Robert Pressley, incumbent Buncombe County commissioner for District 3, was the only Republican to win a county race in the hotly contested 2018 midterms. Buncombe County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Rose said the party’s unprecedented midterm voter outreach had helped propel Democratic candidates to wins in nearly all local contests.
Watch this space for the latest election results and commentary from the Mountain Xpress news team. The post will be updated regularly throughout the evening.
Donna Ensley Democrat Website: electdonnaensley.com Occupation: Retired development professional Previous candidacy or offices held: None Key endorsements: Sierra Club, Buncombe County Association of Educators, Sen. Terry Van Duyn, AFL-CIO, Buncombe County Democratic Women Amount of money raised: $28,497 Top three donors: Ron Edgerton, Dr. Charles Weiss, Dr. Bruce Rogers Why are you running for county […]
During a debate organized by the Council of Independent Business Owners on Oct. 5, candidates vying for seats on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners talked school safety, affordable housing and how the county should respond to the fallout from the Wanda Greene investigation.
Four candidates, including three Democrats in contested races, showed up to the event. Their three Republican opponents — Senate incumbent Chuck Edwards, House candidate Marilyn Brown and Commissioner Robert Pressley — didn’t appear. According to League policy, candidates without an opponent present are limited to a two-minute opening statement.
Two pivotal items on the board’s agenda were the approval of the FY 2019 budget and the appointment of an interim county manager after the sudden departure of former manager Mandy Stone.
Last month, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved moving forward with litigation against the opioid industry and now it officially has a federal lawsuit against pain pill manufacturers and distributors.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved a measure to strip the chair’s ability to shepherd items onto the agenda in favor of solely giving that procedural power to a group of three or more commissioners.
Buncombe County commissioners signed off on amending economic development incentives, expanding preschool offerings and moving forward with a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers.
Commissioners voted down a resolution that would have Buncombe County move toward 100 percent renewable energy over the next decade amid concerns over specifics of the plan.
Former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene cashed out on a $500,000 payday for six months of work in 2017 and more than $1.6 million over the past four years.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved changes to the county’s personnel ordinance that establishes a whistle blower hotline and providers more detailed language on immediate family members working together.
The number of opioid-related hospital visits in Buncombe County is up 172 percent from the previous year and commissioners and looking to the courtroom for relief.
As questions swirl around an ongoing FBI probe into former Buncombe County Manager Wanda Greene, some top officials are scrutinizing the results of a directive they say was meant to boost the earnings of the county’s lowest-paid employees.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners tapped Duke Energy for a solar farm project at the old county landfill and unanimously denied a rezoning request.
A budget amendment for iPads initiated a conversation about what programs funds from the county’s detention center commissary should go toward.
Pre-noon alcohol sales in unincorporated parts of Buncombe County gain approval while pro-cannabis advocates urge commissioners to lean on state lawmakers for medicinal marijuana approval.
Xpress takes a look at how Buncombe County commissioners set the tax rate during off-the-record phone calls and in-person meetings.
Commissioners are looking to allow alcohol sales in unincorporated areas of the county. The law allows for restaurants and grocery stores to sell alcohol starting at 10 a.m. but does not allow for state-run ABC stores to open.
Buncombe County staff presented commissioners with an update on opioid use on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Statistics from Buncombe EMS show some 520 responses to overdoses and poisonings in the first half of this year.
As the deadline approaches for a contract between Mission Health and BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina to expire, Buncombe County commissioners are urging the two organizations to get a deal done.
