Economy. Education. Environment. Emergency Services. These are the issues Amanda champions.
Amanda has led on policy to make Buncombe County more livable and affordable,
and more resilient to climate change, pandemics, and economic downturns.
Voters have twice elected Amanda by wide margins to serve us on Commission.
Amanda is a leader who listens & who delivers on her promises. Amanda launched her first campaign in 2018. Amanda sought to restore Trust and Accountability after the arrests of County staff on fraud charges. Amanda successfully advocated for policies to increase transparency and prevent fraud, prevent nepotism, and employee conflicts of interest.
20+ Years of Community Service in Buncombe County. Amanda is the Executive Director of the A-B Tech Foundation. She raises scholarship funds for community college students. Amanda is the past Executive Director of the WNC Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the past Executive Director of the Literacy Council.
“I am Amanda Edwards. I ask for your vote in 2024 to serve you as the next Chair of our County Commission.
We’ve had successes, yet there is more to do. We have hard-working people who aren’t finding good-paying career-track jobs, who are struggling to afford rent or mortgages, and who are simultaneously caring for their children, parents, and neighbors.
These kitchen table issues are my issues. I’m here especially for people who are feeling walked over and pushed out.”
Ready to Get Involved?
Economy
I am your advocate for Above Living Wages, Affordable Housing, Broadband Internet, and Sustainable Industries.
Amanda has worked hand-in-hand with community leaders to reimagine and meaningfully improve how we respond to people who are in need, who are chronically underserved, and who are marginalized. Through this work, Amanda has advocated for and has committed to creating 2,000 new affordable homes by 2030. Additionally, Amanda favored and supported the recent bonds for affordable housing that are set to create hundreds of affordable homes.
Amanda has advocated for living wages and “above living wage” pay, and continues to support more investment in apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships in skilled trades lead to high-wage careers and enable people to start their own businesses. Her role as the Executive Director for the A-B Tech Foundation, Amanda has supported A-B Tech’s apprenticeship programs and training in advanced manufacturing skills required by high-wage local employers.
While Buncombe County continues to offer residents a high degree of internet accessibility, our community still shows as having a broadband adoption rate of between 69% and 77%. Amanda has supported Commissioner Terri Wells’ outstanding advocacy for reliable broadband internet in rural areas in an effort to ensure reliable broadband access for all.
Amanda is a member of the inaugural Hunt Institute State Policy Fellows, which is composed of select elected leaders from throughout the state who are working to improve local economies. Amanda regularly works alongside state and local economic development teams to support recruitment of sustainable industries to our area.
Education
I’m a proven leader on education for all our residents–from Early Childhood to K-12 to Ongoing Adult Education.
Amanda has served as a consistent force in the community and on commission for early childhood through adult education since she worked as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Buncombe County.
As the daughter of a public school kindergarten teacher, Amanda understands firsthand the role teachers play in our children’s lives. Amanda has consistently voted for supplemental pay for Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools teachers and staff.
Additionally, Amanda helped craft and voted for all our anti-discrimination ordinances. Amanda recognizes that safety and inclusion are human rights in all settings, especially public schools and public life.
Amanda is married to Derek Edwards, a longtime public school educator in Asheville. The couple met on their first day as students at UNC-Asheville. Amanda graduated from UNC-A and earned a Master’s in Public Administration from UT-Knoxville.
Environment
I am your advocate for cost-saving Renewable Energy projects and Conservation of Farms, Land, and Clean Water.
Growing up deep in the Appalachian Mountains shaped Amanda into a lifelong advocate for people, our beautiful mountains, and our vital natural resources.
Amanda advocated for adopting a fiscally responsible plan to achieve 100% renewable energy for county operations by 2030. Amanda has supported outgoing Commission Chair Brownie Newman’s outstanding advocacy for renewable energy.
Amanda has advocated for and voted in favor of the recent open space bonds to conserve land in Buncombe County. Amanda has supported and voted for policies to preserve farmland and forests. Amanda has supported the creation of Buncombe County’s first state park, Pisgah View State Park in Candler.
Amanda voted to install solar on the rooftops of county government buildings, which will save millions in taxpayer money and reduce carbon emissions.
In 2018 and again in 2022, the Sierra Club endorsed Amanda’s winning campaigns for County Commission.
Emergency Services
I work with and take care of the people who serve us: Police, Fire, EMS, 911, and our Disaster Response Teams.
Amanda’s experience with emergency services dates to her years leading our regional American Red Cross. Amanda effectively coordinated with local and federal agencies to provide disaster relief.
Amanda was an early proponent of the Community Paramedicine Program, advocating for its pilot program and its expansion. The Program dispatches specially trained medical professionals to medical and behavioral health emergencies including opioid overdoses and mental health calls.
In our county budgets, Amanda prioritized increasing EMS staffing and supported consolidating 911 centers to increase effectiveness
Vote to Elect Amanda Edwards as Commission Chair. General Election November 5, 2024.
Trusted Leadership When We Need it Most
Reasons to Choose Commissioner Amanda Edwards for Chair
Accountability. Family. Respect. Collaboration.
20+ years of transparent, Accountable leadership
Resume
Elected County Commissioner, 2022
Elected County Commissioner, 2018
Executive Director of the A-B Tech Foundation, 2016-present
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), 2015-present
Past Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross
Past Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Asheville and Buncombe County
Past Board Member, YWCA of Asheville
UNC-Asheville Graduate (B.A.)
UT-Knoxville Graduate (Master Of Public Administration)
Dedicated to her family and yours
Family life and respect for all families is key to who Amanda is.
Amanda and her husband Derek, a longtime public school educator in Asheville, live with their teenage son, family dog, cat, and a brood of chickens at their rural Weaverville home.
The family enjoys visiting national parks together on family vacations. They also attend church, high school sports, and Tennessee Vols football games together.
Amanda is an avid cyclist and hiker. She enjoys exploring our beautiful mountains.
Read more about Amanda in her campaign announcement.
Respect for all, Demonstrated Daily
Bias permeates our systems and our lives. We have to work against the unconscious bias that makes even the “best” people among us believe that a person is less capable and deserves or should settle for less because of their sex, their age, their formal education, their skin color, their politics, etc.
Amanda is committed to demonstrating respect to all—the deep, genuine respect that is necessary for our community to thrive.
Collaboration That Connects and Unites Us All.
Amanda is committed to collaboration. Amanda leads people to work beyond perceived limitations while remaining practical and outcome-driven. Her 20+ year career here is a testament to her commitment.
She believes that our differences make us stronger. When we acknowledge and embrace our differences, we can work together more effectively to accomplish more for all the people of Buncombe County.
