From Staff Reports

Another batch of Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina candidates recently have announced that they are running for office since the Daily Planet last reported on filings in the Dec. 6-19 edition of the newspaper.

Qualifying ended Dec. 15. The primary election is March 3. The general election is Nov. 5.

Among those who have filed recently are:

• Ruth Smith, a Republican, an attorney and a Weaverville resident, is running for the District 115 seat in the N.C. House of Representatives, she announced in a Dec. 4 press release emailed to the Daily Planet. The district covers west, north and parts of east Buncombe County. In her press release, Smith added that “the seat is currently held by Democrat Lindsey Prather, a progressive college administrator at UNCA.” To that end, the release quoted her as saying, “I look forward to challenging Ms. Prather for this seat. I believe my values and ideas more closely reflect the values of hard-working people in Buncombe County, rather than my opponent’s liberal university values. Buncombe County residents deserve a voice in Raleigh.” Earlier, the release stated that she has “served as an attorney representing residents in constitutional rights and other claims. Ms. Smith currently is suing the City of Asheville on behalf of local residents for racial discrimination after the city excluded them from civil boards based on race. She has also represented college students and professors who face unlawful discrimination based on protected free speech or racial grounds....” Quoting Smith, the release then added, “For years, I’ve been fighting for the people of Buncombe County — from persons who are discriminated against by radical ideologues, to injured workers trying to keep food on their table. I have been fighting for the people in Buncombe County. Now I want to fight for them in Raleigh.”

• Gina Baxter, a Hendersonville Democrat known for her advocacy work throughout the community, said in a Dec. 15 press release emailed to the Daily Planet that she has filed to run for a seat that is up for re-election on Hendersonville City Council. Specifically, Jeff Miller, a Republican, was appointed on Nov. 2 to fill unexpired term of the seat that Baxter is now seeking. The seat was held by Jerry Smith, who is unaffiliated politically and who resigned in October before his term had expired. (In a resignation statement, Smith said, “Upon deep reflection and much prayer, I have decided that I have to step away from council in order to take care of my family and my parents.” He went on to express what an honor it has been to serve the community as a City Council member and underscored the importance of municipal government in an effective democracy....”) Meanwhile, Baxter’s press release stated that “having grown up in Hendersonville, Gina has a deep understanding of the fabric of our community and our mutual successes and challenges, and she is ready to learn even more. She finds great joy in being an active participant in local service, and is proud to contribute to the community she loves. Her work in nonprofits and early education and her recent appointment to the city’s Environmental Sustainability Board speak to her devotion to all citizens of Hendersonville.” The release then quotes Baxter as saying, “Our city is at a pivotal point of growth, and we need to make smart, long-lasting policies to manage that growth. I look forward to getting to work, representing the interests of the people of Hendersonville — we deserve accountable, informed, local representation at the city level.” The release then added that “Gina’s platform is based on common sense solutions for Hendersonville families, including policy shifts toward affordable housing, increasing and redesigning public transportation, and creating caps on short-term rentals within the city limits.” 

• Rondell Lance, president of the Asheville Fraternal Order of Police, informed the Daily Planet on Dec. 16 that he is running as a Republican for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ District 1 seat.

• Terri Wells, vice chair of the Buncombe Board of Commissioners,  announced in mid-December that she is seeking re-election to her commissioners’ seat in the newly drawn District 2, touted as an expansive region covering the county’s largest geographical area.

• Bruce O’Connell, a former U.S. congressional candidate, announced Dec. 7 that he is running for the District 2 seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners as an unaffiliated candidate. In a press release, O’Connell stated, “This is untraveled road, and the UNAs have the largest voter population! How can our BOE (Board of Elections) not know how this works?”

• Martin Moore, a Buncombe County commissioner, declared on Dec. 4 his candidacy for North Carolina Court of Appeals. Moore, a Democrat, is running for the seat held by Republican Hunter Murphy, who has held the position since 2017. Murphy, along with Republican Chris Freeman, also are running for the seat. Moore, 35, defeated Republican Robert Pressley to win the commission seat in 2022.