North Carolina State House District 115

Public education & schools: “An educator, community leader, and public servant, I’ve been a proud lifelong member of North Carolina’s public school system. After graduating high school, I came to the University of North Carolina at Asheville as an NC Teaching Fellow, and have spent the years since in classrooms teaching Special Education, Civics, and U.S. History.” (Campaign website (accessed Oct 23, 2026))

Public education & schools: “My husband Eric, dog Maeby and I proudly call Candler home. We spend our free time taking walks at the local park, riding bikes in and around the county, and admiring Mt. Pisgah every time we look up. I have two siblings—a twin sister Rachel, who teaches high school in Wake Forest, and my older brother Nick who lives, works, and plays music in the Triangle area.” (Campaign website (accessed Oct 23, 2026))

Public education & schools: “I owe much of what I am and what I’ve achieved to the great state of North Carolina and to our public schools. I first ran for office because I wanted to use my knowledge, experience, work ethic, and privilege to give back to the people who live and work in this beautiful region. I knew that Buncombe County and its mountains, our home, deserved a strong, independent voice in Raleigh, and now more than ever, we need to make sure we keep fighting to have that voice.” (Campaign website (accessed Oct 23, 2026))

Priorities & Governance: “Anthony Penland is a dedicated public servant, spending over 30 years protecting our communities as a Swannanoa Fire Fighter.” (Campaign website)

Priorities & Governance: “For over 35 years, Anthony has worked to keep our community safe.” (Campaign website)

Priorities & Governance: “For days, Chief Penland slept on a cot in the firehouse, focused on ensuring that these small communities weren't left out and implementing a door-to-door project for his rescue teams left inaccessible by the hurricane impacts. Hurricane Helene left our community not just with flooding, but also fallen trees, downed power lines, washouts, and mudslides.” (Campaign website)