Christina Kelley G. Merrill, Republican candidate for District 2, Buncombe County Commissioners


Party: Republican
Slogan: “Christina Kelley G. Merrill, your VOICE that’s missing on the commission.”
Profession: Owner of KellyCo Productions, small marketing, production and public-relations firm
Residence: Fletcher
Funding: “I am mainly funding my campaign by myself, but have raised approximately $800 from individual donations.”
Endorsements: Buncombe Forward, Lisa Baldwin

1. Do you favor A) creating a regional water authority, B) giving the existing system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District or C) leaving it under Asheville’s control? Why?
A Statehouse committee is working on a water/sewer study and considering several options. … I am confident that this process will be useful in making sure that we’re providing water and sewer in the most cost-efficient and appropriate manner to all county residents.

2. Do you support granting domestic-partner rights and/or benefits to Buncombe County employees? (Yes/No) Why?
We need to look at all Buncombe County employees’ benefits and pay scale and be in line with our state laws and [the] private sector for comparable jobs.

3. Do you favor offering tax breaks and other economic-development incentives to companies that agree to move here or expand existing facilities and hire local workers? (Yes/No) Why?
The first thing we need to do … is look at some of the restrictive ordinances and red tape currently in place that have been a deterrent to companies. At that point we can compete on a level playing field with other locations and add economic-development incentives and tax breaks.

4. Do you think the county should make funding the Connect Buncombe greenways a high priority? (Yes/No) Why?
There are many struggling families in our county. When talking about “high priority,” this is the issue that should be in that category. The greenways project needs to be examined as to its relevance to our county’s immediate most important problem, and where if falls on the list of priorities.

5. What’s the most important role of county government in job creation?
Government does not create jobs, the private sector creates jobs. … We absolutely need to get out of the way of our entrepreneurs and innovators by cutting the red tape and restrictive ordinances for local business and new industry, thus paving the way for more job opportunities.

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3 thoughts on “Christina Kelley G. Merrill, Republican candidate for District 2, Buncombe County Commissioners

  1. Dionysis

    Five questions asked, and not one real answer. To recap:

    1. A hot potato issue currently, but the candidate punts…a “committee” will decide.

    2. Again, no answer other than “we need to look…”

    3. No answer, but again, we “need to look” coupled with the standard ‘let’s do away with pesky regulations’.

    4. Another ‘yes/no’ question unanswered…let’s “examine” it.

    5. Ignored the question in favor of the usual ambiguous, ‘guvment doesn’t create jobs’ (tell teachers, police, firefighers, dispatchers, sanitation workers and so forth that).

    Wake me when this snoozefest is over.

  2. balance

    Glad to see someone who isnt going to lie just to get votes. There are alot of issues that people expect a yes or no answer to and unfortunately these decisions are being made quickly with out examining how things will effect the majority of the people. Her whole campaign is driven by the need for the majority to be heard and considered not based on whether it is beneficial to the elite few.

    As citizens, we need to look and examine what is going on in our government. Was that just not an issue with the commission last year? Making choices without the voice of the community?

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