Asheville News

BREAKING: Asheville’s Young launches run for head of NC Democratic Party

Jason Sandford January 22, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Former Buncombe County Commissioner David Young is launching a run for chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

Scrutiny Hooligans has been all over this issue, and has reported the Young rumor. I’m telling you that it’s for real, and that Young has Gov. Beverly Perdue’s support, which will make him a strong candidate.

After 16 years as a Buncombe County commissioner, Young last year choose to launch a run for statewide office (state treasurer). He didn’t make it out of the primary, but it was his first attempt at raising his profile statewide, and he’s got a lot of ambition left in him. What better way to establish connections across the state than working behind the scenes to get other Democrats elected?

The state Democratic Party had another Asheville connection — former Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Kerra Bolton left the newspaper a few years ago to work for the party as its communications flak. Bolton has left that job to go to work for — wait for it — the new state treasurer, Janet Cowell.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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2 Comments

Loyal Buncombe Dem January 24, 2009

Jenny, I think he has fire in his belly to succeed, but in general I agree with you because I don’t think he has the fire in his belly to serve.
David Young is of, by, and for himself, not for the people of Buncombe County or North Carolina.
He is Blagojevich without the Big Shoulders. Blago was revealed when he was caught on FBI tape, and that’s the only way David Young will be revealed to North Carolina. It may be 2 years or 5 or 10 years, but I’m pretty confident this will happen. Remember you read it here first. A public official just can’t be this venal and go on and up forever.
Some politicians are clearly in it for public service – I believe that most of our local and state elected officials are here to serve and improve the quality of life of their fellow citizens.
David Young is more like that congressman from the ’70s who spoke clearly into the FBI tape recorder in a restaurant booth and said, "I have larceny in my blood."
I’m not saying David Young is not influential. Go through his contribution records for his 2008 state Treasurer race (look on the NC Board of Elections website) to see page after page of detail. And I’m not saying he won’t raise lots of money for the Dems. For a while.
But sooner or later, he will embarrass and weaken us with scandal. I say this as a loyal Buncombe County Democrat. Those who know David Young best, and who want their public servants to serve the public, don’t want him as our leader.

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Jenny Graves January 22, 2009

I wish David Young would give up politics forever. I don’t think he has the fire in his belly to succeed.

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