Kelly Miller has dropped out of the race for Asheville City Council. He said he didn’t want to divide his attention between his campaign and his wife who had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Miller was the fourth highest vote-getter in the primary. He was a likely winner because of his middle-of-the-road and big-government stances. Progressive Robin Cape is already running as a write-in candidate against the top three vote-getters, who are also very progressive. Conservative Dr. Carl Mumpower, the fourth highest vote-getter still in the race, may now have to contend with the seventh-highest vote-getter, Ryan Croft, who is likely to steal more conservative votes than Miller would have. Miller could have drawn from the left and the right. With the elections less than a month away, Croft is stuck wondering if he should be campaigning or not, as the local board of elections is waiting for a decision from the state.
by Leslee Kulba
Wild West blogger