Buncombe County Commissioner David Young looks at a photo album with his daughter, Mary Victoria, as Robin Ramsey, county board Chairman Nathan Ramsey, and Leigh Young look on during a ceremony at Pack Place on Wednesday night. Young is leaving the board after 16 years. He chose not to run for re-election this year and opted for a run for state treasurer. He lost in the primary. Ramsey lost his re-election bid for chairman to fellow Commissioner David Gantt.
The event was populated by county government officials and employees, as well as family and friends of Young and Ramsey. It was awkwardly emceed by Commissioner Bill Stanley, who tried to make the event a bit of a roast, but only ended up mildly botching it all by referring to newly elected commissioner Holly Jones as an atheist. Commissioner Carol Peterson gave the most heartfelt speech of the evening, noted that both Ramsey and Young have worked hard on behalf of the county they love.
I was hoping the event might produce some deeper thoughts about where we’ve been and where we’re going, in terms of Buncombe County and county government. That didn’t happen, so I’ll have to think through this and offer my own thoughts soon.