Asheville – Tod Leaven, a local lawyer, war veteran, and vocal moderate announced his campaign for a seat in the Asheville City Council during the evening on November 8th at the Momentum Gallery in the heart of downtown.
One of Leaven’s notable achievements is establishing a program that offers legal aid to veterans, highlighting his commitment to helping those who have served their country. He also emphasizes inclusivity and making sure that all concerns are heard in order to improve the city for its residents and their families. “Once they feel safe and have their basic necessities met, then they can go on to become workers or business owners and the city can thrive,” Leaven asserted confidently.
“People give up their freedoms to join and live in a congregation for safety, food, and water – the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,” passionately asserted the council candidate, recognizing the importance of essential city services like public safety, clean water, and well-maintained infrastructure. Leaven believes that these foundations are crucial for building a thriving city. By fully funding and meeting these core city services, he believes that the city can then expand its focus to other important issues such as promoting sustainable transportation options and supporting vulnerable populations.
While Leaven prioritizes core city services, he does not underestimate the significance of other goals, such as promoting renewable energy and addressing the ongoing homelessness crisis. His own twin sister struggled and tragically died from addiction and chronic homelessness in this very city. However, he believes in leading with compassion and caution, recognizing that enabling can exacerbate issues. “I think you can lead but you have to lead with love. And with that leading means you can’t enable; you have to get to the root of the problem and not just fix the symptoms,” Leaven stated emphatically.
He positions himself as a “process man” who is willing to engage with all members of the community, regardless of their political affiliations. He understands the importance of bridging gaps and making everyone feel valued and heard. Leaven draws on his experience in homeowners association law, where he successfully transformed dysfunctional boards into productive ones by focusing on shared values and common goals. His approach to governance aims to foster consensus and unity among city council members.
One potential criticism of Leaven’s candidacy is his willingness to engage with individuals from opposing political parties. Despite being a strong Democrat, he believes that independents & Republicans in Asheville are an important part of his constituency and should be listened to and respected. Leaven rejects the notion that one must agree with every perspective to value someone’s input. He admits, “I’m willing to talk to, listen to, and meet with absolutely anyone and everyone, even people that I don’t agree with.” By engaging in difficult but vital conversations with people from different ideological backgrounds, Leaven aims to build bridges between diverse groups within the community. He believes this approach will contribute to a more inclusive and cooperative city council.
Observing the rate of progress and some regression within city council, Leaven acknowledges the lack of focus and effective communication during city council meetings as well. He suggests the need for more private conversations or discussions outside of the public stage. To address this issue, Leaven points to Greenville, South Carolina, as an example of effective governance where city council members meet privately to air their differences before coming to a public council meeting. This approach leads to productive and efficient discussions during meetings and a professional ambience to its proceedings; at least for the benefit of those from the public that attend.
Leaven ultimately emphasizes the importance of striking an effective balance between moral concerns and practical considerations in city council politics. Leaven cites an example of a project near the YMCA, where discussions about parking spaces became contentious. He argues that adding more parking spaces does not discourage the use of bikes and promotes a multimodal city. Despite these challenging imbalances Leaven aims to demonstrate that win-win situations are not only possible but well within immediate reach.
In a time marked by political divisions and rapid growth, Tod Leaven is, at least at this point, promising a transformative approach. He engages with individuals holding opposing views or party affiliations and recognizes the power of dialogue and empathy in bridging gaps and constructing healthy collaborations. Leaven’s commitment to vital city services and his determination to address the needs of a diverse population might position him as the ideal liason for a more robust city council.
Editor’s Note: For more information about Tod Leaven’s candidacy, visit www.todleaven4asheville.com.