Karrigan Monk
The town of Black Mountain governing body will have new faces with Brittany Williams and John Richardson earning the votes in this year's election to take the seats held by Alice Berry and Ryan Stone.
Cheryl Milton will take the seat with an unexpired term left by Pam King’s resignation that has been filled by Larry Harris since her departure in May.
Stone was running unopposed for mayor and will vacate his council seat to take that role from Mayor Michael Sobol, who did not run for reelection in favor of running for a seat on Town Council.
Williams was the top vote-getter with 38.18% of votes, with 100% of precincts reporting, according to the state Board of Elections. Richardson came in second with 20.9% of the votes, compared to Sobol's third place finish with 20.73% of the vote. Just 13 votes separated Richardson and Sobol.
These results will not be official until the canvassing period ends Nov. 13.
Other candidates include Michael Roberts, who received 19.58% of the vote.
For the unexpired term, Milton was running against Harris. Milton received 52.61% of the vote.
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For the two full-term seats that were up for election, only one of the four candidates had past political experience. Sobol has been on Town Council and mayor, first starting on council in 2003.
Williams is the director of congregational life and children’s ministry at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church and told Black Mountain News prior to the election that she was running because she loves the town and believes there is “an opportunity to move forward while protecting what makes” the town “special.”
She said her top issues include “rebuilding trust and communication between residents and town government” and that is where her priorities would lie.
At her watch party Nov. 3, she told Black Mountain News that her victory means the town is "ready for change" and ready for a "younger voice."
She said her priorities will be getting in a better place fiscally and hiring a town manager while restoring trust within the town government.
"I'm looking forward to serving in a way that I know is going to be impactful not just for myself, but for all the people in this town that I love so dearly," Williams said.
Throughout her campaign, Williams said she said she has learned it is possible to do hard things and that nothing is impossible.
"I am so honored to have been chosen and elected by the people of this community," Williams said. "I hope to serve them to the best of my ability and I hope that they know that I want to listen to them. I want to know what their concerns are, what their hopes are, and how together as a community, not just as a town council, but it's going to take everyone coming together to really build this town back."
Richardson is a small business owner in Black Mountain – he owns Black Mountain Brewing and The RailYard – and works for a technology company helping hospital foundations raise funds to support patient care. Both of Richardson's businesses are currently involved in litigation with the town.
Before the election, he told Black Mountain News his priorities included restoring trust in town leadership, supporting the public safety departments, ensuring fiscal responsibility, creating good relationships between businesses and the town and investing in the town for the next generation.
In a phone call with Black Mountain News Nov. 4, Richardson said he is "excited about the opportunity ahead."
"We've been through a rough patch and things have been a mess and are probably going to be a mess for a while," Richardson said. "I'm just excited for change and for the ability to work together with other folks to get us all back on the same page, working for the greater good of Black Mountain."
With all newcomers taking the seats in Black Mountain, Richardson said it was indicative of people being "ready for change across the country."
"I think if we see anything that we're tired of empty promises and we're tired of bickering and infighting and blaming and pointing fingers and we're ready for action," Richardson said. "I think we're ready for solutions and we're ready to start working together. I think it was a vote for change."
He said his top priorities would be working to address the public safety building, which has been vacant since March, and the "financial integrity of the town."
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Two candidates were vying for the unexpired seat, Harris, who was appointed to the seat following King's resignation and has decades of experience in Black Mountain politics. He faced political newcomer Milton in the election.
Milton told Black Mountain News before the election the “excessive spending” of the town is one of her top issues and that her top priorities will be to rebuild the fund balance.
She told Black Mountain News Nov. 4 that her priorities now that she has been elected will be to look at the financials of the town and to focus on hiring for the multiple vacancies the town has open, including for town manager, police chief and fire chief.
"The people we hire going forward are going to be team players, not players that are only about themselves and what they can achieve, not worrying about the employees," Milton said. "In my mind, all our employees need to be treated fairly and equally and the rules need to be the same for everybody."
Milton said the voter turnout in Black Mountain is indicator of change.
"That tells me that the people in this town are looking for change," Milton said. "They're tired of what's been happening and they want to see if a new crew can help to make change happen."
Stone, who has served more than a decade on Black Mountain’s Town Council and what was then known as the Board of Alderman, ran unopposed for mayor. He is the assistant clerk of superior court in Buncombe County.
He told Black Mountain News before the election that he chose to run for mayor rather than run for re-election as a council member because “now was a time for new voices and a new tone in our civil discourse.”
He received 96.37% of the vote.
This story has been updated to add additional information and comments from winning candidates.
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Karrigan Monk is the Swannanoa Valley communities reporter for Black Mountain News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].