MEET DAVID

I’m a mechanical engineer who started my career on major infrastructure projects, including two years helping build a large oil refinery in Venezuela. That experience taught me how complex systems work in the real world, how they’re designed, how they fail, and what it takes to build them right. The Asheville area is preparing to invest more than a billion dollars in infrastructure and we need leaders who understand those systems firsthand. Our stormwater network, in particular, must be a top priority for the safety of our community.

Public safety is a core responsibility of local government. Over the past two years, I’ve seen firsthand what it feels like to be unsafe, and I’ve stood up against hate and political violence. There is no place for that in Asheville. The vast majority of our residents want a city where everyone can be secure, on our streets, in our neighborhoods and in our public spaces. To get there, we need a pragmatic, accountable approach to safety that allows our community to thrive together.

I have spent 25 years in real estate and hold an MBA in finance and real estate. For the past 12 years, I’ve run my own small business here in Asheville, building housing, warehouses, and renovating key buildings downtown. I understand how to deliver projects that strengthen neighborhoods and grow our local economy. Asheville needs to build more housing where infrastructure already exists, ensuring we make efficient use of public investment and avoid a hollowed out city. Smart, well-located housing also protects our long-term property tax base and supports a vibrant, livable community.

I understand budgets, accountability and the importance of respecting taxpayer dollars. I will treat the City’s budget with the care and discipline it deserves. Asheville also needs to foster a strong and diversified economy. Our small businesses depend on a city that supports growth, removes unnecessary barriers, and listens to the needs of its business community. A healthy local economy is essential to the services, jobs and quality of life we want for Asheville.