Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Asheville City Councilman Carl Mumpower is a Republican candidate for North Carolina's 11th District Congressional seat. Having served as a two term conservative voice and former Vice-Mayor on Asheville's city council, Mumpower is a persisting voice of reason and governmental restraint in his home city. He attracts support from both sides of the political spectrum due to his emphasis on fairness and consistent principled service. Councilman Mumpower is married, has two grown children and two grandchildren, and is a life-long resident of Western North Carolina. Mumpower is a Vietnam veteran,

Mumpower upholds a private psychology practice in Asheville and has served on various boards and commissions devoted to drug interventions, improving public housing, honoring veterans, and meeting the needs of children including serving as as Chairman of the Asheville Civic Center Commission, Chairman of the Asheville-Buncombe Drug Commission, Chairman of "For Our Kids," (a Public Housing Initiative), and Chairman of the Memorial Stadium Restoration Commission. Mumpower also founded the Top-A-Stop Bus Shelter Program and currently serves on the Board of the John Locke Foundation.

Known for his candor and courage in refusing to step away from hard issues, Mumpower indicates that his campaign approach will be simple - "I want people to know my name, that I am running for Congress, and where I authentically stand on the issues - they will take things from there."

I have served 6+ years on Asheville’s City Council — arguably one of the most liberal in both North Carolina and the nation — as an authentic conservative with a consistent history of matching words to action.  In that capacity, I am the only candidate with prior experience as an elected official: experience that I believe is crucial to being able to step into the challenging Washington arena to be an effective agent for change and action.

Western North Carolina is a conservative district that should be represented by a consistent and principle-driven conservative willing to challenge Congressional leadership failures: to address core problems, to function independently from the Party structure, and to work with other conservatives on Capitol Hill to take Congress to a higher level.  To that end, my unwillingness to take campaign contributions from PACs, unions, other special interest groups, and even from my party will assure that I am obligated to no one but the people of Western North Carolina and to no other purpose than principled public service.

I have a contract with the people of the 11th District to do 5 things when I am elected. I will: 1) Fight waste and corruption – persistently and enthusiastically – wherever I can find it; 2) Function as an independent Republican who upholds conservative principles while not being obligated to special interests or the Party power structure; 3) Focus on constituent service; 4) Protect the future of our children and grandchildren by doing my utmost to resist deficit spending, reduce our national debt, and illuminate hidden earmarks and other forms of Washington excess; and 5) Pursue principles over politics, personal gain, and popularity. I will concentrate on doing the "right thing" and hold to it until I am successful or until I find a better way.