MEET ANNA

A woman with shoulder-length curly brown hair, wearing a light patterned top, green pants, and a rust-colored cardigan, standing on a grassy area in front of a city street with brick buildings and a mountain in the background.

I’m Anna Stearns, an attorney, small business owner, and proud lifelong resident of Buncombe County. I’ve spent my career speaking up for folks whose voices don’t always get heard. I’ve seen how policy is shaped, from town hall to the state legislature, to the Supreme Court of North Carolina. I know how the system works, and how it can improve when we fight for changes that make life a little easier for folks just trying to get by.

After Hurricane Helene, I turned my law office into a hub for free legal clinics and made sure every storm survivor who walked through the door got the help they needed. I know what it feels like to face obstacles that feel insurmountable, and I know how valuable it is to have someone standing in your corner. I want to be that voice for the people of Buncombe County.

Group of six people smiling outdoors, one person wearing a graduation cap and gown, with trees and parked cars in the background.

My Story

I grew up here in Buncombe County. In fact, I grew up all over Buncombe County. Things were tough for my mom, and we moved around a lot. When I found out I was pregnant at 14, I was determined not to repeat the cycle.

A guidance counselor changed the course of my life when she helped me land an interview at a local law firm, where I would spend the next 15 years working as a paralegal. 

As a young single mom, I worked full-time while raising my boys and going to school at night. Over time, I earned my degrees from AB-Tech and UNC–Asheville, then went on to Campbell University School of Law. 

While I was in law school, I worked for Representative Brian Turner in the General Assembly, where I saw how policy decisions are made—and how important it is for lawmakers to stay connected to the people they represent.

After graduation, I served as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Chief Justice Cheri Beasley at the NC Supreme Court. I'm proud of the work we did to improve our justice system, especially around mental health, addiction, and access to legal services in rural communities.

When Chief Justice Beasley left office, I came home to Buncombe County and took the helm of the same small law firm where I’d first interned as a high school student all those years before. 

I’ve been so fortunate to have amazing mentors who were willing to invest in my success. But I also had access to things like Medicaid, food stamps, daycare vouchers, and rent assistance that made it possible for me to raise my kids and put myself through school. That path was hard for me, but it’s damn near impossible for anyone who finds herself in those same circumstances today. It just shouldn’t be this hard to build a life you can be proud of, and that’s why I’m running for County Commission.

Three people, two women and one man, are indoors, smiling and shaking hands. The man holds a paper bag, and the older woman holds a large pack of paper towels. The woman in yellow and the man are shaking hands, and all are smiling.

helene recovery

Hurricane Helene is one of the most complex natural disasters in our nation’s history, with more than 2,000 landslides and nearly 50,000 structures damaged. A year after the storm, there are still boarded-up storefronts and piles of debris where gathering places once stood. Swannanoa still doesn’t have a grocery store or a post office, and folks trying to rebuild are still tangled up in red tape, waiting on help that should’ve arrived months ago.

In the aftermath of the storm, I was afraid that too many people were going to fall through the cracks of a complex and confusing system. We opened the doors at our law office and offered help for free to anyone who needed it. 

I also knew that our small businesses were facing a maze of grant and loan applications as they fought for survival. That’s why I stepped up to lead our local Chamber of Commerce’s nonprofit foundation, helping small businesses navigate recovery, keep their doors open, and rebuild stronger.

The impact on the lives of our friends and neighbors has been devastating. Families that were struggling to find affordable places to live, good paying jobs, and quality childcare are facing even more challenges today.

Recovery is going to take leadership that understands how all of these issues interact to shape people’s lives. It’s going to take creativity and curiosity. It will take leaders who know how to push through the red tape and barriers to find real solutions. This is the work I was proud to do for our community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and it's the work I intend to do as your Buncombe County Commissioner.

A woman with shoulder-length curly brown hair wearing a pink top and navy blazer, smiling outdoors with a blurred background of trees and buildings.

Why I’m Running

I’m running because I know what this community is capable of. I’ve seen it. Neighbors helping neighbors, people coming together in moments of crisis to build something stronger than what was lost.

We have big challenges ahead. But I’ve seen what’s possible when government listens to the people it serves. We can take on our housing crisis with creative, community-based solutions. We can build infrastructure that actually meets our needs. We can treat mental health and addiction with the urgency they deserve.

I have a deep commitment to this place and the people who call it home. I know that we can come together to support our neighbors, not just through short-term recovery, but for the long haul. We can find solutions that ensure every family has a safe place to call home, a good paying job that supports their family, and the chance to truly thrive right here in Buncombe County.