From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The top six vote-getters of 20 candidates for three seats on Asheville City Council in the March 3 primary election will engage in a final clash for the open seats in the general election on Nov. 3.

The 20-person field constituted “the largest number of candidates to file for City Council in at least 25 years,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported on March 3. 

All three incumbents ran for re-election – and all three made the top-six cut. 

The candidates finishing in the top six — the limit set for the primary field — included Buncombe County Commissioner Drew Ball and incumbent Councilwoman Maggie Ullman, who finished first and second, respectively, by a massive voter margin over the other four finalists.

Specifically, Ball received 10,175 votes, or 16.53 percent; while Ullman snagged 9,982 votes, or 16.22 percent.

Finishing third through sixth, respectively, were River Arts District small-business-owner Jeffrey Burroughs, who won 4,307 votes, or 7 percent; former Councilman Keith Young, 3,998 votes, or 6.5 percent; incumbent Councilwoman Antanette Mosley, 3,906 votes, or 6.35 percent; and incumbent Councilwoman Sheneika E. Smith, 3,750 votes, or 6.16 percent. 

Ball, whose election slogan is “Ball for y’all!,” is a member of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. He said he is not seeking re-election with the county because redistricting maps placed him in the same district as Commissioner Al Whitesides, his friend and colleague.

Ullman, a member of Ashville’s council since December 2022, chairs the council’s Planning, Economic Development, and Environment Committee.

Burroughs, an artist, small-business-owner and community advocate, is “known for their work revitalizing Asheville’s River Arts District, particularly in the wake of (Tropical Storm) Helene,” News 13 reported.

Young, a former councilman with five years of experience in local government, is touted by his campaign as having made a mark with his previous work focused on infrastructure, governance and the implementation of policies that continue to shape Asheville today.

Mosley, an attorney and the current vice mayor of Asheville, chairs the Housing and Community Development Committee. She was appointed to council in 2020 and elected in 2022.

Smith, a current councilwoman, was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. She chairs the Equity & Engagement Committee and serves on the Environment & Safety Council Committee and Housing & Community Development Council Committee.