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Emails written by Republican State Rep. Tim Moffitt to Democrat Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy reveal pressure Moffitt is putting on city leaders to drop their water lawsuit challenging the new law that went into effect last month to transfer management of the water company to a regional board.An email dated June 3, 2013 from Rep. Moffitt to Mayor Bellamy reads: Is it the intent of the city to continue with the legal action against the state and MSD (Municipal Sewage District) ? I would like to know by COB (close of business) tomorrow if a resolution is possible and if not I need to know as well.The notion that we would drop a lawsuit with 24 hour notice over a loose set of negotiating principals is unthinkable, said Marc Hunt. Our water system is too valuable to give away.Democratic Councilman Marc Hunt says Rep. Moffitt and other legislators are increasing pressure on Asheville councilors to give in to demands.Representative Moffitt and others in the legislature want to play hardball to make it so the city of Asheville will drop it's lawsuit, said Hunt. The emails give evidence that is indeed the case.Moffitt disputes Hunt saying he simply wants to move forward. Some members of city government also accuse Moffitt of pushing for new district voting that would put current councilors at a disadvantage unless they give up the water fight.They typically try to rewrite history, said Moffitt. They typically misinform the public intentionally about that history and this has been going on since the great depression.Another email from Democratic councilman Gordon Smith to State Representative Nathan Ramsey says it is my understanding that Representative Moffitt intends to carve the city into districts, though this may be dependent on whether the city moves ahead with it's lawsuit. His motives are unclear and it's certainly not a move I've had a single constituent ask for. Based on past behavior, I can only assume the move is punitive or intimidatory in nature.This is completely separate, said Moffitt by phone. This is something that as our city has grown, we need to consider because it is the next evolution for balanced representation in our city and I fully intend to carry forth with it.Representative Moffitt lives outside the city of Asheville, said Hunt. His district is largely outside the city of Asheville. It's extraordinary that a non-resident legislator tries to take control of how a city elects its own representatives.
By Kimberly KingFollow Kimberly on Twitter @KimKingReports

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