From Staff Reports

Three current members of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners have filed paperwork to run for re-election and three newcomer have joined the race.

Chairman Nathan Ramsey, a Republican from Fairview formalized his candidacy last Monday.

Carol Peterson said she will run for a second term and Bill Stanley announced his bid for a sixth term. The two Democrats both filed paperwork on Feb. 11.

Meanwhile, Democrat Keith Thomson and Republican John Carroll announced they would be entering the race as well.

Asheville City Councilwoman Holly Jones, who had earlier announced her candidacy, filed the paperwork to do so on Friday.

Peterson, 66, a former educator and vocational director for Asheville City Schools, listed workforce preparedness as one of her main concerns. Peterson is the board chair of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

Stanley, 78, who has served on the county board since 1988, is its longest-serving member. A former principal and restaurant owner, Stanley said his main issues are education and finding a balance between development and preserving the mountains.

All four commissioner seats are up for election this year. Chairman Nathan Ramsey’s seat is also up, in a separate election.

The primary election will be held May 6 by political party. The general election will take place Nov. 4.
In other election-related action, several local candidates filed paperwork last week to run for state offices, including: