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By Scott Nicholson
A non-partisan political action committee has formed in hopes
of influencing town of Boone elections.
Citizens for Change has been meeting since early this year,
but formally registered as a political action committee with
the state board of elections last month. The PAC draws between
20 and 50 people to each of its meetings, said David Blust,
a former Watauga County commissioner who is one of the facilitators.
Blust said the group formed out of its members’ concerns
over town actions, which they feel have a harmful impact on
the town’s growth.
“We’ve been working on this since the steep-slope
and viewshed issues came up,” Blust said, referring to
land-use regulations that would limit growth in certain areas.
He also said the town’s water policies affected growth:
“We want new faces on the Boone Town Council and see some
common sense put on there.”
The PAC is officially registered as a “get-out-the-vote”
entity, but Blust said the members also want to educate the
public about land-use issues and how they affect the town’s
future. “ASU (Appalachian State University) and the hospital
are growing, and that takes away from the tax base,” Blust
said. “Where are you going to get your taxes?
Blust said the PAC included people who lived in the town limits
as well as those in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction,
whose property falls under town regulations even though they
can’t vote in elections. Blust said people who lived outside
the incorporated area still had a stake because Boone is the
county seat and its economy affects the entire county. He also
noted that people on town committees didn’t always live
inside the town limits.
Reba Moretz, treasurer for the PAC, said the group was formed
by people concerned about the direction of the town and the
dissension and conflict that now existed. “This is non-partisan,”
she said. “It’s not about supporting Democrats or
Republicans. It’s about supporting honesty and integrity
in town government.”
Moretz, who has lived in the town since the 1930’s, said,
“I feel there needs to be more cooperative effort between
the town and the university. Water policies are a big concern.
Facts need to be presented about the state of water conditions
at this time. We would like to see a greater effort to face
traffic issues.”
Moretz said she would like to see more leadership from people
with a background in the town that understood the heritage and
the needs of the community as well as an understanding of past
town relations with Appalachian State University.
“My biggest concern is the negative attitudes that have
been created about a lot of issues and the antagonism toward
the university,” Moretz said.
Jeff Templeton said the PAC grew out of viewshed regulations
adopted last year by the town council that he characterized
as “sweeping changes to the local ordinance in the face
of overwhelming opposition.” He said the group’s concerns
affected not only the town but the ETJ as well, listing water
shortages, affordable housing, property rights and a growing
division between the town and ASU as key issues.
“Citizens have come together over these issues to seek
new leadership in the Town of Boone,” Templeton said. “We
need a mayor who can lead, not look for the next photo op. There
are multiple issues facing this community desperate for leadership.”
Templeton said the PAC would focus on educating the public and
supporting candidates it feels are best suited to leading the
community. The PAC is supporting Stephen Phillips, Ethan Dodson
and incumbent Dempsey Wilcox for town council and Tim Wilson
for mayor. Town elections will be held Oct. 9.
While there is no comprehensive list of Watauga County-based
PACs registered with the state, the State Board of Elections
office lists ASU Watauga County Young Republicans, Watauga County
Democratic Party, Watauga Democratic Women, Watauga County Republican
Party, Watauga Republican Women, Watauga Young Democrats and
100 Women as registered PACs with local treasurers.
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