Ryan Stone appointed to town council seat

Black Mountain fills vacancy left by Bill Christy resignation

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 9, 2023

A vacancy on the Black Mountain Town Council was filled, Oct. 9, as the governing body held its regular monthly meeting. 

Elected officials unanimously nominated and confirmed Ryan Stone, who completed a term on the board in 2022, after not seeking a third in that year’s election. Stone, who swore the oath and immediately joined the board, will fill the seat through 2024.

The position was left vacant when Bill Christy, who was elected to the term in November 2022, resigned, citing health concerns, in September. A message from Christy was read by Town Manager Josh Harrold to the council.

“Please express my thanks to the members of town council, the employees and many others of Black Mountain and many others who have reached out with messages of prayers and support,” Christy wrote. “Sometimes it takes a crisis to remind us what a wonder town we live in. I am grateful.”

Five citizens — Joseph Scotto, Rick Earley, Chas Fitzgerald, Carl Bartlett and Stone — expressed interest in filling the seat, according to Harrold. Ballots containing the names of the candidates were distributed to the board, as each of the four members nominated Stone.

The Black Mountain Town Council voted unanimously, Oct. 9, to appoint Ryan Stone to a vacancy on the board. Stone served nine years on the governing body when he completed his final term in 2022. Photo by Fred McCormick

The former vice mayor, who served nine years on the council to which he was first appointed and twice elected, returned to the position after learning of Christy’s departure.

“The circumstances, with all the thing Bill Christy has been through and all of his service, made me want to help however I could,” Stone said of his interest in the seat. “He encouraged me to do this, and other folks reached out and asked me to help, as well. When people ask me to help, I try to do it.”

His previous experience on the town council will ease his transition into the position, added Stone, who has served with four of the town’s five current elected officials.

“I think I’ll be able to hit the ground running, without a doubt,” he said. “My goal is to provide insight into what past boards thought as they were making decisions. In the end, I’ll do what I’ve always tried to do and make the best decision based on the information presented.”