Carl Mumpower - Irregular Behavior at Flat Rock 11th NC Congressional Debate

NC 11th District Congressional candidates forced to debate with the opponent's sign as a backdrop in Yancey County.

April 12, 2008

HENDERSON COUNTY NC NEWS -- According to John Armor, North Carolina 11th District Congressional candidate, both the Asheville Citizen-Times and the Hendersonville Times-News have facts wrong in the Carl Mumpower flap concerning campaign sign posting at the 11th district congressional candidates debate in Flat Rock on April 10, 2008. Flat Rock is a small village located in Henderson County, North Carolina.

The candidates present for that debate of Republican candidates for Congress:

• Carl Mumpower from Asheville, NC
• Spence Campbell from Henderson County, NC
• John Armor from Macon County, NC

The flap began when Carl Mumpower's advance team put three of his campaign road signs behind the podium at a Yancy County 11th District Congressional debate, which created the appearance that Yancey County supported Mumpower for Congress. At the same time, other Congressional candidates were forced to debate with the Mumpower sign as a backdrop during their respective air times. Representatives of both Armor and Campbell objected to the organizer of the Yancey County debate. Moreover, the debate organizer admitted he was extremely embarrassed over the incident, and if he'd been warned beforehand he would have prevented the sign posting behind the podium, but he added that "taking them down now would have created an incident" he wished to avoid.

It should be noted that Carl Mumpower has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and knows full well how to implement his knowledge of the science to gain the upper hand in any presentation.

Anticipating the Mumpower team's method of posting campaign signs, Michelle Mead, on behalf of John Armor, wrote the following e-mail in advance to Terry Hicks, organizer of the Flat Rock debate:

"On previous debates among the Congressional candidates, Carl Mumpower's advance team have tried (and in many cases succeeded) in placing large signs directly behind the podium. This means that all the candidates have to speak in front of Mumpower signs."

In response to Michelle Mead's complaint, Carl Mumpower e-mailed to Terry Hicks saying:

"I will not participate in campaign forums where we are artificially constrained in our ability to campaign. Last minute rule changes represent an intrusion on free speech, an artificial means to concealing the limited authenticity of some campaigns."

Furthermore, John Armor has stated that Carl Mumpower withdrew from the Flat Rock debate in a huff, making various accusations against the debate organizers and other candidates. However, then rethought his inappropriate reaction and behavior and decided to participate in the debate. Armor states, Carl Mumpower's claim that these are "new restrictions" is a lie. The Flat Rock forums have always been held in St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church. Signs inside the meeting room have never been permitted. Mumpower's claim that the objection had to do with anything more than just his signs behind the shared podium is also a bald-faced lie.

Obviously, John Armor's and Miss Mead's objection was only to signs behind the podium. In Yancy County, Mumpower signs were even posted on the door to the ladies room, which in most circles of the norm is considered overkill and tacky; however, the sign postage is certainly within the limits of freedom of speech.

The flap over the Flat Rock 11th congressional debate is inconsequential. Carl Mumpower reactions were childish. The larger implication of Mumpower's reaction is he unwilling to compromise with people, and, as John Armor has pointed out, "The House of Representatives has 435 Members, 428 more than the Asheville City Council. The House works through Committees, and through its leaders. Someone who frequently gets into spats with people around him will be a failure in the House."

In Conclusion, Carl Mumpower's irregular behavior exemplified in his reaction to a fair request in regards to Mumpower campaign sign post placement, will disqualify him from being an effective representative of the NC 11th District congressional seat.