Nortth Buncombe – Buncombe Commissioner and Vice Chair Terri Wells is gearing up for re-election in 2024, aiming to continue her service to the county. Elected in 2020, Wells is setting her sights on the newly drawn Buncombe County Commissioner District 2, an expansive region covering the county’s largest geographical area.
Her strategy includes engaging with communities across District 2, such as Candler, Leicester, Weaverville, Barnardsville, and Swannanoa, through a series of community conversations in the coming months, fostering direct connections and attentive listening to constituents.
Proudly emphasizing her leadership in preserving natural resources, supporting family farms, bolstering broadband infrastructure, and forging a robust path for the future generation, Wells expressed her enthusiasm for extending her service across Leicester, North Buncombe, Candler, and Swannanoa. Her commitment remains unwavering to tirelessly work for the benefit of all Buncombe County families.
Acknowledging her impactful leadership in agriculture and environmental advocacy, Commissioner Wells has earned esteemed positions on the Agriculture Steering Committee and the Environment Steering Committee for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC). These roles empower her to influence policies that unite the state’s 100 counties in collaborative efforts.
Expressing her motivation behind these leadership roles, Wells asserted, “Broadening my service and amplifying my impact as a representative for the people of Buncombe County is paramount.” Her recent selection for the Connecting Counties Task Force resonated with her passion for expanding broadband access. Now, she looks forward to further advancing agricultural and environmental policies, aiming to benefit not only Buncombe County but the broader population of North Carolina.
Wells’ journey is rooted in her local upbringing, having graduated from Erwin High School and pursued education at A-B Tech, UNC-Asheville, and UNC-Chapel Hill, culminating in a bachelor’s degree. Her academic pursuit continued with a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado Boulder. After recently completing the Advanced Leadership Corps training through the UNC School of Government, Wells remains dedicated to enhancing her skills and knowledge for effective leadership.
At home, Wells shares her life with her husband, Glenn Ratcliff, residing on their family farm in Sandy Mush. Ratcliff is an A-B Tech Community College chemistry instructor.
The last time Wells was publicly seen in Weaverville was in August 2023, when she spoke to the Weaverville Town Council for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners as vice chair in support of an affordable housing development on Monticello Road. Wells said the commissioners were pledging $1.5 million of public money for a low-interest loan for the project. The town council approved the development.