Mark Barrett

Asheville

ARDEN – Democrat Brian Turner unseated two-term incumbent state Rep. Tim Moffitt on Tuesday in Buncombe County's most expensive and hotly contested local race.

Turner had 51.9 percent of votes to 48.1 for the Republican Moffitt in House District 116 in complete but unofficial returns.

A Turner victory might have seemed like a huge upset a year ago. Moffitt was involved in drawing district boundaries in 2011, and the district's voting patterns favor Republicans.

But dissatisfaction with the direction of state government in Raleigh and a strong organizational effort by Turner's campaign changed all that.

"I think people are ready for a voice in Raleigh that they feel like represents their interests and can go down there with no strings attached," he said.

Turner declined to accept campaign contributions from political action committees, while Moffitt got thousands of dollars from PACs. Turner said that contrast helped him in the campaign's final weeks.

Moffitt issued a statement saying, "I'd like to express my sincere congratulations to Brian Turner on his victory. I wish him every success serving the constituents of Buncombe County's 116th House District."

"It has been the honor of my life serving the people of Buncombe County in the state legislature. I would like to thank everyone for their support, their good wishes, and their prayers," he said.

A meeting of the two candidates at an Italian restaurant eight months ago set the stage for a bruising campaign that included the public airing of a privately recorded phone call, barbs over which candidate led the more privileged lifestyle and increasingly personal attack ads as the campaign drew to a close.

Turner said Moffitt tried to talk him out of running during that restaurant meeting, offering a state job in return. Moffitt denied it.

The two were expected to spend more than $1 million combined for the right to represent southern and western Buncombe County, and outside groups spent significant amounts as well.

The race was one of at least two legislative contests in Western North Carolina in which Democrats picked up seats from Republicans.

Tuesday's outcome could have significant repercussions in the city of Asheville, even though the 116th covers only a small portion of the city.

Moffitt has been a critic of and often at odds with city government, having persuaded state legislators to pass bills city officials considered hostile to the city's interests, including a measure to transfer control of the city water system to the Metropolitan Sewerage District without compensation.

Turner benefited from unhappiness, especially on education and environmental issues, with the sharp right turn the state General Assembly has taken under Republicans over the past four years.

He also built an effective ground game that included personally knocking on doors around the district during the fall and a large network of volunteers on Election Day.

Turner in campaign ads painted Moffitt as being a friend of fracking, and Arden resident Ted Blackwood said Tuesday that concern was one reason he voted for the Democrat.

"It doesn't sound good to me, the chemicals they put in the ground," he said.

Gary Mize, who also lives in Arden, said he voted for Moffitt "to screw the people in (Asheville) City Hall."

"As a conservative Christian, City Hall stands for nothing I stand for," Mize said.

Turner, a Biltmore Forest businessman, was previously in charge of corporate and foundation relations at UNC Asheville. He had said his concern over the impact budget cuts imposed by the General Assembly were having on UNCA prompted him to take on Moffitt.

He campaigned as a moderate Democrat, saying Moffitt and his Republican colleagues in the legislature had inadequately funded public schools, been too lenient with Duke Energy over coal ash issues and should not have allowed fracking in the state.

Moffitt, who lives in Skyland, owns an executive search firm. Another Moffitt business provides websites to fellow GOP House members that tout their accomplishments and positions on issues.

He offered an unapologetic defense of Republican policies in Raleigh, saying legislators were cleaning up a budget mess Democrats left them, cut taxes and unneeded regulations.

In early sparring, Turner alleged Moffitt in that restaurant meeting offered him a state job should he drop out of the race. Turner later offered up the recording of a phone call he had with a Republican who brokered the meeting, a recording Turner said backed up his account. Moffitt disputed Turner's version of events, saying he made no offer.