Position/philosophy statement
NC
Campaign Phone
8283337286
As a Buncombe County Commissioner, environmental advocate and volunteer firefighter, I've worked to safeguard our community while enhancing transparency, fiscal responsibility, and collaboration. Over the past year, I’ve helped guide our community through complex recovery efforts while balancing budgets and coordinating across jurisdictions to deliver results under pressure. I bring hands-on experience, a collaborative leadership style, and a track record of listening to residents and turning their concerns into action. I understand how local government works, and how to make it work better for the people it serves. I'm committed to making local government accessible, accountable, and responsive to the people of Asheville.
1. Resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness – Rebuilding while strengthening systems to withstand future emergencies and protecting public resources.
2. Affordability and cost of living – Ensuring Asheville remains livable for people across incomes and life stages.
3. Effective, transparent governance – Being responsive to our residents, while supporting local businesses and workers through grounded and solution-focused policymaking.
By focusing on evidence-based housing strategies that increase supply while preserving existing affordable housing. This includes aligning zoning and infrastructure decisions with housing goals, using public land strategically, and coordinating closely with county and regional partners. I will support policies that are data-informed, fiscally responsible, and shaped by community input, with an emphasis on long-term affordability and minimizing displacement. I'll also continue advocating for our community at the state and national levels of government to ensure we have the resources and support we need.
Strong local democracy depends on informed voters, transparent processes, and leaders who respect both public participation and institutional responsibility. My goal on the City Council will be to help guide thoughtful, inclusive decision-making that reflects Asheville’s values and prepares our community for the future. Asheville is at a turning point. We need leadership that recognizes the urgency, values collaboration, and isn’t afraid to make tough but thoughtful decisions. My approach is rooted in transparency, accountability, and respect for the people most affected by city policy. I believe local government should be responsive, practical, and grounded in community values.
Position/philosophy statement
I’m running to build resilient, climate-smart infrastructure; expand affordable housing; strengthen public safety; and invest in sidewalks and greenways—bringing people together to create solutions so all Asheville residents can thrive.
Current Occupation
Climate Change Advocate
Our recovery and future will benefit from experienced, grounded leadership willing to challenge failing systems. I've spent my career working inside complex systems—city government, federal funding, climate policy—and delivering results people can feel. As Sustainability Director, I worked across departments and regionally on resilience, infrastructure, and long-term planning—experience that guides my post-Helene recovery work. On Council, I've led nonpartisan advocacy for hurricane recovery dollars through the WNC Recovery & Resilience Partnership, advanced zoning reforms for housing affordability, reduced costs and climate impacts, and expanded public safety. Also, I'm accessible, I show up, I'm steady, I listen, and I deliver results.
Post-Helene, Asheville is recovering from loss while preparing for a future made uncertain by an unstable climate, a General Assembly that withholds funding for our basic needs, and a chaotic, overreaching, and punitive federal government. 1. Climate-smart infrastructure: we're overdue for resilient water, energy & neighborhood resources to help our residents survive the next unprecedented emergency. 2. Housing stability & affordability: accelerating safe, attainable housing so residents can stay & thrive. 3. Effective city government: We must do, not just plan. I'm focused on moving projects forward, delivering core services reliably, multi-year planning to deliver an equitable & prosperous community, and holding leadership accountable.
By pairing urgency with discipline. I'll direct recovery & capital dollars to climate-smart infrastructure projects that reduce risk long-term—resilient water systems, distributed energy, and neighborhood hubs—while coordinating closely with county, state, and federal partners to stretch every dollar. On housing, I’ll continue modernizing zoning, and accelerating missing middle housing like duplexes and quads near jobs and services, and pairing growth with anti-displacement tools to keep our current residents. For effective government, I’ll push clear timelines, call for accountability for stalled projects, and advocate to align council and staff on multi-year planning. We must move faster, communicate clearly, and deliver meaningful result
I'm committed to addressing our challenges beyond climate, housing & government effectiveness. Budget: Helene & inflation have created one of the toughest budget environments in decades. I will ensure our budget reflects our values—protecting core services like transit, housing investments & flood-ready infrastructure while pursuing multi-year strategies for affordability, climate & homelessness. I prioritize livability & safety for lower-income residents. Homelessness: Safety & humanity must guide our approach. Until systemic inequality & healthcare crises are resolved nationally, our city must humanely meet immediate needs while ensuring public safety. I advocate for increased investment in our proven Continuum of Care model. ICE: If federal agents deploy here, my role is supporting frontline organizers & immigrant communities. I will listen to what affected communities need to increase safety & protect rights, then work collaboratively to craft meaningful, responsive policy.
Position/philosophy statement
I value collaboration, accountability, and outcomes. My goal is to strengthen housing stability, recovery, infrastructure, and the local economy so that City of Asheville policy supports the people who live and work here.
Current Occupation
Small business owner, artist, and nonprofit leader
I bring hands-on experience at the intersection of small business, housing, arts, and disaster recovery. I am a small business owner, an artist, President of River Arts District Artists, and Chair of the Helene Economy Recovery Board. I work directly with city staff, regional partners, and community leaders on post-Helene recovery and long-term resilience.
I have led collaborative efforts with property owners, displaced businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies during a major regional crisis. This work has given me a clear understanding of how policy decisions affect real people and what tools City Council actually has to deliver results. I lead with data, collaboration, and accountability, focused on outcomes, not ideology.
Housing stability and affordability. Asheville cannot function if the people who work here cannot afford to live here. This includes deeply affordable, workforce, and missing middle housing tied to local incomes.
Climate resilience and infrastructure reliability. Hurricane Helene exposed real vulnerabilities in our infrastructure, utilities, and land use decisions that must be addressed to reduce future risk.
Small business and economic resilience. Local businesses are the backbone of Asheville’s economy and need predictable permitting, reliable infrastructure, and recovery investments that stay in the community.
I will use the tools City Council controls to align zoning, public land, incentives, and permitting towards housing that matches local incomes. That includes advancing missing middle housing, prioritizing deeply affordable and workforce housing, supporting nonprofit and mission-driven developers, and preserving existing affordable housing.
Housing decisions must be coordinated with infrastructure, transit, and climate risk so growth strengthens neighborhoods instead of displacing residents. I will focus on clear timelines, accountability, and outcomes that deliver real results for people who live and work in Asheville.
Asheville is at an inflection point. Housing affordability, disaster recovery, infrastructure reliability, and economic stability are deeply connected, and addressing them requires leadership grounded in real-world experience.
I am running to bring practical, collaborative problem-solving to City Council. I have worked directly with small businesses, artists, property owners, nonprofits, and government partners during recovery after Hurricane Helene, and I understand how city decisions affect people on the ground.
I believe in transparency, accountability, and using data to guide policy. I also believe we can disagree without being polarized and still deliver results. Asheville deserves leadership that listens, acts with urgency, and focuses on long-term resilience so the people who make this city work can continue to call it home.
Position/philosophy statement
I believe public service begins with listening. My leadership is principled and rooted in community. I want Asheville to be a city where longtime residents can stay, new neighbors can find a home, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Current Occupation
Attorney
Age (optional)
56
Campaign Phone
828-450-8485
I bring deep Asheville roots, professional experience and a proven record of public service. I am an attorney with more than 25 years of experience and have served on Asheville City Council since 2020, currently as Vice Mayor and Chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee. My experience also includes nonprofit affordable housing and service on boards and committees focused on housing, planning, infrastructure and public safety. I know how to analyze complex issues, listen to different perspectives, build coalitions and turn community priorities into action.
1. Housing affordability and preventing displacement: Increase housing opportunities while helping longtime residents remain in their homes and neighborhoods.
2. Public safety and quality of life: Keep neighborhoods safe, strengthen emergency response, address homelessness effectively and maintain reliable core City services.
3. Helene recovery and resilient infrastructure: Continue rebuilding homes, businesses and public infrastructure while preparing Asheville for future disasters.
I will continue working to increase housing while protecting longtime residents from displacement. That means supporting more housing where appropriate, preserving existing affordable housing, expanding home repair and rental assistance, and using City-owned land and public funding strategically. I will continue advocating for anti-displacement protections, particularly in Legacy Neighborhoods, and for infrastructure investments that support responsible growth. Asheville needs more housing, but growth should strengthen our neighborhoods and create opportunities for people who already call Asheville home.
Asheville is home. My family has been part of this community for generations, and my commitment to public service is rooted in the people and neighborhoods that shaped me. I grew up in East End/Valley Street and Kenilworth, integrated an Asheville elementary school at age five, became an attorney, worked in nonprofit affordable housing, and ultimately returned home to help care for my father. Those experiences taught me that leadership begins with listening and that progress must include people who too often go unheard. I have tried to bring that perspective to City Council every day: working collaboratively, standing on principle when necessary, and being a voice for the unheard and an advocate for the underserved. I would be honored to continue serving the city that raised me.
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