Weaverville – The political season is heating up in Weaverville, as two residents have entered the race for town council.
Introducing Jennifer Young
Among the new names you’ll see on the ballot this fall for town council is Weaverville resident Jennifer Young. According to a press release from Young, she is “a full-time resident and graduate of the Weaverville Citizen’s Academy, and she would be honored to be elected to help guide the community as it continues to flourish. Jennifer has spent her professional life serving others in various capacities and would bring a multi-faceted approach to her position on the council while vying for the best interests of the town’s citizens.
“Jennifer began her career as an auditor for the North Carolina Department of Revenue prior to her calling as a Registered Nurse, both of which grounded her in adherence to the law in unique situations. Jennifer has also worked closely with numerous administrators in the state’s university system, facilitating equality and ease of maneuvering between degrees for students planning to attain higher education credits.
“In the process, she gained experience with public speaking and has taught multiple courses, coordinated disaster drills with emergency management teams, and collaborated with the Department of Health and Human Services and local emergency management officials,” the release goes on to state.
“She was a Regional Trainer for COVID emergency response and was instrumental in developing standards of care and safe patient management. A Business Administration graduate of nearby Mars Hill College, Jennifer has also received a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from Western Carolina University.
“Locally, she is the owner of Kathleen Key Properties, LLC, a rental management company with properties on South Main Street, where she implements Housing and Urban Development Fair Housing practices.
Jennifer is no stranger to small-town politics, having observed her mother, Kathy Young, during her service with the town council. Kathy worked diligently to establish a clean water source from the Ivy River and outdoor recreation space for the community at Lake Louise. Jennifer strives to uphold her mother’s legacy and expand upon the changes made by her mother. She would be proud to give back to the town that has meant so much throughout her life, helping to preserve the heritage of this small mountain town, while planning for an even more productive future. “It’s the culture – the people here – that makes this place so special,” says Jennifer.
“Weaverville is a special place where those who come here fall in love with its charm, its beauty, and its people. We need to preserve that, maintain that hometown feel we love so much. The people of this town need to be heard, and I would be honored to be the voice of the citizens of Weaverville. This is Our Town, Our Future,” the release states.
Meet Gary (“Dee”) Lawrence
The other new face is “Gary (“Dee”) Lawrence, who has announced his plan to run for a seat on the Weaverville Town Council. He is a native of Charlottesville, Virginia, and graduated from UVA with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He has lived in North Carolina for 40+ years and has been a Weaverville resident for the past 16 years. Dee recently completed the Town of Weaverville Citizens’ Academy, which piqued his interest in the governance of Weaverville.
Lawrence “believes that Weaverville faces many challenges.. An important one is the growth that is inevitable as large tracts of land are being sold to developers. Most of these large pieces of land are not within the corporate limits of the town, so Weaverville does not collect any tax revenues from those developments. However, these building projects place increasing demands on town resources, such as water, police, fire, roads, the electrical grid, and other infrastructure. Without additional tax revenues, the residents of Weaverville will shoulder the burden for these resources. ‘Population and building growth in our area is inevitable. Weaverville’s Town Council must find a way to incorporate these developments so that they help fund infrastructure and must have a singular voice in these matters,'” Lawrence stated.
In his release, he says he “wants to be a positive force in that process and pledges to do everything in his power to move Weaverville in a positive direction. The core of Dee’s skills for the Town Council are based on his Three C’s: Communication, Collaboration and Commitment.
“His experience with large companies, where he demonstrated a commitment to customer service, makes him the right guy, in the right place, at the right time to manage this time of growth in our town.
Questions or comments? Follow him on Facebook (https://t.ly/DeeLawrence), Instagram (https://t.ly/DeeLawrence_IG), or email at electdeelawrence@gmail.com .”
Election Details
Both Young and Lawrence will appear on the November ballot along with anyone else who registers to run before noon on Friday, July 21. According to the Buncombe County Board of Election’s website, The next election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, for the Town of Weaverville, Town of Woodfin and Woodfin Water & Sewer District. Only residents within the town limits of Weaverville, Woodfin, and/or Woodfin Water & Sewer District are eligible to vote. As of Friday, the only ones who had registered were Lawrence and Young in Weaverville.