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Hurricane rebuilding panel has strong Henderson County representation

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 25, 2024

Gov.-elect Josh Stein's newly formed “Rebuilding Western North Carolina” advisory committee has strong representation from Henderson County: A fifth of the 25-member group is connected to the county.

State Rep. Jake Johnson, R-Polk, and Fletcher Mayor Preston Blakely are among five currently serving elected officials on the panel. Others include former Rep. Chuck McGrady, who had broken with his party weeks ago to join a “Republicans for Stein” announcement during the general election campaign, Blue Ridge Community College President Laura Leatherwood and former Hendersonville City Council member Debbie Roundtree.

Co-chaired by Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and state Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, the committee includes 14 Democrats, six Republicans, four unaffiliated voters who chose a Republican ballot in the March 5 primary and one registered unaffiliated who voted in the Democratic primary, the North Carolina Tribune reported Monday.

Other committee members are county commissioners Charlie Wallin and Al Whitesides of Watauga and Buncombe counties, Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers, former Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, former state Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker, former state Rep. Nathan Ramsey, Jack Cecil, president of Biltmore Farms; Casey Cooper, CEO of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority; Asheville chef and restauranteur Katie Button; Mast General Store owner John Cooper; D.D. Bullwinkel’s outfitters co-founder and former Brevard councilwoman Dee Dee Perkins; former N.C. Banking Commission member Van Phillips; N.C. Association of County Commissioners Executive Director Kevin Leonard, Watauga County Schools Superintendent Will Hoffman, former District Court Judge Larry Leake, Appalachian State administrator Jim Beeler, Avery County community activist Ashley Cook and Western Youth Network Watauga health coordinator Brittany Duncan.

The panel is “well-positioned to provide counsel and strategic advice,” Stein’s transition team said in announcing the committee's formation.

Thanking Stein for including him on the committee, Corbin said the “bipartisan effort is needed for maximum impact for our citizens and businesses.”