Lonnie A. Israel announces bid for Buncombe County Commissioner in public letter

Lonnie Israel is originally from Candler. He lives with his wife, Gail, and has three grown children.


Lonnie is a horticulture instructor. He works at Haywood Technical Community College. He previously worked at Jesse Israel & Sons Nursery as co-owner and founder, operating the family business for decades.

Lonnie is a horticulture instructor at Haywood Technical Community College and the co-owner and founder of Jesse Israel & Sons Nursery.

Lonnie Israel’s campaign for Buncombe County Commissioner, District 2 is his first entry into politics.

Filing closes; leaves final list of candidates for 2026 for Asheville ...

Supports securing increased disaster funding to rebuild the local economy.

- Supports securing increased disaster funding to rebuild the local economy.

Economy

As of January 2, 2026, Lonnie Israel’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Wants to enhance safety in schools and communities.

Wants to provide resources to support first responders.

- Wants to enhance safety in schools and communities.
- Wants to provide resources to support first responders.

Public Safety

Wants to enhance infrastructure county-wide.

- Wants to enhance infrastructure county-wide.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Wants to preserve farmland for future generations.

Prioritizes preserving farmland for future generations.

- Prioritizes preserving farmland for future generations.

Energy & the Environment

Lonnie Israel

Lonnie Israel is originally from Candler. He lives with his wife, Gail, and has 3 grown children.


- Wants to preserve farmland for future generations.

Buncombe, Asheville full list of primary candidates 2026

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Terry Threadwell - Academia

Terry is an adjunct professor at American Public University.

Terry Threadwell's campaign for Buncombe County Commissioner, District 2 is his first entry into politics.

Filing for 2026 primary election begins: Here are the current ...

Terry's campaign for Buncombe County Commissioner, District 2 is his first run for public office.

Living Wage Certification

Supports a Living Wage Certification for all county contractors.

Supports "a Living Wage Certification for all county contractors," a policy or program that ensures businesses performing government-funded work pay their employees a wage high enough to cover basic necessities.

Supports expanding apprenticeship and job-training programs in green energy, trades, and health care.

Supports expanded apprenticeship and job-training programs in green energy, trades, and health care.

Supports county procurement policies that prioritize local, worker-owned, and minority-owned businesses.

- Supports "a Living Wage Certification for all county contractors," a policy or program that ensures businesses performing government-funded work pay their employees a wage high enough to cover basic necessities.
- Supports expanded apprenticeship and job-training programs in green energy, trades, and health care.
- Supports county procurement policies that prioritize local, worker-owned, and minority-owned businesses.

Supports creating an Arts & Innovation Fund to support cultural projects in schools, libraries, and public spaces.

Supports creating an "Arts & Innovation Fund" to support cultural projects in schools, libraries, and public spaces.

- Supports creating an "Arts & Innovation Fund" to support cultural projects in schools, libraries, and public spaces.

Supports creating a "County Housing Guarantee" that would combine affordable housing development, tenant protections, and support for those at risk of homelessness.

Prioritizes housing development, tenant protections, and support for those at risk of homelessness.

Supports reclaiming and repurposing vacant properties for community housing.

Supports partnering with nonprofits and faith organizations to expand transitional and supportive housing.

Supports creating permanent affordability measures through land trusts and cooperative housing models.

- Prioritizes housing development, tenant protections, and support for those at risk of homelessness.
- Supports reclaiming and repurposing vacant properties for community housing.
- Supports partnering with nonprofits and faith organizations to expand transitional and supportive housing.
- Supports creating permanent affordability measures through land trusts and cooperative housing models.

Supports community-based recovery programs that treat addiction as an illness.

Supports developing restorative-justice initiatives that focus on rehabilitation, not retribution, especially for youth and nonviolent offenders.

Supports developing restorative-justice initiatives that focus on rehabilitation for youth and nonviolent offenders.

- Supports community-based recovery programs that treat addiction as an illness.
- Supports developing restorative-justice initiatives that focus on rehabilitation for youth and nonviolent offenders.

Supports equitable broadband expansion and rural transit connections.

- Supports equitable broadband expansion and rural transit connections.

Supports protecting natural resources through conservation easements and regenerative-farming incentives.

Supports establishing a “Just Transition Fund” to retrain workers for a renewable energy economy.

Supports establishing a fund to retrain workers for a renewable energy economy.

Supports investing in green infrastructure, including flood-resistant roads, energy-efficient public buildings, and solar micro-grids for critical facilities.

- Supports protecting natural resources through conservation easements and regenerative-farming incentives.
- Supports establishing a fund to retrain workers for a renewable energy economy.
- Supports investing in green infrastructure, including flood-resistant roads, energy-efficient public buildings, and solar micro-grids for critical facilities.

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Terry Threadwell

Terry is an adjunct at American Public University.

Terry Threadwell's campaign for Buncombe County Commissioner, District 2 is his first run for public office.

- Supports "a Living Wage Certification for all county contractors", identifying and promoting those that pay a "Living Wage".
- Supports "expanded apprenticeship and job-training programs in green energy, trades, and health care."
- Supports "county procurement policies that prioritize local, worker-owned, and minority-owned businesses."

- Supports creating a "County Housing Guarantee" that would "combine affordable housing development, tenant protections, and support for those at risk of homelessness."
- Supports "reclaiming and repurposing vacant properties for community housing."
- Supports "partnering with nonprofits and faith organizations to expand transitional and supportive housing."
- Supports "creating permanent affordability measures through land trusts and cooperative housing models."

- Supports "community-based recovery programs that treat addiction as an illness."
- Supports "developing restorative-justice initiatives that focus on rehabilitation" for youth and nonviolent offenders.

- Supports "equitable broadband expansion and rural transit connections."

- Supports protecting natural resources through conservation easements and regenerative-farming incentives.
- Supports establishing a “Just Transition Fund” to retrain workers for a renewable energy economy.
- Supports investing in green infrastructure, including flood-resistant roads, energy-efficient public buildings, and solar micro-grids for critical facilities.

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.