Beyond the Dais: Commissioner Drew Ball’s youthful impromptu karaoke session

Posted on by Thomas Calder
SENIOR MOMENT: Drew Ball in his senior year of high school. Photo courtesy of Ball

As part of Xpress’ annual Kids Issue series, we reached out to the members of Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to share their childhood recollections. Not all elected officials were available.

Below is our conversation with Buncombe County Commissioner Drew Ball.

Xpress: Most people have at least one story their family and relatives can’t help but retell at most reunions and/or holiday gatherings. What is the quintessential story from your childhood that you can’t seem to escape at these types of gatherings?
Ball: At the age of around 8, at my sister’s baptism, I decided it was a good time to take to the mic and share my rendition of “There’s a Tear in My Beer.”
How would you describe yourself as a teenager? And how do you think your former teenage self would have reacted to learning you ended up serving as an elected official? 
He would be excited and he would ask me how many skate parks I’ve gotten built.
The young people in our community have been through a lot since COVID and Helene. What is your top concern for our area youths, and what influence do local officials have to address it?
I would want them to know that we’ve been through this together, so we’ve got their back. Every person and every child has a place and a future in our community.
Lightning round: As a child, what was your favorite …
  1. Book: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
  2. Album/Band: Hootie & the Blowfish
  3. TV show: “The Price is Right”
  4. Movie: Disney’s Robin Hood
  5. Publication (magazine or newspaper): The Nation
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About Thomas Calder
Thomas Calder received his MFA in Fiction from the University of Houston's Creative Writing Program. His writing has appeared in Gulf Coast, the Miracle Monocle, Juked and elsewhere. His debut novel, The Wind Under the Door, is now available.
View all posts by Thomas Calder →

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