Editor’s note: Please see a statement released by the LWVAB at the end of this article.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the League of Women Voters Asheville-Buncombe County (LWVAB) is hosting a panel discussion with local women in politics. The theme of the discussion is the external and internal challenges women candidates for office face.
The discussion will take place on Monday, March 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Skyland Library at 260 Overlook Rd. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.
The panel includes:
- State Senator Terry Van Duyn
- State Representative Susan Fisher
- Ellen Frost, Buncombe County Commissioner for District 2
- Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer
- Judge Susan Dotson-Smith
- Susan Wilson, former candidate for State House District 115
- Nancy Waldrop, former candidate for Buncombe County Commission for District 3
In selecting panel members, the LWVAB did not invite any current candidate in a contested race for office, as doing so would violate the League of Women Voters’ commitment to providing equal time (that is, if a woman were running against a man, it would be inequitable to invite the woman without inviting her opponent).
Special guest Roberta Madden will deliver a brief presentation on the current status of the Equal Rights Amendment.
The event is free and open to the public.
Released by LWVAB on Sunday, March 20:
There are challenges for women seeking elected office, regardless of party affiliation, and regardless of other diversity measures. The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe hopes that voters of all stripes will participate in their Women’s Leadership Panel to be held this Monday.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the LWVAB has gathered seven female politicians to participate in a moderated discussion, which is open to the public and will be held 6 to 7:30 pm Monday, March 21 at the Skyland Library on Overlook Road. The women will explore the external and internal challenges women candidates for office face.
Our goal was to achieve a diversity of party, age, race, parenthood, and sexuality among women who have recently sought public office or who are currently serving. To that end, we invited Republican and Democrat local elected officials and recent candidates. We invited women who are parents of young children, parents of grown children, and those who are childless. We invited women of color and women who identify as LGBT. Although invites were extended, not all were able to attend.
Some people have voiced concern over a lack of republican women on this panel and we do acknowledge we did not achieve the fullest definition of diversity. The panelists who said yes to our invitation are ready to share their personal stories and insights into this crucial nonpartisan issue for all North Carolinians, which is the under-representation of women in elected office.
Though 56% of registered voters in North Carolina are women, less than 25% of elected officials are women.
We invite everyone who cares about democracy to attend this free public event and join in the discussion. We encourage citizens of all parties to ask their elected representatives and candidates to participate in LWVAB events.
Monday’s panel includes current District 49 State Senator Terry Van Duyn, current State Representative Susan Fisher, Buncombe County Commissioner Ellen Frost, Judge Susan Dotson-Smith, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, former State House District 115 candidate Susan Wilson, and former Buncombe County Commission District 3 candidate Nancy Waldrup.
The LWVAB is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Yet another way for LWV to show their democrackkk partisanship by NOT including ANY republican women in local politics…
Miranda DeBruhl would be a GREAT addition but see how they created a flimsy excuse for keeping her out! Outrageous.
THIS, citizens is a supreme example of the EVIL LWV members in Dumbcombe Co. HEINOUS people.
Why include Nancy Waldrop or Susan Wilson? They lost their races and aren’t in leadership positions. The challenge Waldrop faced during her campaign was being a flip flopper. She created her own challenges that had nothing to do with being a woman. She was running against a woman. The LWV wonders why Republican candidates refuse to show up for their forums come campaign time. This is why. This is a disingenuous organization that claims to be non-partisan, but is obviously biased.
AND, don’t forget what a LOSER non leader Susan Fisher IS! We have had way more of her stupidity than was ever needed … get her OUT of government…SURELY you democrackkks can do slightly better!
LOL, it’s the same mentality with Clinton. Don’t mind the actions and money schemes from foreign entities while being the SOS, just vote for her because she is a women lulz. Hence why women are hostile to freedom and liberty. They are easily manipulated from years of hostile militant feminism telling them that they are 2nd class citizens on one end and being promoted via crony laws and debt schemes on the other. And the best part of all, have a huge swatch of token white knights who “defend” them, yet these same men and with irony support Bill Clinton and even joke about his predatory actions. Simply because he’s a democrat. If these women will hold only some to high standards and not others, then they aren’t a league of voters but a subset of goons for the left LOL.
Amy Churchill has run a successful campaign & serves in a leadership position.
Buncombe County Board of Education. Elected to the board in November 2012, Amy lives in Arden with her husband, Ben and their daughter Madelyn, who is a student at Koontz Intermediate school. She is a graduate of Columbus State University and is a respiratory therapist at Mission Hospital. In her spare time, Amy enjoys volunteering in the schools and her church, running, and hiking in the beautiful mountains she now calls home.
bit.ly/1pAJfNn
Amy Churchill was invited but regretted that she was unable to attend due to her work obligations.
Christina Kelley Gallegos Merrill
“The election results certified by the Board of Elections Nov. 17 showed Republican Christina Kelley G. Merrill with a 13 vote deficit behind Democrat Ellen Frost in the District 2 race for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.”
bit.ly/22pDpiZ
Christina Kelley Gallegos Merrill: Thanks for the mention. I would be happy to participate – however it appears they have only selected candidates and elected officials who are Democrat affiliated. As a candidate for Buncombe County Commissioner District 2, I participated in the Asheville League of Women Voters Forum in 2012 and had a representative participate on my behalf in 2014 – as I participated in a Townhall Forum in the Leicester community, that I had committed to prior.
Wilma M. Sherrill was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly[1] representing the state’s one hundred sixteenth House district, including constituents in Buncombe county. A businesswoman from Asheville, North Carolina, Sherrill concluded serving her sixth term in the state House in 2006. She is currently (2007) employed by UNCA as an assistant to chancellor Anne Ponder.
bit.ly/1PiSgyW
John Ager: “I would love to hear Wilma Sherrill speak on this panel. She was a pioneer in so many ways.”
Please see the statement released by the LWVAB attached to the end of the article. The clarifying statement was received on Sunday, March 20.
Thanks for pointing out the ABLWV trying to walk it back.
LWV is nothing BUT bull sh ite and this ‘forum’ is a total WASTE of time…
Oh, and lest we NOT forget that Terry VanDuyn is a WEALTHY ONE PERCENTER who lives in luxurious Biltmore Forest, NOT where you’d expect a criminal democrackkk to reside! WHY would
a democrackkk even vote for this woman ???