Hendersonville's Miller Tired But Optimistic On Election Eve
By Leigh Wills
The time for the people to speak has arrived.
Henderson County voters head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in a number of federal, state and local races. The polls will open at 6:30am and close at 7:30pm.
Among the offices up for grabs on the ballot are the U.S. Senate fight between Richard Burr and Elaine Marshall; the N.C. Senate contest between Tom Apodaca and Chris Dixon; the Henderson County Board of Commissioners contest between Michael Edney and Scott Donaldson; and the Henderson County Board of Education race featuring six candidates vying for three seats.
And then there is 11th Congressional District battle involving incumbent and former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler and small businessman and HonorAir founder Jeff Miller, a race that has played out over the television airwaves thanks to a number of attack ads. On Election Eve, Hendersonville's Miller sounded like a candidate who has done all he can do to capture what many would consider an upset victory. It will soon be in the hands of the voters, he said.
Asked how he felt heading into Election Day, Miller summed it up in one word.
“Tired,” he said late Monday afternoon. “We’re excited. We’re very optimistic, but we’re like everybody else. Nobody’s going to know until tomorrow. I think it’s certainly going to be close.”
Miller said he plans to head out bright and early Tuesday morning to visit voting locations across a district that he described “as the size of Connecticut.”
Miller has labeled his campaign as bringing common sense to Congress. He wants to create jobs by reducing corporate taxes and capital gains and providing tax relief for residents. He says one of the main reasons he entered the race was due to the amount of spending in Washington. As a small businessman, he says Washington should operate like a business and not spend money it doesn’t have. His campaign has also worked to label Shuler as a strong supporter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s agenda.
Shuler has accused Miller of wanting to privatize Social Security. He also says Miller would support raising taxes by 23 percent on many of the items people buy. Shuler’s Web site says he wants to protect Social Security for generations to come and continue his efforts in Washington to create jobs in Western North Carolina.
Miller made a last-minute pitch to voters Monday who may still be sitting on the fence.
“I guess if you’re better off than you were four years ago, and if you like the way the country is going in general, then either stay with what we have or give some other folks a chance,” he said. “I believe I offer a pretty good option for folks and a different type of person for Washington. If that appeals to them, I’d appreciate their vote. Most importantly, everybody should vote.”
Miller’s campaign plans to host an election night gathering at the Mountain Inn and Suites at 755 Upward Road in Flat Rock. The doors open at 8pm, and all supporters are welcome. Shuler will have his election night gathering at the Renaissance Hotel at 31 Woodfin Street in Asheville. The doors open at 7:30pm, and the event is open to the public.
If you can’t make it to one of the election night parties, you can follow the returns at the Henderson County Board of Elections Web site at www.hendersoncountync.org/elections.
Email
Print
Feed
