As the Buncombe County primary elections approach, two candidates are under scrutiny regarding their eligibility. The Buncombe County Board of Elections is set to address challenges against Asheville City Council candidate Antanette Mosley, currently the vice mayor, and sheriff candidate Victor “Vic” Morman in a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Antanette Mosley has been the subject of a state investigation since Dec. 15 due to allegations of claiming property-tax exemptions in Georgia while participating in North Carolina elections and serving on the Asheville City Council. An investigation by WLOS revealed that she did not reside at her registered Asheville address. State election officials, through spokesperson Jason Tyson, confirmed the ongoing investigation as of Jan. 8.
The challenge to Mosley’s candidacy was formally filed on Jan. 8 by John Miall, a former city employee and previous Council candidate. Miall’s document with the BCBOE cites reports on Mosley’s varied residences and voting history. North Carolina law mandates that candidates must be eligible to vote for the office they seek, which excludes Mosley if she claimed Georgia exemptions while voting in Asheville. Mosley, through her attorney Eugene Ellison, remains confident, stating, “Nothing new, nothing here, I expect she will be cleared.”
Allegations against Morman
Victor “Vic” Lamar Morman, a Republican contender for Sheriff, faces a challenge from Tina Lunsford, a Candler resident, alleging he switched to the Republican Party less than the required 90 days before filing his candidacy. Lunsford, who supports another Republican candidate, Gary Parris, provided documents indicating Morman’s party change timeline, showing he moved from Democrat to Republican just before the deadline.
Records show Morman’s Democratic primary votes in 2008 and 2022, and he acknowledged his recent switch. When questioned on the timing, Morman explained, “It just so happened to be the time that I changed it.” If the board upholds the challenges, ballots will need reprinting ahead of early voting on Feb. 12, which Elections Director Corinne Duncan noted as a significant logistical hurdle.
Questions Resurface Over Keith Young’s Residency
While Keith Young, another City Council candidate, hasn’t been formally challenged, concerns about his residency have resurfaced. Allegations from 2017 implied Young primarily resided in Arden, outside Asheville limits, despite his registered address being in Asheville. Young had testified to splitting his time between homes, a situation confirmed by the Board in his favor. However, recent anonymous claims suggest Young spends major time at the Arden residence.
Young, in response, reiterated his 2017 testimony, emphasizing the Board’s awareness and ruling. He did not address whether the current circumstances differ from those previously disclosed.
