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What does this emblem mean?

Between the TC Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education races, there are SEVEN seats on the 2024 General Election ballot. Six of the seven Republicans on the ballot graduated from either Brevard or Rosman high schools.

The disparity in years lived in Transylvania County is huge (324/36). There is a fatal flaw with the SEVEN Democrats running in these races. None are natives. None graduated from Transylvania County Schools. One candidate is a longtime resident, but the rest are new since 2016. There should have been a balance in the candidates recruited. REPUBLICANS TRUST TRANSYLVANIA NATIVES TO GOVERN.

Do we want "newbies," people who have recently moved here, bringing agendas from where they used to live, anxious to make lots of changes dictating Transylvania County government?

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CANDIDATES

Teresa McCall

  • Lifelong, eighth generation Transylvania County resident, graduating from Brevard High School and Blue Ridge Community College.

  • Enjoyed a 37-year career with the National Park Service, retiring as Chief of Administration for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

  • Elected to the County Commission in 2020 after serving 12 years on the Board of Education, including serving as chairwoman from 2003-2008.

  • She and her husband, Scott, have two adult children, Stephanie and Casey, and two grandchildren, Allie and Grayson. They attend Destiny Church in Brevard.

  • She also served a four-year term as Blue Ridge Community College trustee.

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Jason Chappell

  • Lifelong Transylvania County resident and graduate of Rosman High School and Appalachian State University.

  • 20+ year employee of Blue Ridge Community College, serving as Director of both Henderson and Transylvania County NCWorks Career Centers and HRD programs.

  • Twice elected to the TC Board of Education, serving as Vice Chair final 2 years.

  • First elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2004 and voted chair 8X by fellow commissioners.

  • He and his wife, Tessa, have a daughter, Jesse, and a son, Avery, reside in the Old Toxaway community and their families have lived in Transylvania County for generations.

  • Chairman of the Board of Deacons at Old Toxaway Baptist Church where he serves as Adult Sunday School teacher.

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Larry Chapman

  • Lifelong Transylvania County resident and graduate of Brevard High and Western Carolina University.

  • Retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps after 30+ years of Active and Reserve service.

  • Worked at the former Ecusta paper mill for 27+ years in manufacturing supervision and international marketing management, serving worldwide clients. After Ecusta, worked for delfort company, an international paper company with HQs in Austria as VP of Sales for their U.S. tobacco paper products.

  • He is involved with several veterans’ organizations and civic group, and is active member of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

  • Larry and his wife, Jill, have three grown children and two grandchildren. They attend First United Methodist Church in Brevard.

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  • A 39-year-old graduate from Brevard High School in 2003.

  • Graduated from Blue Ridge Community College (Business Management) and American College.

  • Opened Chase Insurance Group in 2013, a top 10 producer for Erie Insurance Company in 2023.

  • His wife, Cit, is a third-grade teacher at Rosman Elementary School.

  • He is an ordained minister.

  • He was sworn in as Transylvania County commissioner July 8, 2024.

Chase McKelvey

BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES
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Ruth Harris

  • A former school psychologist with master’s degrees Educational Psychology and Engineering Management.

  • She homeschooled her son, Matthew, 4th through 7th grades, and he eventually graduated from Brevard High School and is working as an engineer in South Carolina.

  • Conducted a wide range of educational research and early childhood education programs.

  • Directed a wide range of technical projects as an engineer in the aerospace industry.

  • She and her husband, Mike, moved to Transylvania County 15 years ago.

  • Ruth has been an active community volunteer, including being a founding member of the Transylvania Economic Alliance Board and serving in the children’s ministry at Brevard’s Biltmore Church.

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Greg Cochran

  • Lifelong Transylvania County resident and a graduate of Brevard High School, Air Force Community College, as well as bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University in criminal justice.

  • He retired after a 30-year career in law enforcement between Transylvania and Henderson counties.

  • His Air Force career included assignment in Colorado and Mississippi, and he retired as a master sergeant after 20 years of service.

  • Greg serves as chairman of Transylvania County Parks and Recreation, and is a member of the TC Planning Board and County chapter of the Salvation Army.

  • He is an active member of the Pisgah Forest Elementary PTO and has been a substitute teacher in the district.

  • His granddaughter is a first grader in TCS, and his motivation to step up and help lead.

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Ricky Lambert

  • Lifelong Transylvania County resident, a graduate of Brevard High School and Mars Hill College with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

  • He has maintained a long and steady connection to Transylvania County Schools, as an assistant baseball coach for Brevard High (22 years) and as president of the Pisgah Forest Elementary PTO.

  • Has sponsored "Athlete of the Week" and "Scholar-Athlete of the Month" programs at both Brevard and Rosman high schools, and "Teacher of the Month" at every county school building.

  • He worked 10 years for the Brevard Police Department, nine years as a county magistrate, and currently is an insurance agent with Chase Insurance Group in Brevard.

  • He and his wife, Amanda, have a son, Easton, who attends Pisgah Forest Elementary School, and they reside in the Little River community.

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