County

County Commissioner, Buncombe County

District 01

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A county commissioner is one of the members of the board that adopts the county budget, sets the property tax rate and oversees county government.

Elected by the district's voters (State Board March 3, 2026 primary precinct results, other seats of the same board).

Candidates Compare by issue

Rob Stetson

Republican

Insurance agent, N.C. Farm Bureau

The gist

Pledges to hold property taxes steady, aiming to lower them
Supports making the county business-friendly
Opposes county borrowing through bonds
Supports reusing developed land instead of expanding outward

More about Rob

View sources (3)

Pledges to hold property taxes steady, aiming to lower them
Rob Stetson for County Commissioner
Campaign website · Rob Stetson for County Commissioner · friendsofrobstetson.com
“I will work to maintain your current property tax expense. Ultimately, my goal would be to lower your property taxes.”
Supports making the county business-friendly
Rob Stetson for County Commissioner
Campaign website · Rob Stetson for County Commissioner · friendsofrobstetson.com
“We need to position ourselves to be a business-friendly community.”
Opposes county borrowing through bonds
Buncombe County candidates participate in Business on the Ballot series
News coverage · Mountain Xpress · Aug 18, 2026 · web.archive.org
“saying he is “opposed to bonds” and sees them as “just kicking the can down the road.””
Supports reusing developed land instead of expanding outward
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners candidates discuss housing, forests and county goals
Candidate questionnaire · Mountain Xpress · Apr 10, 2026 · web.archive.org
“Instead of moving outward, we need to use properties that are already developed but are no longer in use.”

Anna V. Stearns

Democratic

Attorney; managing partner, Sneed & Stearns Attorneys at Law

The gist

Supports protecting forests and flood plains in land-use decisions
Supports denser, mixed-use development where infrastructure exists
Supports the county's housing and land conservation bonds
Opposes placing AI data centers in Buncombe County

More about Anna

View sources (3)

Supports protecting forests and flood plains in land-use decisions
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners candidates discuss housing, forests and county goals
Candidate questionnaire · Mountain Xpress · Apr 10, 2026 · web.archive.org
“I would focus on protecting natural systems like forests and flood plains, investing in stormwater infrastructure, directing growth to safer areas with existing services”
Supports denser, mixed-use development where infrastructure exists
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners candidates discuss housing, forests and county goals
Candidate questionnaire · Mountain Xpress · Apr 10, 2026 · web.archive.org
“We should encourage higher density and mixed-use development in areas with existing infrastructure while protecting flood plains, forests and farmland.”
Supports the county's housing and land conservation bonds
Buncombe County candidates participate in Business on the Ballot series
News coverage · Mountain Xpress · Aug 18, 2026 · web.archive.org
“Stearns also defended both bonds as a useful financing tool, comparing them to a 30-year home mortgage”
Opposes placing AI data centers in Buncombe County
Data centers put AI divide into focus in Buncombe commissioner races
News coverage · Mountain Xpress · Sep 25, 2026 · web.archive.org
“There is no place in Buncombe County where I would support placing an AI data center as they are currently being constructed and maintained”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 4 issues covered in this race.