GOP WNC House debate: Cawthorn's absence panned, split on Medicaid expansion, 'big oil'

ASHEVILLE - Western North Carolina Republican congressional candidates slammed the absence of incumbent Rep. Madison Cawthorn and split on issues of government expansion of health care, who is a politician and "big oil" at their latest debate.

Much of the hour-long April 20 forum at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College centered on conservative standards such as deregulation and cutting government spending. But the forum hosted by WLOS also included some unusual stances including health care for all, support for unions, environmentalism and raising the minimum wage.

The debate came less than a month before the May 17 GOP primary in which both Republican and unaffiliated voters can participate. Absentee ballots are already being mailed in and early in-person voting will start April 28.

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The 11th District covers 15 counties including Buncombe. The Republican candidates are:

• Bruce O'Connell

• Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez

• Matthew Burril

• Chuck Edwards

• Rod Honeycutt

• Madison Cawthorn

• Michele V. Woodhouse

• Kristie Sluder

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Attacks were aimed at Cawthorn and state Sen. Chuck Edwards. The only challenger with elected experience, some political observers have said Edwards has the best chance of unseating the one-term Cawthorn.

In a swipe at politicians, Bruce O'Connell, manager of the Blue Ridge Parkway's Pisgah Inn said, "we need someone that won't vote for a bill because they're told to do it by the leaders of their party."

O'Connell promised not to take a salary and to "term limit myself."

Former chair of the GOP's 11th District organization Michelle Woodhouse sought to link Edwards with outgoing U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, one of a few Republicans who voted for President Donald Trump's removal after his impeachment. Woodhouse said Burr's "political machine" was behind the state senator's House campaign.

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"You're not draining the swamp if you simply just change out the water," she said.

Edwards, who employs more than 300 people in McDonald's restaurants he owns, emphasized his experience during two General Assembly terms, cutting taxes and balancing budgets — but denying he was a politician.

"I'm not a politician. I'm a businessman turned public servant," he said, adding, "The problems in D.C. are too severe to treat as a training camp."

The most stinging attack of the night was aimed at Cawthorn, who committed to only two primary debates, according to a spokesperson.

The 26-year-old Henderson County congressman, who spoke recently with former President Donald Trump at an eastern North Carolina rally, has been denounced by some of his own party after saying Republican lawmakers invited him to an orgy and used cocaine and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a "thug."

Previous: Fresh off Trump rally, cocaine orgy story, Cawthorn declines April 11 debate

Burril, a financial adviser and chair of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, framed himself as the "conservative Christian businessman" candidate. He said he knew and loved Cawthorn, but that the congressman was "promoting incivility."

"As a friend, as a mentor, I am going to give you some tough love. It is time for you to either grow up or get out," he said.

Health care, 'big oil'

Forum questions focused on inflation, bipartisanship, affordable housing and health care.

Several candidates blamed the policies of President Joe Biden for increasing consumer costs.

Rod Honeycutt, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, said he was trained to understand supply chain issues, observing ports on the East and West Coast. Like several other candidates, he said deregulation was part of the fix.

"Truckers are hamstrung. They are paying $1,800 to fill up their tanks," he said.

The war in Ukraine was also behind the problem and he warned that Americans were soon to face massive inflation of wheat products because of the military invasion in a country that produces the second most wheat in the world.

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Others said high amounts of government pandemic spending contributed to cost spikes, though Edwards said some programs were necessary at the time.

Kristie Sluder suggested more programs such as the opportunity zones promoted under Trump by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

"And we need to stop diluting the labor pool with illegal immigrants," said Sluder who was born and lived in the far western part of the state where she said she has served as an advocate for working class people.

Wendy Nevarez, a Navy veteran and legal assistant, like others promoted diversification of energy sources, including solar and nuclear. But she said "big oil" was not the solution to cutting fuel prices.

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"They have over 9,000 drilling permits that they are not utilizing right now."

O'Connell disagreed, saying it was instability in the market caused by the Biden administration that had made oil companies, "very hesitant about investing."

To increase access to health care, Honeycutt said the country should look to telehealth and other approaches used during the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed that pushed the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Nevarez and Sluder promoted Medicaid expansion. Under the Affordable Care Act, the extension of the publicly supported program is optional for each state, though the federal government pays most costs. Edwards has been part of a GOP majority in the state legislature opposing the expansion.

In comments about health care, Nevarez added, "the free market does not fix everything."

Others disagreed, with Woodhouse saying the market could lower costs. As a small business owner she had "one option in the state of North Carolina" in terms of insurers.

"We have to open up competition," she said.

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Other highlights

- Edwards said he wanted to make illegal certificates of need that hospitals say allows them to safely make major investments in health care facilities, but that the senator said stifles competition. A competitor has contacted him with plans to open a facility in the area now served by Mission Hospital, he said.

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- Nevarez said she was the one Republican challenger who refused to back Cawthorn in the general election if he wins the primary, saying "I will put people over the party."

- O'Connell criticized Edwards for his support of Senate Bill 214, which delayed voter identification requirements. The bill was needed to give election officials time to sort our administrate issues, according to supporters.

- O'Connell also touted his environmentalism, working to add solar panels, double-flush toilets, LED lights and other changes to the Pisgah Inn. "It makes good business sense to care about the environment," he said.

- Honeycutt said that his 37 years of commanding hundreds of troops around the world and his origins in WNC made him the best candidate. "I'm a retired U.S. Army colonel born, raised, saved and baptized in WNC," he said.

- Burril noted his work of more than 30 years in the financial sector and with the Economic Development Coalition bringing in non-tourism related jobs in fields such as health care and advanced manufacturing.

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: GOP WNC House debate: Cawthorn's absence panned, split on health care