On Tuesday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Avril Pinder – who will begin the job officially on March 4 – as the official replacement for former County Manager Wanda Greene (who faces up to 33 years in prison for federal corruption). It’s been a busy year for Asheville + Buncombe County. We’ve hired a new City Manager, elected a new Sheriff, and are in the process of hiring a new Chief of Police.

Avril is currently the deputy manager in New Hanover County (~5 hours from Asheville, where Wilmington is) has a background in county leadership. Prior to 2015, she worked as the Assistant County Manager + the Finance Director in the county. Along with her years of experience, she’s the first African-American appointed to the position.

#Asked: What will our County Manager do? Overall, she’ll oversee the Buncombe County budget, all 1,500 county employees + more. 💸 Here’s the nitty gritty...

Assesses how federal + state laws impact county policies and services
Creates the multi-million dollar annual budget with input from commissioners, staff + the public
Manages county departments (and around 1,500 employees)
Makes recommendations to County Commissioners on ordinances, policies + more (on topics including zoning, liquor sales, and business regulations)
Plans commissioner meeting agendas

Since it’s a public position, it’s been reported that Pinder’s annual salary will be $198K plus a $575 monthly car allowance. (Less than Mandy Stone’s salary of $220K + Wanda Greene’s salary of $247K).

Pinder addressed the Commission and the people of Buncombe County Tuesday after the decision and set out a goal of regaining community trust, saying, “Buncombe County had a stellar reputation and after everything that has happened recently, I am committed to regaining the public’s trust and working with the citizens, Board, and employees to continue to deliver the service they want and deserve.”

What do you hope Avril Pinder will accomplish in her new job here in Buncombe County? Reply to this email with your thoughts.

Share the news with your local friends. ⬇️

We’ve been watching updates on the County Manager hiring process closely, and we’re excited extend a warm Asheville welcome to Avril Pinder.

Have you been tabs on the County Manager search? Let us know your thoughts about our new County Manager by replying here, or by telling us over on Facebook or Instagram.

– Ali