ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams announced Friday that he will not seek a fourth term, stepping aside after more than a decade as the county’s chief prosecutor.
Williams, first elected in 2014, said in a letter on the Buncombe DA’s Substack that he plans to leave after his current term ends in 2026 and pursue a new path for himself and his family. He highlighted efforts during his tenure to restore confidence in the justice system, including exonerations, death row reviews, prosecutions in serious cases and justice‑system reforms.
Williams urged voters to weigh the experience and qualifications of the candidates running to replace him. Those who filed for the March 3, 2026, Democratic primary include Buncombe County prosecutor Katie Kurdys, County Commissioner Martin Moore and trial lawyer Courtney Virginia Booth. Williams praised Kurdys and Moore as qualified contenders and criticized Booth’s experience and past campaign finance compliance…