Match Our Mountains
P.O. Box 1263, Asheville, NC 28802

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Match Our Mountains Political Action Committee
Announces Endorsements for Asheville City Council Race

(Asheville, NC, September 23, 2003) - The new political action committee Match Our Mountains announced today that it is endorsing Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman and Chris Pelly for the upcoming Asheville City Council election.

"Terry Bellamy, Brownie Newman, and Chris Pelly will do the most to strengthen our local economy and protect our environment - which are the goals of Match Our Mountains," said spokesman Lewis Lankford, a West Asheville businessman. "We are at a turning point in our town. We must elect leaders who value what makes Asheville so special, and who will preserve and promote our city's unique qualities." tv programme

Before making its endorsements, Match Our Mountains (M.O.M.) distributed questionnaires to the candidates. The group then hosted candidate interviews conducted by members of M.O.M.'s Business Advisory Group, made up of 22 independent business owners and professionals. (See list of Business Advisory Group members at the end of this document.) cleaning service will take care about you department

Here are the issues being advanced by M.O.M.:

CONSERVE OUR MOUNTAIN RESOURCES
-- Improve air quality to protect our health and economy
-- Adopt development ordinances and incentives that will balance growth with
environmental protection
-- Develop Interstate 26 in a way that enhances rather than degrades our community
-- Plan for better transportation, housing, and green space
-- Preserve and enhance Asheville's scenic, architectural and historic character

SUPPORT A VIBRANT ECONOMY
-- Encourage growth of locally owned businesses
-- Attract businesses that are part of the new economy
-- Invest in Asheville's diverse business districts
-- Promote our unique arts and cultural heritage
-- Develop the French Broad Riverfront as an economic and tourism asset
-- Maintain fair tax rates that do not overburden city residents

EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
-- Create a strategy that unites public, nonprofit and business sectors to significantly
increase affordable housing within city limits
-- Provide funding and policies to produce more affordable housing

REBUILD PUBLIC SERVICES
-- Increase funding for public transit
-- Support public/private partnerships to provide essential community services
-- Coordinate and cooperate to improve our aging infrastructure

Lankford said M.O.M. will provide funding for Bellamy, Newman, and Pelly's campaigns as well as voter turnout efforts. "By pooling donations and getting out the vote, M.O.M. can help elect leaders who will have a strong voice on the important issues that will shape Asheville for a long time to come," Lankford said. "We call on every Asheville citizen to vote for Bellamy, Newman and Pelly as a way to ensure that we have effective local leadership for the future."

Match Our Mountains is limiting contributions to a maximum of $100 per person with the goal of developing a broad base of support and minimizing the role of large individual donations in local politics. "Our special interest is the public interest," said Lankford.

Anyone interested in learning more about these efforts or making a contribution may go to the web site www.matchourmountains.org.

###