From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—Asheville attorney Ben Scales will serve as Buncombe County’s newest District Court judge, according to unofficial election results, the Asheville Citizen Times reported on March 3

Scales received 20,621 votes, handing him a narrow win over fellow longtime Asheville attorney James Mills, according to unofficial results from the N.C. State Board of Elections. 

Scales got 51.4 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting, compared to Mills’ 48.6 percent, with 19,521 votes.

With no Republicans having filed to run this year, Scales will run unopposed in the Nov. 3 general election, ensuring the Democrats’ spot on the bench for District 40, Seat 3.

The seat is now held by Judge Patricia Young, who announced in November that she plans to retire after serving 24 years in Buncombe County. Her term ends on Dec. 31.