The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) spearheads seven steering committees that are vital to helping shape policy across the Tar Heel State. Buncombe County is proud to announce three of its commissioners have recently been appointed to those committees. The appointments are as follows:
- Commissioner Amanda Edwards – Public Education Steering Committee
- Vice Chair Terri Wells – Agriculture Steering Committee and Environment Steering Committee
- Commissioner Martin Moore – Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee
These committees help guide the board of directors on developing the NCACC’s policy priorities and advocacy principles and are made up of county commissioners from across the state and appointed by NCACC President Johnnie Carswell.
Commissioner Edwards says public education runs in her family with her mom having spent more than 36 years as a teacher, her husband being a high school principal, and the parent of a son in public school. “I work at A-B Tech raising money to ensure that students have access to higher education. Public education is the foundation for a strong workforce and local economy,” says Commissioner Edwards. “I hope serving on this committee gives Buncombe County a voice in the issues impacting public education, such as K-12 and community college faculty and staff pay and allows us to be a part of the solution in various issues, including recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.”
Commissioner Wells says being tapped for two committees is exciting and an honor. During her three-year tenure as a commissioner, she has leveraged her experience to be a dedicated advocate for agriculture and environmental stewardship. “While we have been successful in advocating for state funding to support farmers and residents with funding for cost share programs and infrastructure projects, I have realized the importance of Buncombe having representation in statewide policy discussions,” explains Commissioner Wells. “I look forward to being a voice for Buncombe to ensure that we have effective state policies that support our family farms and conserve our natural resources.”
Also bringing significant experience and expertise to his steering committee is Commissioner Moore. His work as an attorney and volunteering in the community gives him valuable insight to the needs of Buncombe County and beyond. “I hope my work will aid Buncombe in continuing to focus on the most effective safety and justice best practices. The challenges we face are not unique, but we can lead the way in Western North Carolina and collaborate with our neighboring counties to combat challenges that cross county lines,” says Commissioner Moore. “I look forward to engaging with commissioners across the state and subject matter experts to develop and brainstorm innovative and forward-thinking approaches to how we address justice, mental health, and community safety challenges in our communities.”
Buncombe County is excited and honored to have our commissioners helping guide larger conversations on these important topics. To learn more about the NCACC steering committees, click here.