By LESLEE KULBA

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

In the third round of balloting, activist and Democratic fundraiser Terry Van Duyn was elected to fill the unexpired term of state Senator Martin Nesbitt. 

Nesbitt died March 8, a week after being diagnosed with stomach cancer. At the time, local leadership from both political parties set aside their partisan differences to honor his life of service at his funeral.

Later, 149 members of the Buncombe County Democratic Party convened April 3 in Asheville for a special election to fill Nesbitt’s seat in Senate District 49. A simple majority was required, and Van Duyn won on the third round with 93 votes.

In the final round, Van Duyn mustered 93 votes, while Veronika Gunter netted 53 votes. Other candidates were Michelle Pace Woods, (who finished in third place), Charlie Mills, Axia Wilson and Keith Young.

In a show of unity, Gunter, who has been campaign chair for a number of successful local campaigns, then turned around and made a successful motion for the party to put Van Duyn on the ballot for the General Election in November 2014.

While Van Duyn will not face a primary, she will run against Mark Crawford, R.L. Clark, or Clarence Young – whomever of the three wins the Republican primary — in the general election.

 Van Duyn is perhaps best-known for being among those arrested at the Moral Monday protests in Raleigh. Participants supported efforts of the Rev. William Barber, claiming the Republican leadership in Raleigh is discriminating against oppressed classes. Fueling the protest, according to the participants, were decisions to tighten standards on abortion clinics, new laws that require voter identification, refusal to expand Medicaid and continue supplemental unemployment benefits, and controversial priorities in education funding.

She also was a speaker at last year’s massive Mountain Moral Monday protest in downtown Asheville.

Since retiring, Van Duyn has volunteered in a number of capacities, which include service on multiple boards of directors. She most recently served as a healthcare navigator, helping people enroll in Obamacare.

 She has also been a generous contributor to local political campaigns. A resident of Biltmore Forest, Van Duyn campaigned as an advocate for “ordinary people.” Van Duyn was strongly endorsed by Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan.