Brevard Democrat enters the race for Congress

Dec. 13--A third Democratic candidate has entered the race to unseat U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows.

Steve Woodsmall, a retired Air Force officer and instructor at Brevard College, never aspired to be a politician, but felt he could no longer remain silent given the country's trajectory.

"Silence constitutes acceptance. We were always taught in the air force if you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem, and we've got a big problem right now," Woodsmall said.

When asked if he was a liberal, moderate or conservative Democrat, Woodsmall said he prefers the term "progressive."

"We need to make progress in this country, and we are not doing that now," he said.

Woodsmall is not independently wealthy, but hopes to mobilize support with a grassroots campaign. He's driving that message home early by asking for contributions to cover the $1,500 election fee for Congressional candidates.

"People can make a difference without having rich friends or being in the pockets of corporations," Woodsmall said. "People can work together and create synergy and go out there and fight the big guys."

Woodsmall doesn't deny that Meadows will be hard to beat, especially given the demographics of the rural district spanning 17 counties in the mountains and foothills.

"I know from a mathematical standpoint it is a challenge," Woodsmall said.

Meadows was elected to Congress in 2012, and won re-election handily in 2014 and 2016. Meadows is the leader of the far-right Freedom Caucus -- a voting bloc of hardline conservatives in Congress attempting to steer the Republican Party agenda -- and as a result has a direct link to President Trump.

Woodsmall said that should resonate with voters dissatisfied with Trump's direction.

"I think we have a lot of uncommitted voters in this district and a lot of Republicans are also getting disgusted," Woodsmall said.

Woodsmall's career has revolved around management consulting, organization and leadership training -- which he did in the Air Force, in the private sector and for the Federal Aviation Administration. He and his wife, an IT consultant, moved to Brevard in 2014.

"My wife works from home, I worked from home, and one day she said 'You know we can live anywhere we want,'" Woodsmall said. He lucked into a job at Brevard College as the program coordinator for the Business and Organizational Leadership Major.

Woodsmall is in the early stages of organizing his campaign. So far, he only has a Facebook page and Go Fund Me site, but he is currently putting together a campaign committee that will kick into gear after the first of the year.

A May primary will determine which Democrat goes on to battle Meadows. The Mountaineer has previously reported on two other known Democratic candidates for the 11th Congressional District.

--Phillip Price has been running as a more moderate, yet still decidedly liberal option for District 11 voters. The McDowell County resident declared his candidacy back in May, and has been a consistent figure at Democratic Party events around the district since. Price leans on a diversity of experience to sway potential voters. But he said it's his faith that provides his ultimate guidance.

"People have asked if religion will affect my policies, and I say, 'yes they will,'" he said in June. "If we can use that as a guide to how we treat each other, we would get along far better than we are now. That should drive foreign and domestic policy." Read the story on Price here.

--Urologist Scott Donaldson leans a bit farther left than Price. Although he tossed his hat in the ring a bit later than Price and waited until September to do so, he has been furthering his efforts to make himself known among Democrats in the district. Although Donaldson, who previously ran an unsuccessful Independent bid for the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, initially wasn't sure he wanted to run, he said he felt compelled after seeing the recent direction of the country. Donaldson's cornerstone issue is healthcare.

"They feel like they can't afford to go in the front door to get health care," Donaldson said in September. "They can go in the back door, which I call the emergency room, but they can't go straight to a doctor's office." Read the story on Donaldson here.

Reporter Kyle Perotti contributed to this article.

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