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Four Seasons Politics

LIGHTNING EDITORIAL: Greenway IS jobs creator

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Ferguson says trail 'right tool for the job' on economy

Here is Coty Ferguson's statement on the Ecusta Trail. He is a Republican candidate for the 113th House seat. I have spent a great deal of time engaging voters since announcing my candidacy for the State House, and one question comes up every time, “How do you feel about the Ecusta Trail?” It is a complicated question because at its core it isn’t a question about a bike trail. The real question is, “What will the future of WNC look like?” The manufacturers that once employed people by the thousands are long gone. People are skeptical that a bike trail is the answer to our economic woes, and they have good reason.It is hard to see how a trail produces jobs, there is no product and no employees. Yet, just a few years ago Travelers Rest was on life support; the Swamp Rabbit Trail breathed life into the community. It became a tourism draw and small businesses grew up to take advantage of increased traffic in the area. Travelers Rest knew that they had to do more than build a bike path, they had to invest in a future that would not look at all like the past.A permanent year-round farmers market was built, Furman University was annexed, and incentives were provided to encourage investment. This multi-faceted approach is what we need for our communities. So when people ask, “How is a bike trail going to create jobs?” We should respond that it is merely a piece to the puzzle. The positive impact on communities just like ours rails-to-trails projects have had is undeniable. Which begs the question, why haven’t we done this already?There are a couple of reasons, property rights and industry requiring rail in the future. Rail banking solves both of these issues. Watco, the rail line owner, maintains the property rights and grants usage rights for the trail; in doing so they also reserve the right to resume usage of the line should heavy industry return to the area. Like many folks, I was skeptical, I felt that once a trail was in place rail would never be able to return. In fact, there is a precedent for the resumption of rail activity.Since 1982 when rail banking was first permitted, nine trails have reverted to rail lines. What is more encouraging is the large number of rails-with-trails projects, which serve as both an active rail line and trail. A study of rails-with-trails by the Rails-to-trails Conservancy found that there are 161 rails-with-trails operating in 41 states. This is in addition to the nearly active 2,000 rail trails in the United States.The only remaining question is, “Can we afford it?” I think that a better question is, “Can we afford not to?” The Henderson County Commissioners, the Hendersonville and Brevard City Councils, as well as the towns along the route have endorsed this project. They know that the project comes with a multi-million-dollar price tag, but view the Ecusta Trail as an investment. There are federal and state funds available for rails-to-trails projects, there are also funds available from non-profit groups such as Friends of the Ecusta Trail and the Rails-to-trails Conservancy. New members of our community Oskar Blues,Sierra Nevada, and New Belgium all have a history of donating to these types of projects. Estimates have valued the steel from the rail line at $1.5 million, money which would greatly assist in the building of a trail. There are a wide variety of funding streams available if this is the direction we want to go.The future of manufacturing in the United States will not look like it once did, already, it is much smaller and increasingly specialized; Transylvania County does not have the infrastructure to support heavy industry if it were available. Water and sewage lines need upgraded, capacity must increase, and roads need major work. These issues are show stoppers when recruiting new industry. The economy of the future will be highly diversified. We must continue to leverage our biggest resource, the outdoors, while embracing small scale manufacturing, brewing, and small business.What will our economy look like in the future? There is no doubt in my mind that it will include the Ecusta Trail. Bike shops and other small businesses will appear along the trail. Bike manufacturers will be drawn to the Cycling Capital of the South. Technology firms, who often place a strong emphasis on quality of life for employees, will be drawn to our highly walkable communities and strong schools. The Ecusta Trail is not a silver bullet, but it is a tool in the tool box, and in this case, it is the right tool for the job. As your State Representative I’ll fight to put more tools in our kit, until then, let’s use the tools we have.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

BRCC would receive $3M from bond issue

Blue Ridge Community College would receive almost $3 million if voters approve a $2 billion bond issue for state universities, community colleges, water and sewer systems, parks, agriculture and National Guard facilities.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Republican-turned-Democrat seeks House seat

After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Maureen Copelof faced a dismal job market in a sour economy that critics blamed on Jimmy Carter’s “misery index” — high inflation, high interest rates and high unemployment.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

4 SEASONS POLITICS: GOP breakfast, Henson kickoff

GOP candidates invited to breakfast The Henderson County Republican Party is inviting all candidates on the Republican primary ballot to appear and make short campaign statements during a breakfast at 7:30 on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Fireside Restaurant on Sugarloaf Road.Candidates will be recognized and invited to make a brief campaign speech. For more information call 828-329-4971 or email noirs@aol.com.   Cody Henson kicks off House campaign Cody Henson, a Republican candidate for the 113th state House seat currently held by Rep. Chris Whitmire, will hold his campaign kickoff at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Rogow Room of the Transylvania County Library. Food will be provided and the Carolina Blue Bluegrass Band will perform. Henson, of Rosman, and Coty Ferguson, of Brevard, are seeking the Republican nomination for the House seat that Whitmire is vacating. The Democratic candidate for the seat is Maureen Copelof of Brevard.     Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Baldwin touts conservative credentials in Senate race

Lisa Carpenter Baldwin traces her political inspiration to her fifth great-grandfather from the 18th century.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Lisa Baldwin announces NC Senate campaign

Fiscal and social conservative, Lisa Carpenter Baldwin, has announced that she will run for the Senate District 48 seat previously held by Tom Apodaca.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

UPDATE: Hawkins, Wyatt call it right

Two went with their heart, one went with his head, one went with his wallet and the other one would rather go fishing.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Commissioners endorse Duke Energy plan

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners on Monday endorsed Duke Energy's plans to build a power plant capable of generating up to 750 megawatts of electricity to replace its Lake Julian coal plant, saying supplying energy was important for the region's future.   Read Story »

Henderson County Four Seasons Politics

Commissioners appoint interim tax assessor

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners appointed the county’s internal auditor as interim assessor and tax collector on Monday to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Tax Assessor Stan Duncan on Dec. 31.   Read Story »

Four Seasons Politics Archive