Jane Bilello

From Staff Reports

The Asheville Tea Party and Asheville Tea PAC announced last Friday a reorganization in which founder Erika Franzi of Weaverville in Buncombe County will relinquish the chairmanship to Jane Bilello, a Henderson County resident.

The organization also welcomed GOP congressional candidate Jeff Miller of Hendersonville to its “Tea Time” social June 30 evening at Pack’s Tavern in downtown Asheville.

In addition, the ATP supported a resolution that repudiates FreedomWorks, noting that the politically conservative organization “does not speak for our group.”

The reorganizational move was described in an ATP press release as “implementing structural and organizational changes for the purpose of developing our leadership capabilities and broadening our scope regionally.” Under the plan, Franzi will serve on the newly formed Program Management Board.

Bilello, a former ATPAC board member and active ATP member, is a retired educator. She announced on April 26 her abrupt resignation from the Henderson County TEA for Liberty organization after the TFL’s Chairman Bill O’Connor personally endorsed Miller in his successful bid for the GOP nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville. Bilello had led Dr. Dan Eichenbaum’s campaign in Henderson County.

The ATPAC endorsed Eichenbaum, who finished second — narrowly missing a runoff vote — in a six-man race in the primary. Since Miller’s victory, neither Eichenbaum nor the ATPAC have offered an endorsement of him. Instead, ATPAC has said it soon will issue ratings of candidates and incumbents in a style similar to that of the National Rifle Association.
As for her ascendancy to the ATP and ATPAC helm, Bilello said, “I am humbled to have been passed the responsibility of carrying the torch for Asheville Tea Party and Asheville Tea PAC.

“Erika Franzi has some very serious big shoes and casts a very tall shadow. Erika is not going away. She will continue to serve on the board and be an ever-present guide and mentor to all of us and to me especially. Asheville Tea Party Inc. and PAC are what they are because of Erika’s vision, leadership and unwavering belief in Asheville Tea’s mission,” Bilello noted.