Politics

Tea Party announces endorsements for sheriff, County Commission

By Bill Moss, Published: April 1, 2014

The Asheville Tea Party has endorsed Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald and Henderson County Board of Commissioners candidate Andrew Riddle in the May 6 primary election. It also endorsed Richard Lynch, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry in the Republican primary for the 10th Congressional District.

The Asheville Tea PAC makes endorsements through a candidate vetting process called iCaucus based on principles of individual rights, limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets, the group said in a news release.
McDonald received the iCaucus endorsement with 62 percent of the vote, the Asheville Tea Party said.

McDonald, who was appointed as sheriff in March 2012, faces fellow Republicans Michael Brown and Erik Summey in the May 6 primary. Riddle faces incumbent Commissioner Michael Edney and Hogan Corn in the Republican primary.
The Tea Party has also endorsed Bob Hunter, in the state Supreme Court race; Bill Southern, for state Court of Appeals; Mark Martin, for chief justice of the state Supreme Court; Lynch, a Belmont businessman who ran for governor of New Jersey in 1993 and is running to McHenry's right in the 10th Congressional District; U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, in the 11th Congressional District; and state Rep. Chris Whitmire, in House District 113.