What to know about Buncombe primary election 2024: Who has filed for council, commission?

Sarah Honosky, Asheville Citizen Times
Updated ·5 min read
Voters cast their ballots in the primary election as others wait in line at the Murphy-Oakley Community Center on March 3, 2020.
Voters cast their ballots in the primary election as others wait in line at the Murphy-Oakley Community Center on March 3, 2020.

ASHEVILLE - Candidate filing is open for the March 5 primary elections, and U.S. president, governor, U.S. House, General Assembly and county offices are all on the ballot.

Already, candidates are pouring in. At the Buncombe County Election Services office, Director Corinne Duncan said they are fielding filings from Asheville City Council, Board of Education, Clerk of Court, County Commission, Registrar of Deeds, the State House and State Senate.

We'll take look at some of the municipal filings below, but first Duncan offered a look at changes and important dates heading into the primary election season.

Buncombe County Director of Elections Corinne Duncan speak at a primary election day press conference on May 17, 2022.
Buncombe County Director of Elections Corinne Duncan speak at a primary election day press conference on May 17, 2022.

What do you need to know about the 2024 primary election?

Filing opened Dec. 4 and will close Dec. 15 at noon. Candidates can file at 59 Woodfin Place. They must be a registered voter of the county, at least 21 years old and reside within the district, if relevant.

Dates to know:

  • Dec. 15: Filing ends.

  • Jan. 2: Voters can begin requesting absentee ballots.

  • Feb. 9: Voter registration deadline.

  • Feb. 27: Absentee ballot request deadline.

  • Feb. 15-March 15: Early voting.

  • March 5: Primary Election Day.

  • March 15: Official election results available.

Photo ID requirements: A new state law requires all voters to show photo ID when they go to the polls. According to state guidelines, these are acceptable IDs (unexpired or expired no more than a year):

  • N.C. driver’s license.

  • State ID from N.C. DMV

  • Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory. This only applies to voters registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election.

  • U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

  • N.C. voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections.

  • College or university student ID approved by the N.C. Board of Elections.

  • State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the N.C. Board of Elections.

Photo IDs that people can use irrespective of expiration date are:

  • Military or veterans ID cards issued by the U.S. government.

  • Tribal enrollment cards issued by a tribe recognized by the state or federal government.

  • ID cards issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the state of North Carolina for a public assistance program.

Learn more at https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id.

Voters are also able to get a free ID from their county board of elections, Duncan said. If the voter does not show an acceptable ID, the voter may vote with an ID Exception Form and a provisional ballot, or vote with a provisional ballot and return to their county board of elections office with their photo ID by the day before county canvass.

“Elections always have changes. That’s just part of elections and government, it’s something that happens. That’s why our office exists," Duncan said. "We are here to help people. So if (you) have questions, you can always call our office or come to our office or look at our website. But just show up to vote. The people who are there are trained to help.”

Am I registered to vote? Registration status and other details can be searched at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/. Voters can also register same-day at early voting, at the local election board or by mail. More information can be found at https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/election.

How does a primary election work?

The March 5 primary will include both partisan and nonpartisan elections. Asheville City Council and school board are nonpartisan races.

In the partisan races, Duncan said, candidates within a party are competing against each other to go on to the general election. In the nonpartisan elections, "it's just narrowing all the candidates," she said.

The number of candidates that go on to the general election is twice the number of seats. For example, in the Asheville City Council race, with three seats open, six candidates will advance to the general election.

The candidate list for Asheville City Council, Board of Education and Buncombe County commission will be updated throughout the filing period. Who has filed so far:

Asheville City Council

Three seats are up for grabs in 2024, currently held by council members Sage Turner and Kim Roney and Vice Mayor Sandra Kilgore. The mayoral seat is not up for election this year. Esther Manheimer was reelected for her third term as mayor in 2022. Council elections are nonpartisan.

Who has filed, as of Dec. 15, 5 p.m.:

Bo Hess, licensed clinical social worker. Age: 35. Lives in downtown.

Bo Hess.
Bo Hess.

Tod Leaven, veterans law attorney. Age: 48. Lives in Montford.

Tod Leaven.
Tod Leaven.

Kim Roney, music educator and small business owner. Age: 42. Lives in east West Asheville.

Kim Roney is running for reelection to Asheville City Council.
Kim Roney is running for reelection to Asheville City Council.

Sage Turner, Finance and project manager. Age: 45. Lives in West Asheville.

Sage Turner.
Sage Turner.

Iindia Pearson

Kevan Frazier, Educator/administrator for Western Carolina University programs in Asheville. Small business owner, including Well Played Board Game Café. Age: 53. Lives in downtown.

Kevan Frazier.
Kevan Frazier.

Taylon Breanne Breeden

Charles (CJ) Domingo

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Buncombe County Commission

Four Buncombe County Commission seats are on the ballot this election, currently held by Chair Brownie Newman, District 1 Commissioner Terri Wells, District 2 Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and District 3 Commissioner Parker Sloan.

Incumbents Wells and Sloan have already filed for reelection.

Newman announced in October that he would not be seeking reelection, as did Beach-Ferrara. Commissioner Amanda Edwards announced she would run for the chair of the Board of Commissioners Oct. 26.

Here's who has filed as of 5 p.m. Dec. 15:

Board Chair

Amanda Edwards, Executive Director of the A-B Tech Foundation. Age: 46. Democrat. Lives in Weaverville.

Amanda Edwards.
Amanda Edwards.

District 1

Matthew Kern, energy efficient home builder. Age: 53. Democrat. Lives in Riceville.

Matt Kern.
Matt Kern.

Jennifer Horton, Democrat.

Rondell Lance, Republican.

Paul Benjamin, coach, consultant and mentor with Life Centers Global, a community impact ministry. Age: 61. Republican. Lives in the Sweeten Creek/Arden area.

Paul Benjamin.
Paul Benjamin.

District 2

Terri Wells, ninth generation Buncombe resident and farmer. Age: 52. Democrat. Lives in Sandy Mush.

Terri Wells.
Terri Wells.

District 3

Parker Sloan, solar developer. Age: 38. Democrat. Lives in North Asheville.

Parker Sloan.
Parker Sloan.

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Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: What to know: Buncombe, Asheville primary election 2024