Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina • A6

6A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES AN-0100859521 819 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28806 888-776-4551 harrysonthehill.com Integrity comes standard. On the Hill Disclaimer: Includes $3,000 trade in rebate. Must trade in 1999 or newer vehicle. Take delivery by See participating dealer for details. EMPLOYEE PRICING UP TO $10,000 IN TOTAL SAVINGS! 8 Medical Park Drive Asheville 28803 828-258-1586 2001 Hendersonville Road Asheville 28803 828-258-1586 2311 Asheville Highway Hendersonville 28791 828-258-1586 144 Holly Springs Park Drive Franklin 28734 828-258-1586 1196 Skyland Drive Sylva 28779 828-258-1586 21 Medical Park Drive Asheville 28803 828-258-1586 WorkingWith You To Keep Your Eyes Healthy Comprehensive Eye Exams Diabetic Eye Care Services Treatment of Eye Disorders Medical and Surgical Treatment of the Eye Prescription Safety and Sports Glasses for the Entire Family www.ashevilleeye.com AN -C AR 00 13 11 9- 01 own home in 1969, compared to less than 28 percent in 2016.

Democrats and a woman ascendance in 1969 was un- likely, both because of her sex, and her party. Democrats had dominated the city since 1930, but she and other Re- publicans swept in to gain the GOP majority in nearly 40 years. She campaigned on a party platform of discipline and ending Demo- cratic control, but also on her sex. and I want Asheville to be a pro- gressive, accelerating city. But this will never happen with the one-party she said in an election-year debate cov- ered by the Asheville Citizen.

Council needs not only a new viewpoint but a Keleher won, earning a reputation as a strong supporter of civic programs and the arts. But in 1971, she muster the votes for re-election and left the council. Women at the time brought a bigger focus on policies children and education, said JoAnn Morgan, the sec- ond woman on the council elected in 1975, when her last name was Swilling. had so many women who were not involved in politics or anything like that. But I think there were good rea- sons for women for being on Morgan said.

Morgan was a blue-collar Demo- crat, but found herself allied with the Republican Otis Michael and fellow Democrat Gene Rainey, a trio who were than the council majority, she said. She pushed for the creation of a city employee retirement plan to boost economic security, she said. victory was tight and re- quired a primary When her term was up two years later in 1977 she had a new child and decided it would be too to run again. But Morgan said she is excited at the prospect of the current woman- majority. wonderful.

And they are all very she said. Manheimer downplayed any great change residents would see under the new majority, saying are all just like men are all I certainly enjoy working with the mayor said. in my experience women work together dif- ferently. They tend to be more commu- nicative and Asheville council: Women and minorities 1969-73: Ruben Dailey, Democrat; African-American elected to City Coun- cil. Re-elected but run for third term.

1969-71: Barbara Keleher, Republican; woman elected. Loses re-election bid. 1975-79: Republican Dr. Otis Michael, second black council member, re-elect- ed once. 1975-77: JoAnn Swilling (later JoAnn Morgan), Democrat; second woman on council.

run for re-election. 1977-91: Norma Price, Democrat; woman vice mayor in 1981. Elected total of seven times. 1979-82: The Rev. H.C.

Wilkes, Demo- crat; third black council member, re- elected but resigns after transferred to church in Florida. 1982-91: Wilhelmina Bratton, Demo- crat; appointed to unexpired term. First African-American woman on council; One of two women on council for time; black vice mayor in 1983. Wins four elections. Loses 1991 re-election bid.

1983-91: Mary Lloyd Frank, Democrat. Vice mayor in 1985. One of three wom- en on council for eight years. 1989-93: Gene Ellison, Democrat. With Bratton there are two African-Amer- icans for time on council.

Vice May- or in 1991. run for council in 1993, instead makes unsuccessful bid for mayor. 1991- 2001: Barbara Field, Democrat. Vice mayor in 1995. Wins four elections.

Loses in 2001. 1993-95, 1997-2001: Leni Sitnick, Dem- ocrat. Loses re-election bid, but two years later elected woman mayor. seek re-election. 1993-95: Herb Watts, Democrat.

For- mer black police officer. Loses re-elec- tion bid in non-partisan race. 1997-99: Black minister O.T. Tomes serves one term. Loses re-election bid.

1999-2013: Terry Bellamy. Vice mayor in 2001; re-elected in 2003. Becomes black mayor in 2005. Re-elected mayor in 2009 but run in 2013, instead making unsuccessful bid for Congress. 2001-08: Holly Jones.

Re-elected in 2005 and picked as vice mayor. Re- signed after elected to Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. 2005-09: Robin Cape. Chose not to run for re-election, then mounted unsuccessful write-in campaign. 2009-present: Esther Manheimer; re-elected to council once.

Elected third woman mayor in 2013. Re-elect- ed in 2017. 2013-present: Gwen Wisler; re-elect- ed 2017. Picked as vice mayor twice, in 2015 and 2017. 2015-present: Keith Young becomes ninth African-American in history on council.

2015-present: Julie 13th woman in history on council. Nov. 7-present: Vijay Kapoor, Asian-American on council. Nov. 7, 2017-present: Sheneika Smith, time women a majority with four on council.

First time in 26 years council has two black members. had so many women who were not involved in politics or anything like that. But I think there were good reasons for women for being on (the city JoAnn Morgan Second woman on the council elected in 1975 Continued from previous page NEBO The cause of a 30-acre burning on the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest is under investigation. The Coxes Creek No. 7 Fire was re- ported at 4:30 p.m.

Monday. The is burning on U.S. Forest Service land and private property in the Turkey Cove Community U.S. 226A north of Marion. Crews are working to establish lines around the Once contain- ment lines are established, ers plan to conduct burnout opera- tions to remove fuels between the ac- tive and the lines.

Burnout operations are used to slow spread and increase con- tainment. The public can expect to see increased smoke in the area from these operations. Smoke may settle in valleys and low-lying areas over- night, especially along U.S. 226A and U.S. 221.

While public and safety is the priority, U.S. 226A is expected to remain open, but will be used for Drivers should drive slowly and use caution, as vehicles and people will be staging along the roadside on the lower end of 226A. The U.S. Forest Service is manag- ing the with the North Caroli- na Forest Service, McDowell County Emergency Management and local volunteer departments. Approxi- mately 25 are responding to the Dozens of historic burned across forest land in Western North Carolina in the fall of 2016, charring thousands of acres.

Arson was found to be the cause of most of the Anyone with information relating to the should report it to the Mc- Dowell County de- tective line at 828-652-2237. Convic- tion for arson on national forests car- ries a mandatory penalty of years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. Information sought in Pisgah National Forest Karen Asheville Citizen Times USA TODAY NETWORK.