Democrats: GOP House member for Western N.C. misused tax money to 'attack Asheville'

Western North Carolina's congressman Republican Chuck Edwards misused taxpayer money for political attacks on local Democratic leaders, members of a county Democratic party have alleged.

The Henderson County Democratic Party filed a Feb. 26 complaint against Rep. Chuck Edwards saying his recent mailer sent throughout the congressional district violated federal law because he used the taxpayer funded "franking" program that gives free postage to members of Congress, but the program cannot be used for communications that are “politicized” and “disparage political parties."

“The mailer that I received and that tens of thousands of Western North Carolinians received the week before Christmas titled 'Crime is out of control in Asheville' was a misleading, hyper-partisan campaign mailer, attacking Asheville and disparaging its mayor and city council, most of whom are Democrats,” Henderson Democratic Chair Leslie Carey said in a statement.

Edwards, a Henderson County resident representing N.C.'s westernmost 11th District, on Feb. 27 told the Citizen Times the mailer had gotten the OK from staff with the House Communications Standards Commission. That body made up of Democratic and Republican House members oversees the franking program that funds communications about matters of public concern or public service by members of Congress to constituents.

"I have the duty to my constituents to keep them informed on issues important to NC-11, and how I’m addressing them," Edwards said in the statement to the Citizen Times. "My mailer intended to do just that, and it was mailed with prior approval by the bipartisan Communications Standards Commission.”

In the complaint to the commission, Carey called on that body to sanction Edwards and make him reimburse the mailings' cost, which was not immediately clear. The commission is set to respond within 30 days, according to representatives of both Carey and Edwards. She said the commission's advisory opinion was "nonbinding" and that Edwards was "ultimately responsible for the content of his mailer."

The mailer came at a time when debate over homelessness and crime had risen following social and economic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Business owners and local and national media put pressure on city officials, saying downtown in particular had become intolerably dangerous − though a Citizen Times investigation showed it was actually poorer neighborhoods with large populations of children that were struggling the most with safety. On June 16, Edwards convened a "crime summit," calling in local, state and federal government and law enforcement officials.

While the mailer came out at the end of 2023, data that came out later showed crime had actually fallen notably that year compared to 2022, something police said followed "data-driven strategies."

The mailer featured a heading, "Crime is out of control in Asheville." Also, on it were headlines from newspapers, radio and television emphasizing growing crime in the city.

A quote from Edwards said, "In Congress, I’m fighting for policies that support law enforcement, reduce crime and keep Asheville’s crime from spreading to the rest of WNC."

In making her complaint, Carey said Edwards, a critic of government aid programs, was now the recipient of government aid that he shouldn't be getting.

"If he wants to disparage Asheville and Buncombe County, that’s up to him. Just don’t usetaxpayer money to do it,” the Henderson Democratic chair said.

Edwards, meanwhile, said there was a crime problem, and Democrats were trying to avoid blame. Though little of the debate in Asheville has touched on issues at the southern border with Mexico, Edwards said there was a link.

"I'll continue my work to make sure law enforcement has the tools they need and I will stand steadfast in working to ensure we secure the border," he said. "Sadly, the Henderson County Democrat Party chooses to play politics with baseless complaints instead of working to unite our country and secure the border."

More: Asheville leaders react to high neighborhood violence data: 'Not treating with urgency'

Asheville police announce joint weekend night downtown patrols with sheriff's office

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Dems: Western N.C. House member misused tax money to attack Asheville