2018 Primary Voter Guide: Q&A with candidates for local, national offices

The May 8 primary election promises to be a dramatic first act to the 2018 election cycle in Buncombe County.

Numerous candidates are seeking their party’s nomination for seats in county and national government. Five Democrats are jostling to plug the void left by retiring sheriff Van Duncan, four Democrats are hoping to fill an Ellen-Frost-shaped hole on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, and five Republicans have jumped on the ballot in an effort to unseat seven-term Congressman Patrick McHenry.

Meanwhile, three-term Republican Congressman Mark Meadows is limbering up in preparation for a general election brawl with one of three Democratic candidates. Republican commissioner Robert Pressley is making similar preparations for a matchup against one of three local Democrats.

Republican Nathan West was originally running against fellow conservative Amy Evans for the chance to face off against Democratic incumbent John Ager for his District 115 House seat, but he has dropped out. He has thrown his support behind Evans, but his name will still appear on the ballot.

The sheer number of candidates means it’s likely that many voters will draw a blank on at least several names they spot on their ballots this year. In an effort to help voters differentiate between those candidates, Mountain Xpress sent questions to all those who are fighting for a nomination. Their responses have been published here to help voters make an informed decision.

Neither three-term Republican incumbent Mark Meadows nor his primary challenger, Chuck Archerd, responded to Xpress’s questions. Ira Roberts, a Republican candidate running against incumbent Patrick McHenry in the District 10 primary, also didn’t respond.

For more information on the Buncombe County district attorney and sheriff candidates, see Xpress’ additional reporting on the DA race and the sheriff race.

Early voting has already started for the 2018 primary election. Click here for more information about where and when you can vote. And remember: Those who are registered as unaffiliated voters may request a ballot for either major party’s primary.

Click the links below to see candidates’ answers:

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 2 — Democratic Primary

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 3 — Democratic Primary

Buncombe County Sheriff — Democratic Primary

Buncombe County District Attorney — Democratic Primary

N.C. House of Representatives District 115 — Republican Primary

U.S. House of Representatives District 10 — Republican Primary

U.S. House of Representatives District 11 — Democratic Primary

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About David Floyd
David Floyd was a reporter for the Mountain Xpress. He previously worked as a general-assignment reporter for the Johnson City Press.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.