Politics

Commissioners boot Moyer from Airport Board in 3-2 vote

By Bill Moss, Published: July 18, 2012

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners booted former county commissioner Bill Moyer from the Asheville Airport board and replaced him with Andrew Tate, the CEO of the county industrial recruiting agency.

In a split vote the commissioners declined to reappoint Moyer, a three-term commissioner and past county commission chairman who lost to Mike Edney in 2010. Commissioner Larry Young said that Moyer had served the county faithfully for many years and was the best choice for the seat.

Commissioner Bill O’Connor nominated Andrew Tate, saying the CEO of the Partnership for Economic Development is the right fit.

Young and Charlie Messer, each of whom had served with Moyer for two terms, voted for Moyer, while  Edney and Tommy Thompson joined O’Connor in voting for Tate.

The commissioners were making their first appointment to the Asheville Regional Airport Authority after the Legislature restructured the governing body. The law, sponsored by Sen. Tom Apodaca and Reps. Chuck McGrady and Tim Moffitt, stripped authority from Asheville and gave Henderson County a seat on the authority for the first time. Moyer had been appointed by the Airport Board.