News

Franklin defeats Andreotta

By Amy McCraw, Published: March 6, 2024

Challenger Sheila Franklin defeated incumbent Henderson County Commissioner Daniel Andreotta in Tuesday’s Republican primary for the District 2 seat on the board.

With all 35 precincts reporting Tuesday night, unofficial results showed Franklin winning 64 percent of the vote with 11,709 votes to Andreotta’s 6,575 votes, or 36 percent. Franklin will face Democrat Erik Weber in the Nov. 5 general election. 
During the campaign, Franklin, 63, criticized the current board for failing to stop urban sprawl.

“Our communities need to be protected from the sprawl that so very often happens when the land development codes aren't what is best for the communities,” she said.
Andreotta had drawn attention to himself in ways that offended segments of the electorate three times in 2022.
In June of that year, Andreotta tried unsuccessfully to defund the Flat Rock Playhouse, making a motion to delete a $30,000 grant from the 2022-23 county budget. (His motion failed 3-2 with Hill joining Andreotta in voting yes.) When an uproar ensued, he was forced to issue a statement clarifying his intent.
"First, I know well what a blessing the Flat Rock Playhouse is to Henderson County, as well as to all of Western North Carolina,” he said. “I have friends employed there, so I am absolutely 100% supportive, and wish them only success. I have never proposed defunding them. However, I do not believe we should be further subsidizing them with taxpayer funds either.”
Three months later, he ignited a second a social media firestorm when he reposted an offensive meme comparing public aid to slavery. "Two ways to make a slave: Work him without pay or pay him without work," it said. Andreotta shared the post, writing "TRUTH" alongside it. The post was soon deleted.
And finally, in November of that year, Hendersonville City Council member Jennifer Hensley thrashed Andreotta for accusing the city of failing to join Henderson County in underwriting the cost of utilities extension to an affordable housing development on Sugarloaf Road. In fact, the council was in the process of discussing the grant and soon voted unanimously to match the county’s $800,000 appropriation.