Justice Where We Live
Putting People First in Buncombe County
Economic Dignity. Shared Responsibility. Real Community.
You can find comprehensive policy articles covering my stand on the ten major issues facing Buncombe County by clicking on the following link The Real Issues Facing Buncombe County — And How We Can Address Them Together
I was born and raised in the blue-collar neighborhoods of London’s East End, where dignity wasn’t a slogan—it was something you fought for. My grandfather was a committed socialist who taught me early that a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, not by how comfortable it makes the powerful.
After being told by a university that they “didn’t want my kind,” I learned firsthand how exclusion works—and how deeply it shapes lives. That experience didn’t harden me; it clarified me. I committed my life to education, justice, and public service. My first taste of politics was working in the campaign office, sending out literature—I was twelve.
Today, I teach philosophy, ethics, and religion at the university level, and I’ve spent decades working at the intersection of faith, labor, and social justice. I’m an ordained bishop, an author, an artist, and a community advocate—but above all, I’m someone who believes that work should pay a living wage, housing should be a moral priority, and government should serve people, not corporate interests.
I’m running for County Commissioner because Buncombe County deserves leadership rooted in dignity, honesty, and care for the whole community—workers, families, artists, farmers, elders, and young people who want to build a future here. This campaign isn’t about ideology or party loyalty. It’s about people over politics, and the courage to do what’s right where we live.
HOUSING FOR ALL
Homes people can afford — not speculation.
Land trusts • community housing • real solutions.
LIVING WAGE ECONOMY
Workers first. Local jobs, fair pay, and dignity at work.
CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Protect our mountains and rivers.
Build a strong infrastructure for the storms ahead.
COMPASSIONATE CARE
Mental health support, recovery programs,
and treatment — not punishment.
PEOPLE-POWERED DEMOCRACY
Transparency, community voice, youth leadership,
and decisions shaped by those who live here.
PEOPLE-POWERED DEMOCRACY
Transparency, community voice, youth leadership,
and decisions shaped by those who live here.
JUSTICE THAT HEALS
Restorative justice, racial equity, and safer communities
built through fairness — not fear.
RURAL INVESTMENT
Broadband, transit, farms, and opportunity in
every corner of Buncombe County.
ARTS & CULTURE
Creativity is community strength.
Support our artists, educators, and storytellers.
Terry Threadwell for Buncombe County Commissioner 