With her win in the District 1 Democratic primary, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara is slated to become the first openly LGBT Buncombe County Commissioner. To get there, she had strong competition from City Councilman Gordon Smith and from another civil rights activist, Isaac Coleman. Since no Republican filed to run for the District 1 seat, Beach-Ferrara is almost certain to take office in the fall after the General Election.
In local contests for North Carolina General Assembly seats yesterday, Frank Moretz defeated Bob Chilmonik in the Republican primary for N.C. House District 115, while Chuck Edwards won the Republican nomination for N.C. Senate District 48, defeating Lisa Baldwin and Dennis Justice.
While only one Buncombe County commission seat was actually decided in last night’s primary, in all the races where a woman was running, she was selected by her party.
Another Asheville resident has had a frustrating experience trying to obtain a photo ID for voting. After a time-consuming trip to the DMV, and wrangling with poll workers at the Buncombe County Board of Elections office, 68-year-old Juliet Burke succeeded in casting an early vote in the primary, but she still lacks a photo ID.
Two hotly contested local races for seats in the N.C. General Assembly feature various Republicans jockeying for a spot on the November ballot. The March 15 primary includes two Republican contenders for the state House’s 115th District and three for the Senate’s 48th District.
The 2016 Mountain Xpress Primary Voter Guide asks local candidates who they are, where they stand on issues and how they would govern. The guide covers only those candidates for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners who’ll appear on the primary ballot.
Besides weighing in on assorted candidates for public office, voters in the March 15 primaries will also have the chance to help decide whether North Carolina should issue $2 billion worth of bonds to address various infrastructure needs.
Larry Dodson’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Gordon Smith’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Chad Nesbitt’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Miranda DeBruhl’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Isaac Coleman’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Mike Fryar’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Jordan Burchette’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Matt Kern’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Scott Bissinger’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
Nancy Nehls Nelson’s 2016 primary voter guide profile.
As a result of a 2013 lawsuit from Mecklenburg and Durham County voters, hundreds of Buncombe County residents are changing representation between the 10th and 11th Congressional Districts.
