Our Interview with Brownie Newman

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Our Interview with Brownie Newman
2
Group Members

• Asheville Middle School Students
• Antonio Mungro
• Wakefield Ellison
• Meagan Alberts
• UNCA Students
• April Esguerra

3
Analyzing/Summarizing Interview of Brownie
Newman, who is a member of Asheville City
Council.

• He spoke about the ten-year plan to end
  homelessness.
• He told us about the taxes and the reason that
  the families in the city have to pay more.
• His main goal is to change the way the community
  is growing.

4
Personal Information on Public Official
Interviewed

• He ran twice and did not win until his third
  winning.
• He is a member of the Regional Citizens
  Environmental Group.
• He believes that he must make choices that
  benefit the whole community even if he has to
  disagree with his friends.
• BA, Political Science and History, Warren Wilson
  College.

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Job other than public official

• He started a small business (Altamont Builders
  LLC). He plans to build a small number of
  attractive, affordable single family homes over
  the next several years.

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Description of duties of City Council

• City council sets and directs policy regarding
  the operations of the city.

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Top six important issues and where Public
Official stands

• Taxes
• He thinks that the county should have to pay the
  city taxes because the city has to pay county
  taxes.
• Developing Downtown Asheville
• He thinks we should preserve some places, create
  more affordable housing and jobs.
• Renovate or build a new civic center
• He thinks we should keep renovating.
• Roads and sidewalks
• He thinks we need more money for sidewalks
  because enough is not allotted.

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Top six important issues and where Public
Official stands

• Interstate 26
• He thinks we need to start expanding, and that it
  should be only six lanes.
• Ten year plan to end homelessness
• Looks at the causes of homelessness.
• More money needs to be put into helping mentally
  ill people.
• Help people transition back into the community
  when they get out of jail.
• Many other factors need to be addressed.

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Other interesting information about Public
Official

• The first time he ran for election he came in
  fourth place the top three win.
• He became interested in city council through his
  involvement in environmental group.

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How does this person represent the everyday
person in our community?

• He has a wife.
• He owns his own small business.

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What are important characteristics of a good
public servant?

• Honesty
• Open minded
• Friendly
• Good speaker
• Educated
• Opinionated

12
What are the top three important issues in our
community, according to the Public Official?

• Taxes
• Homelessness
• Community growth

13
If you could ask this Public Official one other
question, what would it be?

• We would ask Brownie how he feels about the new
  Super Wal-Mart.

14
In what ways has this project been of value to
you?

• It let us know what the city council members do,
  which we did not know.
• It let us know that they are trying to help
  society.
• It let us know how responsibility the city
  council members have.

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How do public officials demonstrate moral courage?

• They voice their opinions publicly in hopes of
  improving our community.
• They make choices that they hope will benefit the
  entire community.
• They take the risks of not making the right
  decisions for everybody in the community.

16
How do public officials demonstrate civic
responsibility?

• They became city council members.
• Brownie is involved in many organizations, such
  as the Regional Citizens Environmental Group.
• Brownie is very concerned with helping the
  environment.

17
You hold the office of Citizen. What are your
responsibilities in holding this office?

• Following the rules and laws of the country.
• Voting.
• Volunteering.
• Respecting other people.
• Protecting the environment.
• Giving something back to the community.