When the call went out for Democrats to run a candidate in every race, Emily Whitmire accepted the challenge.
That meant launching a campaign as a write-in candidate for an unfilled seat on the Flat Rock Village Council, responsible for making ordinances, rules, and regulations for one of Henderson County’s most historic and beloved communities.
“My personal goal for my new role is to listen to the residents of Flat Rock and encourage greater engagement,” Emily said. “As a social worker, ensuring that every voice is heard is a cause I am deeply passionate about.”
A native of Western North Carolina, Emily earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Western Carolina University. She is a social worker and adjunct instructor and has worked in community behavioral health, child welfare, and the nonprofit sector for almost 12 years.
“Advocacy is at the heart of what I do—whether for my clients, my community, my loved ones, or myself,” Emily said. “I focus on listening to people, ensuring their voices are heard, and working toward positive change, whether in my role as a social worker, through my political involvement, or through my volunteer efforts.”
Over the years, Emily has worked closely with MANNA FoodBank, including co-chairing their Blue Jean Ball Silent Auction, serving as an ambassador at tabling events, and volunteering at the food bank itself.
She has also been actively involved in politics for many years. “Even during middle and high school, I ran for student body council because advocating for others’ needs was important to me. My first experience volunteering with a campaign came in 2008 when my sister worked as a field organizer for President Obama’s campaign in McDowell, Polk, and Rutherford counties. Through that experience, I learned the importance of meeting people where they are. I began to understand how building relationships can foster a powerful grassroots movement and drive meaningful change.”
More recently, she served as President of the Young Democrats of Buncombe County in 2016, Secretary of the Buncombe County Democratic Party in 2019, and was a co-leader of the effort to charter the Young Democrats of Henderson County in 2021. Her awards include being named Best Young Democrat of the West Award from Young Democrats of North Carolina and Young Democrats of Western NC 2021–2022.
In her downtime, Emily enjoys baking—especially her grandmother’s Christmas sugar cookie recipe—and she “absolutely loves” to de-stress by listening to and singing along with Hamilton. Her dream trip would be to visit Iceland and Greenland for their breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife. “I’m also inspired by Iceland’s leadership in renewable energy.”
Closer to home, Emily highly recommends the UNCA Lookout Observatory for stargazing. “It’s truly fascinating. One of the things I appreciate most about where we live is the ability to see the stars so clearly.”
In her new role, Emily is looking forward to getting to know the residents of Flat Rock better.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in this office, and I’m fortunate to have a strong support network of incredible people, and I couldn’t have accomplished this without them. I also have a wonderful 2-year-old lab mix that I adopted from Blue Ridge Humane Society, who has been a great source of relaxation and comfort after campaign work.”
Emily is one of three HCDP candidates elected in the 2024 election, joining Gina Baxter and Lyndsey Simpson, who were elected to the Hendersonville City Council. Congratulations to all three!