While Hurricane Helene disrupted virtually every life and way of life in this region, at least one thing is happening as scheduled—the 2024 election. Today, I talk with Amanda Edwards, a member of the Buncombe County Commission who is running to succeed the departing Brownie Newman as chair.

Here, in a conversation that took place weeks before Helene struck, Edwards talks about her motivations for entering electoral politics and the issues that motivate her today. Our conversation runs through affordable housing policy, education, the environment and improving emergency services. She also makes a point to talk about transparency and ethics as an elected official.

Later in this conversation, Edwards criticizes a now former practice of elected county officials accepting retention bonuses. Though she doesn’t directly name him, her opponent in this race, Van Duncan, was an elected sheriff who accepted such a bonus. I emailed Duncan’s campaign to ask for an interview and haven't receive a response.

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