owners can finance Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies on their properties

* Supporting increased attention to Downtown safety and cleanliness and more police presence in our troubled neighborhoods

* Supporting the development of a Nuisance Court to support “consequence-based alternatives” to the backed up judicial system.

* Supporting increased funding for Stormwater enforcement to decrease waterway pollution.

* Championing the community’s opportunity to design their own future with the Downtown Master Plan.

* Keeping the heat on Council to review all City Plans in our decision making processes.

* Supporting economic development opportunities that increase the local tax base while retaining the quality of life so important to this community.

* Building better relationships with our County Commissioners through collaborative initiatives

* Working hard with Community Energy Advisory Council (CEAC) to develop community strategies for renewable energy and energy efficiencies to increase energy conservation in WNC.

* Supporting community-based social issues like sexual violence reduction, regional land conservation, small scale urban farming, chain-free animal care and the preservation of rights for  all citizens.

* Supporting capital improvement expenditures on all city owned properties, including the Civic Center City Hall, Burton Street and the Reid Center and all our recreational facilities across the city. “Taking care of what we own!”

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: ROBIN CAPE EXPLAINS HOW SHE HAS WORKED AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER)

Council's Strategic Goals for 2009-10

Post-Election Priorities

Momentum for the sustainability initiatives that have been my hallmark must continue to grow. 

I have helped build the foundations that will enable us to jump start our community initiatives and be “shovel ready” for action.

I commit to supporting policies and procedures that make our development processes transparent and effective, from permitting to approvals to enforcement. 

We deserve a reasonable, integrated approach to quality development in Asheville that benefits and respects the public and private property owners.

Through my work with the AshevilleHub, I have gained a good knowledge of the various emerging pillars of our local economy, including climate, biotechnology, rejuvenation, the digital media and the arts. I will continue to collaborate with others to help build these clusters.

We have a lot of work ahead implementing the bicycle plan, the Downtown Master Plan and the Transit Plan to just name a few. I want to follow through on the work we've started and make sure that the good hours the citizens have invested in these plans get utilized and become a part of our City's future!

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City Plans

2009 Calendar

Though the campaign season is getting busy, Robin is ready and willing to come and talk with you in your neighborhood about what YOU would like to see happen in the next four years.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: CALENDAR DATES AND INFO ARE COPIED EXACTLY AS THEY APPEAR IN ROBIN CAPE'S NEWSLETTER)
 
Robin will be at:

* Neighborhood Party Malvern Hills Sunday Sept 13, 5 pm

* League of Women Voters Forum  Monday Sept  14, 6:45-9:45 YMI Cultural Center

* PARC and Mountain Voices Forum Tuesday Sept 15, 7-9 Randolph Learning Center
 
* Matt Mittan Show 570 Am 3 pm

* Get There Asheville Transportation Forum Sept 17, 7-9 pm Clingman Cafe in the River Arts District

* Sept 21, 8:45 Hall Fletcher classroom with kids and leadership program

* Sept 22 Minority Enterprise Development luncheon, Rennaissance Hotel 11:30-1:3-

* Sept 22  City Council meeting  5 pm

* Sept 23 Webinar speaker "Local Strategies to Minimize the Consequences of Climate Change"

* Sept 238-30-10  City's Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting City Hall

* Sept 24, 7 pm Warren Wilson College Robert Glenn Event

* Sept 25, Warren Wilson College  Mountain Green 3-5 pm

* Oct 1 RENCI/NEMAC grand opening Grover Arcade 1:30

* Oct. 1 South Asheville Rotary Candidate Forum,, Hilton Hotel, 43 Town Square Blvd in Biltmore Park Town Square.  5:45-8:30

* Oct 3 Democratic Headquarters,1:30 Buncombe Dem Meet and Greet

* Oct 3, The Buckerettes play the Horsesense Benefit, Marshall http://www.horsesenselearning.com/

* Oct 6 Primary Election Day

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: ROBIN CAPE ASKS FOR VOTERS' SUPPORT)

Schedule a Meet and Greet

Volunteer...Make Election History AGAIN!

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any campaign. Join the fast growing team that is buildling to help Robin win her second successful Write In Campaign.
 
Six years ago Robin and a dedicated team ran the first successful write in campaign in WNC to elect Robin to the Woodfin Water Board.
 
Now, volunteers are needed in this campaign to make phone calls, accompany Robin at events, canvas, sport bumper stickers and yard signs and be at the polls in early voting and on election day.
 
Work for Robin in October so that Robin can continue to work for us for FOUR MORE YEARS! Volunteer HERE!

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: ROBIN CAPE EXPLAINS WHY SHE BELIEVES SHE CAN WIN, EVEN AS A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)

WE CAN WIN

I am confident that we have the strength of the community behind this campaign and that we can win.

In converstaions with everyone I meet, the overall response I get is that people are excited about this election option and are ready and willing to support me in this write in campaign. Write Ins are a viable process in our voting system, a legal right we all have.

My track record as a representative with seansoned sensibility is will appreciated in our City. And I hear that people want me to continue serving and will take the extra 30 seconds it will take to add my name to the ballot on the Write in Line.
 
In 2003, when I sought to serve on the Woodfin Water Board, I became the first successful write-in campaign in Western North Carolina’s history. That election we had cumbersum computers to work with, (even I had trouble writing my name on that system!)

This time, with paper ballots and pen already in hand, its any easy opportunity to practice one of our civil rights to Write in the candidate of our choice. I am asking you to choose me.
 
With your support, I will mount Buncombe County’s second successful write-in campaign during this November 3 general election. The energy and excitement is growing and the support that is behind this campaign is inspiring. We invite YOU to join us!
 
If you have any ideas or questions about my campaign or the work of City Council, or if you would like to be more involved in this exciting campaign, please email me at robincape@gmail.com.

Or go to the new website where you can check out the latest news, volunteer or donate on line. I would love to hear from you, and I am grateful for your support. Exercise your WRITE to vote!