County

County Commissioner, Madison County

Vote for: 3
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 6
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.

Candidates Compare by issue

Shannon Dowler

Democratic

Family physician and health policy consultant

The gist

Supports bringing better-paying jobs to Madison County
Supports more affordable housing for families, disabled adults and seniors
Supports workforce housing, strong schools and job training
Opposes data centers in Madison County

More about Shannon

View sources (1)

Supports bringing better-paying jobs to Madison County
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“I think Madison County needs more better-paying jobs”
Supports more affordable housing for families, disabled adults and seniors
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“We also don't have enough affordable housing for our young families, for our adults that are disabled, and for our seniors”
Supports workforce housing, strong schools and job training
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“which means housing that employees can live in and afford, it means a strong educational system, and it means having workers that are trained”
Opposes data centers in Madison County
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“Dowler said she is against data centers”

C. William Briggs III

Republican

Owner, property maintenance company

The gist

Supports clean, responsible growth in Madison County
Supports careful county spending given a small sales tax base

More about C.

View sources (1)

Supports clean, responsible growth in Madison County
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“encourage clean, responsible growth”
Supports careful county spending given a small sales tax base
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“Our long-term decisions have to take into account that we've got to be very careful how we spend our money.”

Mark Snelson

Democratic

Director, Madison County Emergency Medical Services

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Mark

Connie Molland

Democratic

Owner, Flow Gallery

The gist

Proposes updating the county comprehensive plan with resident input
Supports growing a balanced mix of local industries
Supports hiring a county economic development director

More about Connie

View sources (1)

Proposes updating the county comprehensive plan with resident input
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“The plan would help us proactively manage the growth in our county that is both inevitable and needed”
Supports growing a balanced mix of local industries
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“I think the role of the County Commission is to grow these areas and provide more job opportunities, but maintain a balance across these areas”
Supports hiring a county economic development director
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“she'd like to see the county hire an economic development director”

Alan C. Wyatt

RepublicanIncumbent

Madison County commissioner; sales representative

The gist

Supports building water and sewer infrastructure to attract jobs
Supports AdventHealth's plans as a source of local jobs

More about Alan

View sources (1)

Supports building water and sewer infrastructure to attract jobs
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“Now, with the infrastructure that we're building ... we're growing. We're attracting jobs and economics into this county.”
Supports AdventHealth's plans as a source of local jobs
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“I have spoken on behalf of Advent Health many times. That's going to bring many, many jobs for our county citizens”

Jeremy Hensley

RepublicanIncumbent

Madison County commissioner (vice chair); Verizon service technician

The gist

Supports pursuing state and federal funding for county projects
Supports working with businesses that align with county values

More about Jeremy

View sources (1)

Supports pursuing state and federal funding for county projects
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“Since we became commissioners in 2022, we've brought in more than $75 million in state and federal funding to this county.”
Supports working with businesses that align with county values
Madison County Commission candidates speak out on economy, top issues (Asheville Citizen Times)
Debate / forum transcript · Asheville Citizen Times · yahoo.com
“if they do align, we need to work with those on whatever they need”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.