Pertiller, King and Hay win Black Mountain aldermen election
Incumbent candidate and two challengers win three seats on the board
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
November 3, 2020
Incumbent candidate Archie Pertiller, Jr. led all Black Mountain aldermen candidates with 2,609 votes in the Nov. 3 election. Photo by Fred McCormick
Incumbent candidate Archie Pertiller, Jr. will retain his seat on the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen where political newcomers Pam King and Doug Hay will join him, following the Nov. 3 General Election.
Pertiller led all six candidates with 2,609 votes, according to the unofficial results on the N.C. State Board of Elections website, while 2,454 ballots were cast for King with Hay collecting 2,419 votes. In a record year for early voting and absentee ballots, the trio received more votes than any candidate since at least 2009.
Pertiller was appointed to the board in August after former mayor Don Collins resigned and aldermen appointed Larry Harris to fill the remaining two years of his term. Willet, who finished fourth in the race with 1,978 votes, nominated Pertiller to fill the seat left vacant by Harris, and the board approved the motion.
Pertiller is the co-owner of a business that develops curricula for organizations that work with populations seeking treatment for mental health disorders, substance abuse and developmental disabilities.
In his Oct. 17 profile with The Valley Echo, Pertiller expressed a desire to utilize active listening and focus on collaboration if elected.
“I just want to thank the Lord,” Pertiller said moments after the last of the precincts reported. “I really want to thank this community for the opportunity to serve. I promised to be a voice for the people of this town and someone who is willing to listen to others. I’m going to work hard for the people of this community, and as a team with the other board members.”
Pam King was elected Nov. 3 to the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen with 2,454 votes. Photo by Fred McCormick
King, who is the development coordinator for Buncombe County domestic violence agency Helpmate, served as the president of the Friends of the Black Mountain Library and Greenway Commission.
She campaigned on a platform that emphasized transparency, a COVID-19 plan and environmental preservation and care.
“I offered to be a fresh face for the people and it feels like the community wanted that,” she said. “I’m looking forward to working on transparency and moving this great community forward.”
Doug Hay was one of three candidates elected to the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen, Nov. 3. Hay received 2,419 votes. Photo by Fred McCormick
Hay spent summers in the Swannanoa Valley, where his family had roots dating back to the Asheville Farm School (now Warren Wilson College). The blogger, podcaster, trail runner and COO of a fitness and nutrition website moved to Black Mountain with his family in 2014.
“I think it’s clear the community is ready for a change and want new people and new ideas,” he said.
Hay is eager to “get to work” after the new board members are sworn in, in December.
“I’ve been talking about it and listening to people, and I’ll continue to do those things,” he said. “But, I’m really excited to have a voice on the board and to actually do the work because there are things we can get done. I’m excited to work with Ryan (Stone), Archie, Pam and Tim (Raines) to come up with a good strategy for how to move the town forward.”
Challenger Tonia Holderman received 1,595 votes in her bid for the board of aldermen while 1,009 votes were cast for Matt Turner. Mike Sobol, who ended his campaign in September but remained on the ballot, received 696 votes and Justyn Whitson, who also dropped out of the race, received 287.
Pertiller, King and Hay will take the oath in the December regular monthly meeting of the board of aldermen.