Ward and Smith's Government Relations team recently earned media attention for advocating on Buncombe County's behalf.
ABC 13 News and local Asheville papers, the Citizen Times and Mountain Xpress, covered the January 30 meeting between County Commissioners and Ward and Smith government relations attorney Whitney Campbell Christensen and government relations advisor Trafton Dinwiddie.
At the gathering, the group discussed their legislative agenda now that state politicians were back in action.
So, what is on the County's ask list?
ABC 13 and the Citizen Times focused on the issue involving the upkeep and renovations of McCormick Fields. The TV station interviewed Whitney about the County's game plan.
The Citizen Times also reported on other County requests, such as funding to support early childhood education and authority to regulate short-term rentals. Interested readers can find the full story here.
Mountain Xpress looked at other priorities, including using money to improve water quality in the French Broad River, support for the Innovations Waiver program, and taxes. They also talked with Trafton about how Ward and Smith's work on behalf of the County could help these goals become a reality. However, there will be some challenges, as noted by the publication.
Despite the substantial docket, Dinwiddie said, the legislative agenda represented only half of what Ward and Smith would do in the coming year. “The other 50% is playing defense against things we don’t know about — and definitely can’t support,” he said.
You can read the full article here.
