EDUCATION: “My main concern in Asheville City Schools is that parents are given the priority,” says local resident John Immel. “Specifically, school choice is very important to me. … I picked anyone who mentioned the word ‘parent’ in their description. That’s who I voted for. If they did not mention parents, they did not get my vote.” Immel, who is a parent to seven children, went on to note, “Democrat views overrun the schools. … Republicans are alienated from the schools.” Photo by Thomas Calder