Due to high levels of crime and concerns for public safety, the Asheville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office started a collaborative effort of joint patrols in downtown Asheville on Feb 9, 2024.

• “Fed-up merchants describe the city’s downtown district as nearly lawless. People sleep and do drugs in doorways, barge into businesses yelling, brazenly shoplift, and frighten customers and employees.” (Asheville Watchdog 2/27/23)

   

• Asheville break-ins surge more than 200% in January of 2023. APD officers responded to 41 break-ins in 2022. In January 2023, 11 break-ins were reported. (abc13 news - Hannah Mackenzie 2/1/23)

   

• Business entryway's are littered with human feces, trash, and needles. Out-of-town tourists dubbed the city “Trashville.”(Ashevile Watchdog - Down Town Series) 

   

• Duly arrested criminals are being released rather than jailed. Buncombe County receives large annual monetary grants to reduce their jail's inmate population. (Asheville Citizen Times 2/22/23 and Buncombecounty.org)

Joint patrols are an attempt to bolster downtown safety, but taking sheriffs away from their regular duties (or adding additional hours & costs) may also lead to unintended negative outcomes in other parts of Buncombe County.

Get Involved - Get Out and Vote for Common-Sense Leaders!

All Buncombe County registered Republicans are encouraged to participate in the annual GOP convention. The convention runs from 9am to noon and is located at Ferguson Auditorium on the AB Tech campus (19 Tech Drive, Asheville, NC 28801). Although the convention starts at 9am, you must register prior to entry. Doors open at 7:30am.

To RSVP CLICK HERE 

Far-left Democrats in Buncombe County are strategically switching their party to “Unaffiliated.” An Unaffiliated voter can select either a Republican or Democrat ballot in the primary and thus can influence which Republican advances to the General Election.

Republicans need to turn out and vote in record numbers to offset this impact.

PLEASE make sure that you vote. Also help and encourage other Republicans to get out and vote in this important primary!

Early Voting Dates: Feb. 15 - March 2

Monday – Friday, 8am - 7:30pm

Saturday, Feb. 17, Saturday Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 25, 10am - 3pm

Saturday, March 2, 8am - 3pm

During the Early Voting period, you may vote at any of these 11 locations:

For answers to key questions about voting - CLICK HERE 

Need a sample ballot? CLICK HERE, fill in your full name, and your voter information will pop up. About 2/3 down the page is a blue header titled "Your Sample Ballot." When you click on the ballot number, your can see your primary sample ballot.

Need additional candidate information? CLICK HERE

• Select candidates by area - choose Buncombe Area to see your local candidates

• You may also select Federal, Judicial, or State Candidates with the drop down box

• Or select candidates by office (Left drop down box) or name (Alphabetical)

Buncombe County Commissioner Conservative Candidates - District 1

Rev Paul Benjamin (Rep) - Life Center International Founder, Author, Speaker

Rondell Lance (Rep) - Retired APD; FOP president

Asheville City Council Conservative Candidate

Although you are allowed to vote for 3 candidates, the best chance to get a conservative on the City Council is to ONLY VOTE FOR ONE (CJ Domingo)

CJ Domingo (Rep) - Biologist, Loomis Security

Led by the Lord to relocate to Asheville, in 2018, he continued coaching leaders and serving in the region.

Witnessing the condition in Buncombe, Paul decided to stand in the gap for the people in his county and registered to run for County Commissioner in 2024. He will be addressing some of these critical concerns:

• Faith and Family - (Values determine your victory)

• Safety and Security - (Community Intervention)

• Law and Order - (Adequate Funding for Law Enforcement)

• Business - (Reduce burdensome regulations and taxes) 

• Gun Violence Prevention

• Fatherless Youth & Single Mom - (Intervention)

• Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability and more...

Learn about Paul's initiatives to make a positive impact in our community, CLICK HERE

Rondell is currently President of the Fraternal Order of Police representing the men and women of Law Enforcement in our area. During his Law Enforcement career, Rondell participated and coordinated the Departments Law Enforcement Officers for Special Olympics events and runs. Rondell has also spent years supporting and volunteering in youth camps and events with the FOP to strengthen the relationship between police and Buncombe County youth.

Rondell is a trustee and song leader at his church. He has been faithfully involved at the same church since 1996. He is also chair for the Republican Party at the Enka Library District. Rondell has represented Law Enforcement before the City Council and the Buncombe Commissioner meetings as well as before legislators in Raleigh. 

Although Rondell is enjoying retirement, he realizes the need for service in the community to represent those who feel their conservative voice is not being heard.

2) Invest in its people.

The City must invest in cultivating its employees to be good servants to the citizens of Asheville. The City must likewise invest in encouraging companies to create career opportunities that will help the citizens of Asheville to flourish and thrive. CJ believes that without this investment, the people of Asheville will continue to be at the mercy of external companies which exploit Asheville's natural resources, natural beauty, and unique culture while siphoning our wealth out of our home.

3) Accountability is the mandate of all government.

When Asheville acts on the behalf of its citizens, the reasoning should be plain to all and the people should understand the objectives as well as how success shall be measured. The City must update constituents on progress and all readjustments - from start to completion.

In short, CJ will drive progress, prudence, and just plain sticking to the plan.

No Republican candidate is running for Commissioner - District 2. Bruce O'Connell is running as an Unaffiliated candidate. Bruce has strong conservative values. To be on the ballot in November, Bruce needs petition signatures from registered voters in District 2. Click on the following link to get a petition Bruceoconnell.com.

February 16th, Youth Rally 6-7pm, BCGOP HQ - 18g Regents Park Blvd, Asheville

A special get together for young Gen Z conservatives. Come meet other young conservatives, meet candidates, ask questions, and enjoy some free food.

February 17th, Fletcher Community Information Forum - 1:00 - 3:00pm, Cane Creek Community Center - 1370 Cane Creek Rd, Fletcher, NC 28732, USA

Republicans - Come meet local Conservative candidates and learn what the BCGOP is doing and how your vote can bring back common sense in '24.

February 20th, Weaverville Community Information Forum - 6:00 - 7:30pm, Weaverville Library - 41 N. Main St. Weaverville, NC 28787

Republicans - Come meet local Conservative candidates and learn what the BCGOP is doing and how your vote can bring back common sense in '24.

March 2nd, Buncombe County Republican Convention - 9:00 - Noon, Ferguson Auditorium at AB Tech - 19 Tech Drive Asheville, NC 28801

All Republican's registered in Buncombe are welcome to attend. Doors open at 8:00 am and event starts promptly at 9:00am. To RSVP CLICK HERE 

Congressman Chuck Edwards Receives Additional Endorsements

• National Rifle Association Endorses Edwards for Congress with an A Rating

• Pro-Life Advocacy Susan B. Anthony Endorses Edwards for Congress

• Grass Roots North Carolina recommends Chuck Edwards for Congress

BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES - CITY OF ASHEVILLE

Asheville has board and commission vacancies. City residents are given preference; however, Council may appoint a non-City resident to some hard-to-fill seats or seats requiring special skills or expertise. For more information, CLICK HERE

BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCIES - BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Buncombe County has board and commission vacancies. For more information or if you want an application, CLICK HERE

Are you sour on politics? I was, too. This is what I did about it. Join me and take action.

George Washington had concerns about political parties. His concern was that the people would eventually become so aligned with their party and that their loyalty would align to a party rather than to the country and what the country stands for.  

A few years ago, when I considered getting more involved in politics, the sour apples of the do-nothing Republicans and the ever Marxist-leaning Democrats spoiled my appetite for the whole political affair.  

Then a friend strongly suggested that I get educated on what our country is about and to read the Constitution (Have you read it recently? Good stuff!). This friend pointed me to www.patriotacademy.com where I took a free course titled “Constitution Alive”.  I became so jazzed about our forefathers’ wisdom and the thoroughness of the Constitution in protecting its people from the corruptible forces of government that I took the next course “Biblical Citizenry”. It was then that I fell in love with my country with a deeper appreciation of it than I had ever known. Now, I am working every day to make a difference for the citizens of Buncombe County.

Our country is a gift. It is a leap in the progress of mankind for prosperity, equal justice, and protection of private property and individual rights.

Want to squash the sour grapes of politics? Refresh yourself about your country, its Founders, and the Constitution. It will lift you. It will give you resolve and gratitude to stand up for American values.  

Check out www.patriotAcademy.com today or call your Western Carolina Constitution Coach – Doug Powell (619) 838-2278.