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Senator Julie Mayfield
Democrat - District 49 - Buncombe
I am a practical progressive. I have a deeply rooted sense of justice and fairness, and an overriding desire to accomplish real change that improves lives and makes our community stronger.
While I was born and raised in Atlanta, the North Carolina mountains helped make me the person I am today. My mother was born in Asheville and raised in Jackson County, where our family’s roots date back more than 150 years. My childhood is full of memories from time spent playing in the fields around the family farmhouse in Sylva where I learned to love these beautiful mountains.
Bo Hess
City Council Member
Term: December 2024 - December 2028
Bo is a co-founder of The Cellphone Project, an organization that connects unhoused people with communication resources,
Bo volunteers with ABCCM's Costello House, which provides housing and life skills to men experiencing homelessness and addiction,
Bo is a consultant for various law enforcement training programs in North Carolina,
...to name a few of the ways Bo works in service to our community!
Hess has earned degrees from Western Carolina University, including a Bachelor and Master of Social Work, and a Master of Public Health with a focus on Leadership in Practice at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Bo has worked in diverse clinical settings, ranging from hospital-based behavioral health to private practice. Starting his career at the VA health system working with men returning from Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Bo has a strong background in trauma-informed care, threat assessment/ management, and clinical supervision. Bo's expertise in personality disorders, forensic interviewing, addiction, and sociopathy is widely recognized, with leadership roles at eating disorder clinics, and WNC's largest teaching psychiatric hospital.
Jennifer Horton
County Commissioner - District 1
Jennifer Horton is a dedicated public servant, Registered Nurse, business owner, and advocate for the Buncombe County community.
A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, Jennifer attended local public schools and has deep roots in the region she proudly represents. She is a proud mother of four, including a graduate of Buncombe County Schools and three children who will attend in the coming years.
As a Registered Nurse and the owner of five assisted family care homes, Jennifer provides housing and support for residents, many of whom have mental health diagnoses. Her professional background and dedication to service highlight her passion for addressing critical needs in the community and improving access to care.
Jennifer actively serves on the following boards, working to advance meaningful initiatives for Buncombe County:
Early Childhood Education & Development Committee
Health & Human Services Board
Vaya County Commissioner Advisory Board
Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care Homelessness Board
Driven by a commitment to equity and opportunity, Jennifer works tirelessly to ensure that Buncombe County is a place where everyone can thrive. Her dedication to creating lasting change has made her a trusted leader and advocate for the community.
When she’s not working on behalf of her constituents, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and giving back through volunteer efforts across Buncombe County.
Sam Stites
Living Wage Program Coordinator
Sam Stites is a Transylvania County-based organizer and policy advocate with experience in labor and political organizing. He joins the staff as a member of the Living Wage Coalition of Transylvania County, a former member of JE’s Board of Directors, and a graduate of Voices for Economic Justice. Having moved to WNC in 2018 to care for a loved one, he quickly became involved in movement and coalition building, and is thrilled at the prospect of continuing to strengthen rural organizing infrastructure in the greater-WNC counties with Just Economics. Sam received a master’s in city & regional planning from UNC–Chapel Hill where he focused primarily on economic security, labor in North Carolina, civil justice issues, and wages. He loves exploring WNC, hiking and swimming, and his two cats.