Asheville Citizen Times: What Are the Takeaways from the Asheville City Council Primary Election?
Coverage of Asheville’s City Council primary election highlighted the strong turnout and competitive field of candidates seeking three seats on City Council.
Twenty candidates entered the nonpartisan primary race, making it the largest field in at least 25 years. Six candidates advanced to the November general election.
Jeffrey Burroughs, president of the River Arts District Artists and a small business owner in the district, finished among the top vote-getters and was the only newcomer in the race to advance.
Political analyst Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University noted that standing out in such a large field was significant.
“Burroughs was somehow able to stand out in a field of 20 candidates, which is not an easy thing to do when you don’t have built-in name recognition from previously being in office.”
Voters and community members also pointed to Burroughs’ leadership following Hurricane Helene and his work supporting artists and small businesses in Asheville’s River Arts District.
Suzi Israel, a voter at the Dr. Wesley Grant Senior Southside Community Center, said Burroughs has worked since the storm “to get people up, back to their normal lives.”
Robert Nicholas, owner of the Marquee in the River Arts District, said having someone directly involved in the district’s recovery could help support local businesses and the city’s creative economy.
“I think that the more representation that helps this whole area to come back is only going to make Asheville better and better and better,” Nicholas said.
The six candidates advancing to the November general election are:
Drew Ball
Maggie Ullman Berthiaume
Jeffrey Burroughs
Keith Young
Antanette Mosley
Sheneika Smith
The general election will determine the three candidates who will serve on Asheville City Council.