A Woman Mayor for Brevard?
I'm all for that even though I don't live in the city and can't vote
We live outside the city limits so we can’t vote in Brevard’s non-partisan municipal election, but I’m interested in the Mayor’s race because two women are on the ballot.
Brevard’s first woman mayor was Opal Hahn, who served from 1983 to 1986. When Hahn died in 1986 Kitty Anderson was appointed to finish Hahn’s term. After that, Anderson ran for the office and was elected. Today’s outgoing Mayor Jimmy Harris was Anderson’s campaign manager in 1992. When she died in 2012, he remembered her as “one of the best mayors Brevard ever had”.
I think it’s exciting that Brevard could have another woman mayor in 2022.
There are four candidates running for the office, but the two I’m watching are Maureen Copelof and Dee Dee Perkins. You can meet them tomorrow, Tuesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m. at the Transylvania County Democratic Party monthly meeting via Zoom (use the link below).
Each of these candidates is passionate about Brevard both as a residence for nearly 8000 people and as a destination for music lovers, bicycle riders, nature lovers, outdoor adventurers and other visitors.
I heard their views last Tuesday at a Zoom forum hosted by the Transylvania NAACP. The forum featured all eight candidates, four candidates on the ballot for Mayor, and four for two City Council seats. This is a non-partisan election, Voting Day November 2, 2021.
On Thursday The Transylvania Times reported highlights of the NAACP forum, printing candidates’ answers to four questions. During the forum I thought Copelof and Perkins mostly agreed on the big issues. Later, with the T-Times in front of me, I decided to see how they varied on the details. I’ve condensed the questions and chosen highlights from the answers.
Question 1: What is the first thing to accomplish in your first 100 days in office?
Both candidates see housing as the top issue.
Perkins: Create a housing authority to study the situation (especially of short-term rentals) so the city can act aggressively; hire a professional public information officer.
Copelof: Create a housing action plan with local and regional partners; sidewalks, roads, city trails; Mary C. Jenkins Center, Silversteen playground.
Question 2: How can Brevard keep growing its relationship with the Black community?
Both candidates want to build trust with the Black community.
Perkins: Listen to the public, be accessible, tell Rosenwalds’ story with public art at Clemson Plaza; continue neighborhood projects; include the Black community in Brevard events.
Copelof: Continue building public spaces for Rosenwald neighborhood events; keep building community and connections; preserve local heritage.
Question 3: What is the city’s responsibility to the black community (10.9% of its 7899 residents)?
Both Copelof and Perkins want to invest more in the Rosenwald community.
Copelof: Recognition and understanding of our diversity; community history and heritage preservation; local impact of gentrification; make up for what was not done.
Perkins: Home renovation and ownership grants; encourage living wage at local businesses; foster Black-owned community businesses; infrastructure connecting Rosenwald with downtown Brevard.
Question 4: Your view on lack of affordable single family homes for young people to live/work here?
Both candidates would look at land for development, and reevaluate zoning codes.
Copelof: Short-term-rental task force (that she now chairs); legal ways to add rental apartments for families; water/sewer extensions; work with county officials and regional partners.
Perkins: Increase city’s focus on housing problem; establish a local foundation; create incentives and regulations; look at mandatory-inclusion zoning and low-income tax credits.
I hope you will attend Tuesday’s meeting on Zoom where Dee Dee Perkins and Maureen Copelof will each share her vision for the future of the City of Brevard.
Mary, you are correct, Otto "Bubba" Hahn's wife was Opal Hahn, the Mayor of Brevard.
Maureen Copelof ran for NC House District 113 in 2016. Her career was in the Navy. She now hold a seat on the Brevard City Council. Dee Dee Perkins has owned businesses in Brevard and has been on the City Council as well as on many local boards.
Many years ago I had a friend who was close to a family member. His name was Otto "Bubba" Hahn and he had a tire business in Brevard. I remember his wife was somehow in local government. At the time, Bubba was dark hared, twinkly eyed and wore a leather jacket and rode a motorcycle. He was a good democrat and had a great personality. This may not be the same but if not, it sure is a great coincidence.
Didn't Ms. Copelof run for the senate once? I seem to remember she was in the military. Seems her background would lend well to the office of mayor. I don't know of Ms. Perkins but I'm sure Brevard will make the right choice.