I grew up on the South Toe River with a community of people who shaped me to be who I am, and I can tell you there is nothing more sacred to me than this place I call home. Serving my community is a passion I share with so many people who have settled here.

Candidates 2026 — Yancey County Democrats

Regionally and locally, she has or is serving on boards for High Country Workforce Development, Mountain Community Health Partnership, Parkway Playhouse, Yancey County Literacy Council, Traditional Voices Group, The Yancey Fund (an affiliate of The Community Foundation of WNC), co-chair of the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival board as well as co-chair of the Festival’s Program Committee and School Outreach Coordinator, and vice-chair of The Listening Project. She volunteers with Hospice and local schools.

AMY Regional Director Briggs Named N.C.'s PLDA Library Director of the Year

I now live in the Jacks Creek community of Yancey County with my husband and young son. I also have a daughter in college at UNC Chapel Hill and an adult son, along with his young family, who live here as well.

Amber Westall Briggs grew up on the South Toe River. She volunteers with Hospice and local schools. She lives in the Jacks Creek community with her husband and son.

AMY Regional Director Briggs Named NC's PLDA Library ... - WKYK

## Amber Westall Briggs for Commissioner

I’m Amber Westall Briggs, a former library director and current community development manager serving families of young children in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. For the past 16 years in my work with nonprofits and public libraries, I have facilitated projects and collaborated with other agencies, organizations, and government institutions across our region and at the state level.

Amber Westall Briggs, director of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System, recently received the prestigious N.C. Library Director of the Year Award for 2024, the highest statewide honor for a Public Library Director.

Amber Westall Briggs currently works as a community development manager serving families of young children in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. She previously served as director of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System.

Amber currently works as a community development manager serving families of young children in Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. She previously served as director of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System.

2026 North Carolina General Election

WHY WE'RE RUNNING

Landon Beaver, Amber Westall Briggs, and Carol Golightly are running together for County Commissioner to support local businesses, address the child care shortage, bring transparency back to county government, and protect taxpayers through practical, common-sense decision-making.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Beaver · Briggs · Golightly for Yancey County Commissioner · 2026

COMMON SENSE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Make county government practical and focused
Protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases
Balance immediate needs with long-term stability

Pledges to protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases.

- Supports local businesses.
- Pledges to protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases.

Economy

“On behalf of our library employees, board members, and patrons, I’m elated about the opportunity for our library system to join NC Cardinal,” said Amber Westall-Briggs, director of the AMY Regional Library system. “The support we’ve received and continue to receive from Cardinal staff and neighboring library systems is unmatched, and I am so grateful federal grant funds support libraries in expanding access for their users through NC Cardinal.”

State Library welcomes Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library to NC Cardinal

Briggs stated, “The library world is constantly changing as the new identity of the public library shifts from a repository of books to a full-fledged community center. I have welcomed challenges, they excite me, and I want to know how we can better support our communities, and I believe we can do it with passion and a dedication to developing alliances which impact all citizens, particularly those who are disenfranchised or economically challenged.”

Briggs spoke about the displays that the library puts up year-round. She said these displays represent the mission of the library. "We serve all members of the public, and we particularly serve marginalized groups of people, and when we do that, we recognize everyone," Briggs said.

Yancey County library discussions continue

"Here's the trick: Libraries don't discriminate," Briggs said. "We do not discriminate. I want to specify that because it's so important."

She said librarians should be respected and trusted to make these displays because they have been trained to do so and select materials that are "appropriate for all (library) patrons."

On Aug. 2, Briggs released a public statement addressing Yancey’s commissioners.

"This past year has been a tremendous gain from a financial perspective because for the first time in 20+ years, regional library systems were given a recurring increase in state aid," Briggs wrote. "We are so well equipped to serve our communities, and that was made possible by directors across the state who serve on those committees, me included, and our representatives at the state level listened to and awarded funding. Why withdraw now? Why pay for what the State already provides?"

Yancey County library Pride controversy

When asked for comment in response to Austin’s statement, Briggs said, “It is factual that regional services will be lost.”

Supported joining NC Cardinal to expand library users' access.

Plans to address the child care shortage.

Advocates for public libraries serving as community centers and building alliances to support underserved residents.

Supports nondiscriminatory library service for all patrons, including marginalized groups.

Supports trained librarians' discretion to select library displays and materials appropriate for patrons.

Opposes withdrawing from the regional library system, citing state aid and the loss of regional services.

- Supported joining NC Cardinal to expand library users' access.
- Plans to address the child care shortage.
- Advocates for public libraries serving as community centers and building alliances to support underserved residents.
- Supports nondiscriminatory library service for all patrons, including marginalized groups.
- Supports trained librarians' discretion to select library displays and materials appropriate for patrons.
- Opposes withdrawing from the regional library system, citing state aid and the loss of regional services.

Public Services

As of September 2, 2026, Amber Westall Briggs’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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BadRequest

Amber Westall Briggs

In her August 2, 2024 public statement, Briggs wrote: “Will it be the library you know and love? No. Because if commissioners want to change collection development and access to materials, which they have said they do, that is censorship. A library founded by that foundation can never be what we protected as a library that gives access to all.”

Public Statement from the AMY Regional Library Director Amber Westall Briggs

Said changes to library collection development and access to materials amount to censorship.

- Said changes to library collection development and access to materials amount to censorship.

After living in Raleigh during her young adulthood, she and her husband, Shane, moved back to Yancey County and the mountains they missed. They have three children. She says that being a mom is her greatest adventure.

AMY Regional Director Briggs Named NC’s PLDA Library Director of the Year

Amber Westall Briggs lived in Raleigh during her young adulthood. She volunteers with Hospice and local schools. She and her husband, Shane, have three children.

State Library Welcomes Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library to NC Cardinal

Amber Westall Briggs is the director of the AMY Regional Library system.

State Library Welcomes Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library to ...

WHY WE'RE RUNNING

Landon Beaver, Amber Westall Briggs, and Carol Golightly are running together for County Commissioner to support local businesses, address the child care shortage, bring transparency back to county government, and protect taxpayers through practical, common-sense decision-making.

Plans to protect taxpayers from unnecessary increases.

TRANSPARENT & ACCOUNTABLE ACTIONS
Listen to residents and keep them informed
Make decisions in the open
Show citizens where their money goes

Supported joining NC Cardinal to expand library access.

Supports nondiscriminatory library services, including service to marginalized groups.

Opposes withdrawing from the regional library system, citing state funding and the loss of regional services.

Plans to make county decisions public and keep residents informed about spending.

- Plans to address the child care shortage.
- Plans to make county decisions public and keep residents informed about spending.

Mauricio Mendez

Walter Ley

Carol Golightly

David Grindstaff

Landon Beaver

Nute Nicholson

Sandi Norton

Stacey McEntyre Greene

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.