Multiple Forums Spotlight Buncombe County DA Candidates, Incumbent Faces Challenger

Multiple public forums in recent weeks put Buncombe County district attorney contenders before voters, exposing clear differences in policy and experience as Democrats head to the March 3 primary.

A Jan. 28 forum at the East Asheville Public Library featured three Democratic hopefuls, Courtney Booth, Katie Kurdys and Martin Moore, who outlined priorities for the office. Separately, a 28th Judicial District Bar Association forum in the county courthouse Superior Court room brought incumbent Todd Williams and challenger Ben Scales into a head-to-head discussion on drugs, immigration, cash bond and body camera footage. The courthouse event was the only public forum reported to include both Williams and Scales, and Asheville area attorneys and residents packed the room.

Katie Kurdys filed to run as a Democratic candidate and framed her campaign around prosecutorial experience and operational reforms. Kurdys, a Senior Assistant District Attorney who joined Buncombe in 2018 after starting at the Durham County District Attorney’s Office, said, “I’m not a politician. I’m a prosecutor who has dedicated my career to delivering trauma-informed justice.” Kurdys oversees the county violent-crimes unit, trains prosecutors and law enforcement, advises on felony charging decisions, led Buncombe’s Conviction Integrity Review and secured convictions in cases including first-degree murder and first-degree rape. Her stated priorities include moving cases more efficiently, diverting appropriate cases from trial, and ensuring prosecutors receive trauma-informed training. Kurdish was recognized by the Asheville Police Department for work on a missing-person and welfare-check initiative launched after Tropical Storm Helene that authorities say helped save seven lives.

Todd Williams, who has held the district attorney position since 2015, emphasized treatment-oriented programs in his record, citing creation of a Veteran Treatment Court and opioid diversion programs as evidence of pursuing justice over automatic convictions for addicts. Williams additionally published a message praising two Democratic challengers: “I am heartened that two qualified candidates have filed to run for this challenging position: Buncombe County prosecutor Katie Kurdys, and Buncombe County Commissioner Martin Moore.” Williams added, “Both candidates have substantial and broad legal experience and are worthy of serious consideration to [...] I encourage all who plan to vote in the Democratic Primary to choose a candidate for D.A. who will strengthen the fall ticket. The District Attorney’s race deserves the same scrutiny that voters will give to other contests to elect the strongest, most capable and trusted candidate for this position. The choices made in the primary will impact our justice system and the political landscape for years to come.” He signed the letter, “Sincerely, Todd Williams / District Attorney / Buncombe County North Carolina / Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law.”

Ben Scales challenged Williams on drug policy and criminalization, making harm reduction a central plank of his platform. Scales’ platform consists of marijuana decriminalization, and he urged creation of “safe injection sites” where people could use drugs that had been tested under the supervision of medical professionals who could help prevent overdoses. Scales, a songwriter who wrote “Growing Marijuana in my Yard,” was asked at the forum whether singing a song that “basically advocates criminal acts” is behavior befitting a district attorney; Williams said he would “let the voters decide whether Scales' songs would affect his ability to serve as district attorney.” Both Williams and Scales said the DA should keep immigration status in mind while prosecuting in the wake of federal immigration raids that netted more than 15 arrests in Western North Carolina.

The campaign also carries local institutional context. An archived 2014 debate shows Ron Moore as the county’s district attorney with Todd Williams as challenger; Williams has held office since 2015, establishing a continuity voters can weigh against calls for change. For Buncombe voters, the primary will determine whether the office continues policies centered on diversion and treatment or shifts toward the harm-reduction and decriminalization priorities proposed by challengers. The March 3 Democratic primary will narrow the field and set the prosecutorial direction for Buncombe County courts and community safety programs in the months ahead.