Asheville council primary: Ullman takes lead, incumbents Smith and Mosley just behind

Sarah Honosky, Asheville Citizen Times
·4 min read
Maggie Ullman Berthiaume, right, is congratulated by fellow City Council candidate Allison Scott following the results of the Democratic primary May 17, 2022.
Maggie Ullman Berthiaume, right, is congratulated by fellow City Council candidate Allison Scott following the results of the Democratic primary May 17, 2022.

ASHEVILLE - Six City Council candidates will move forward from an 11-way nonpartisan primary, with climate advocate Maggie Ullman Berthiaume leading the way with 16.77% of the vote.

Just behind are incumbents Antanette Mosley and Sheneika Smith, with 14.88% and 15.24%, respectively, and Allison Scott, the first transgender City Council candidate, with 9.96% of the vote.

Also in the running is activist Nina Tovish and musician Andrew Fletcher.

These six candidates will move on to the November general election to vie for the three open seats.

Asheville City Council candidate Antanette Mosley casts her ballot on the first day of early voting at the Southside Center in Asheville, April 28, 2022.
Asheville City Council candidate Antanette Mosley casts her ballot on the first day of early voting at the Southside Center in Asheville, April 28, 2022.

City Council results:

  • Maggie Ullman Berthiaume: 16.77%

  • Sheneika Smith: 15.24%

  • Antanette Mosley: 14.88%

  • Allison Scott: 9.96%

  • Nina Tovish: 7.93%

  • Andrew Fletcher: 7.68%

More: Primary day voting updates for Asheville area, May 2022

Maggie Ullman Berthiaume, a climate advocate working with nonprofits and foundations, was formerly the city's first sustainability director, and has made climate a central part of her campaign.

She said her work with nonprofits, helping build coalitions for climate change, is often on an international and national scale, which was part of her drive to run — to do things closer to home, to make an impact where her neighbors can feel the difference.

“If you have a will to do something, to make our community better, there is a place for you," Ullman said in response to her early lead. "And right now the community is saying there's a place for me in leadership, it just feels really special.”

Smith was first elected to City Council in 2017. She currently serves as vice mayor.

Asheville City Vice Mayor Sheneika Smith sits in on a city council meeting April 12, 2022.
Asheville City Vice Mayor Sheneika Smith sits in on a city council meeting April 12, 2022.

More: Jasmine Beach-Ferrara easily outpaces field in NC 11th Congressional Democratic primary

“I’m excited about where I landed. I made a faith decision not to run as hard this go around because I really wanted to focus my attention on getting my girls through the school year, but I’m glad that the people of Asheville remembered me and decided to vote me through the primary so that I can prove my love for the people and my dedication," Smith told the Citizen Times after the results came in.

“I know I’m going to have to strap up my boots and really prove that I want the race, that I want to redeem my seat.”

More: Al Whitesides wins Buncombe District 1 Democratic victory, defeating Bill Branyon

Mosley, an attorney, was appointed by council in 2020 to fill the vacancy left by Vijay Kapoor.

“I am thrilled, I am thankful," Mosley said, "and on to November.”

She felt commonsense and compassion resonated with voters at the polls, with equity, affordable housing and safety being among her top issues.

Allison Scott claps while listening to Jasmine Beach-Ferrara following the results of the Democratic primary May 17, 2022.
Allison Scott claps while listening to Jasmine Beach-Ferrara following the results of the Democratic primary May 17, 2022.

Scott advocates for LGBTQ southerners through her work as director of Impact and Innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality, and has put equitable, affordable housing for all, including the city's unhoused population, at the center of her campaign.

She was at the Buncombe Democrats watch party at Rabbit Rabbit, and teared up as results rolled in.

"I’m an outside candidate, coming into this missing some of the establishment endorsements, and coming in fourth is pretty big," she said. "It’s a mountain. It really is a mountain. So it makes me feel good.”

As the first trans City Council candidate, and now moving on to the general election, she said it's "a little daunting," with a weight behind it that can be intimidating.

“I’m just trying to be me in a world that doesn’t want me to be me, and honestly, I never wanted to win because I was trans, I wanted to win because of the work I’ve done and everything I’ve done in my life," Scott said.

Nina Tovish speaks following the results of the Democratic primary May 17, 2022.
Nina Tovish speaks following the results of the Democratic primary May 17, 2022.

Tovish, currently self-employed, is a writer and a visual artist, and has advocated for greater transparency in Asheville city government.

Fletcher is a musician and is a tour guide with LaZoom. He currently serves as vice chair of both Downtown Commission and Public Art and Cultural Commission.

More: Openly transgender Asheville City Council candidate believed to be first to run

Asheville City Schools

Eight candidates on the Asheville City School Board ballot will move on to the general election.

Amy Ray led with 17.22% of the vote, and Sarah Thornburg and Rebecca Strimer followed with 16.24% and 14.29%, respectively.

Pepi Acebo, Liza English-Kelly, Jesse Warren, William Young, Jr., and Miri Massachi will also be on the November ballot.

More: ACS Board of Education candidates: stance on finances, achievement gap, mental health

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Six Asheville City Council candidates advance to general election