Candidates For Office in Buncombe County Races

The filing deadline is today, so there may be a few stragglers still to announce, but this is where the Buncombe County races stand now.

Democrats who have filed to run in Buncombe County Board of Commissioners' primary on May 6, 2008:

Bill Stanley, incumbent who sold public parkland and held secret meetings with Progress Energy
Vernon Dover, who "worked for Progress Energy for 40 years before retiring, the last eight as commercial-industrial account manager"
Carol Weir Peterson, incumbent queen of the Old Guard of Buncombe politics who also assented to selling public parkland and holding secret meetings with Progress Energy
K. Ray Bailey, former head of A-B Tech who is rumored to have filed with Carol Peterson and Bill Stanley at his side.
Keith Thomson, Asheville Business Leader
Holly Jones, sitting Asheville City Councilmember, former Vice-Mayor, head of the YWCA
Robert E. "Bob" Hill, former Chamber of Commerce director and Realtor
Cecil Bothwell, populist hero, most popular journalist in western North Carolina, editor of Asheville City Paper, founding member of Asheville/Buncombe Policy Institute
J. Ray Elingburg, Former Buncombe Clerk of Court, former A-B Tech Trustee, mentor to Bob Christy

Then there's David Gantt (D) running against Nathan Ramsey (R) for Chair of the Commission.

It's kind of creepy having a K. Ray and a J. Ray on the ballot. Their ties to the Old Guard leave me suspicious, but their hard work at A-B Tech has my respect.

Chad Nesbitt acolytes will have three candidates on the ballot on May 6th. Carolina Stompers members Don Yelton, Paul Perdue, and R.L. Clark are lumbering into their respective races. Clark declared his candidacy for NC Senate yesterday on Matt Mittan's Take A Stand radio show. He's looking to challenge Chad's father, Senator Martin Nesbitt, for the seat, which encompasses Buncombe County. Paul Perdue is running against Democrat Bruce Goforth in House District 115.

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A comment in the Asheville Politics mailing list indicates that Clark may run from his Stomper affiliation, but for now his picture is still featured on their main page.

Republican Joe Dunn, who lost to Terry Bellamy in the race for mayor in 2005, filed to run for Buncombe County Commission. Dunn, known as Dr. No for his opposition to most everything, joins these Republicans in the County Commission race:

Don Yelton, Carolina Stomper and Sender of False Information
John Carroll, Head of CIBO and Real Estate Broker
Mike Fryar, father of Board of Realtors and Bill Russell shill, Christy Fryar
Ron McKee, part owner and President of the Asheville Tourists
Steve Bledsoe, who pulled 523 votes in a failed run for Asheville City Council last year and who changed his registration from Unaffiliated to Republican for this race.

For House District seat 116, being vacated by Republican Charles Thomas, we've got Democrat Jane Whilden running against Asheville Republican, Tim Moffitt. Whilden is Governor Mike Easley's western director and Moffitt is the CEO of an international recruiting firm.

Otto Debruhl, another Old Guard stalwart, is running unopposed for Register of Deeds.

Susan Fisher is running unopposed for NC House seat 114.

I'm sure there's something or someone I've missed, so please fill in the blanks in the comments.

{cross posted from Scrutiny Hooligans}