2026 Mountain Democrat Award
Diane Snyder
Each year, the NC11 Democratic Party honors one individual whose work exemplifies the values, commitment, and spirit of Democrats across Western North Carolina. This award recognizes someone who has shown extraordinary leadership in organizing, visibility, results, service, and impact across the region.
​According to our Chair, Beth Jones:
"Our Mountain Democrat of the Year is a hard worker for the Democratic Party. I can always count on her. In fact, I was missing something for the gala tonight, and when I texted her, she immediately sent the photo I needed. She works tirelessly for her county, and indeed in some ways she keeps three counties running and in communication with each other.
I'm very proud to announce our Mountain Democrat of the Year is Diane Snyder!"
To access the pictures from the 2026 Gala visit this link. But read the below instructions first.
To view the thumbnail gallery, just scroll down the page. (You may need to change the view from list to grid. )
Or double click on the first photo for a slide-show-like viewer.
2026 Liston B. Ramsey Awardees
Congratulations to all of the Liston B. Ramsey Award Winners and thank you for all of your hard work in the North Carolina Democratic Party.
Terri Cude - Buncombe County
Terri Cude serves as the Third Vice Chair of the Buncombe County Democratic Party, but her impact on BCDP goes far beyond her title. Terri is truly one of the heartbeats of our organization. She gives so much of her time, energy, and care to this work, and she is always one of the first people to ask, “How can I help?”
Terri is the kind of person every organization hopes to have. She works incredibly hard, shows up again and again, and never hesitates to jump in wherever she is needed. Whether she is helping put together an event, taking care of the countless little details that no one else sees, supporting our volunteers, or simply making sure the people around her feel welcomed and appreciated, Terri does it all with kindness and a genuine love for our community.
We are incredibly lucky to have Terri as our Third Vice Chair and even luckier to have her as part of the BCDP family. So much of what we accomplish is possible because of people like Terri who quietly give their all, day after day, simply because they believe in the work and the people around them. We could not be more grateful for her.
Betty & Joe Harvey - Cherokee County
The Cherokee County Democratic Party is proud and excited to
present our Liston B. Ramsey Award recipients, Joe and Betty Harvey.
These two dedicated Democrats are actively involved in the Cherokee
County Democratic Party and work hard to make every event a success.
They cheerfully take on any task: set up, cleanup, hosting and welcoming
all newcomers and regulars. Betty serves as our Headquarters Lead Host
and is responsible for scheduling hosts for Coffee Talks Tuesdays. These
weekly gatherings have provided an opportunity for our members and for
those curious about Democrats to meet and discuss issues of concern for
all who live in western North Carolina. Betty ensures that these gatherings
are congenial and fun. Her volunteers develop friendships, recruit new
members and invite everyone to upcoming events. If circumstances
prevent a scheduled host from opening our Headquarters on a Tuesday,
Betty and Joe will drive over an hour to be there and serve as hosts.
Betty’s commitment to this county party’s endeavor is but one example of
her leadership and vision for helping Democrats flourish in Cherokee
County.
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Joe currently serves as our 2nd Vice Chair of the County Party. At
our monthly meetings Joe is an enthusiastic greeter. He welcomes
everyone and shares his story of being a Democrat while living in New
York and then in California. Joe’s musical background and expertise
helped the county party this year when we purchased a much needed PA
system. Joe served on the Billboard Committee in 2024 and is active this
year as we canvass Democrats in Cherokee County. Last fall Joe was the
chef at the Democratic Drop-in and received a thumbs up for the hot dogs
he grilled to perfection.
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Betty and Joe traveled to the Mountain Fair in Asheville and
answered questions and shared information about Democrats and
Democratic candidates. Betty serves as Treasurer for a Cherokee CountyCommissioner candidate. She enjoys being a part of the phone banking
team and writes postcards before each election.
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Joe and Betty have traveled to take part in protests and rallies in
Franklin, Hayesville and in Murphy. They serve as an example of the
commitment and dedication of hard working volunteers that is needed for
Democrats to be successful in 2026. Their kindness to everyone and the
compassion they show to newcomers contribute to our thriving and
growing county party.
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Betty and Joe are giving of their time, talents and treasures. The Cherokee
County Democratic Party is privileged to recognize Betty and Joe Harvey
as our Ramsey Award Recipients.
Lynn Stevens - Graham County
Lynne Stevens is Vice President of the Graham County Democratic Party. We're small. We don't have 1st, 2nd, 3rd VP and such. She's all that.
Lynne is also active with Tri-County Democratic Women, coordinating carpools to TCDW events.
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Her passion is writing. She had a column in The Graham Star, navigating the difficult waters of creating engaging, provocative content that would draw in a hostile audience rather than drive it further away. When the column ended, she transitioned to writing letters to the editor. She is now leading a team in writing such letters. She helps them select issues, gather facts, and present points.
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Lynne is currently experiencing some medical issues and is unable to attend meetings. However, she remains involved through phone and email, helping the Chair prepare for the meetings.
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Outside of Party life, Lynne is a GAL, has a pet bird, and loves her husband Cedric.
Rachel Wilfong - Haywood County
I am pleased to nominate Rachel Wilfong of Haywood County for the 2026 Liston B. Ramsey Award in recognition of her exceptional service, leadership, and commitment to strengthening our local county party. Rachel serves as our First Vice Chair and is an invaluable part of our leadership team. She was honored a Young Democrat of the Year last year and continues to demonstrate why she earned that recognition. One of her greatest contributions is her ability to bring young people into the Democratic Party and help find meaningful ways for them to participate.
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Rachel brings valuable field-organizing experience to our local party and is putting that experience to work in our Get Out the Vote efforts. Her practical knowledge is an important asset as we work to elect Democrats and build a stronger party at every level. Rachel does not simply talk about the future, she is actively building it. She represents the energy of a new generation of Democrats and is turning that energy into results. Rachel is very deserving of this award and of our party's gratitude for her outstanding service and leadership.
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Sybil Mann, Haywood County Chair
Beth Moriarty - Henderson County
Every organization needs someone who is willing to tackle just about anything. Someone who solves problems with focus, dedication, and unwavering energy. A person who can be counted on to say YES when help is needed, and to follow through on that yes.
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For the Henderson County Democratic Party, that person is Beth Moriarty, our Liston B. Ramsey Award winner.
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Beth is a key member of our fundraising team. She is also our primary resource for candidate support. She managed our efforts to recruit poll judges and election workers to ensure that there is a Democrat available to serve in every precinct this November. She is serving as interim events coordinator to keep our summer and fall events organized. She provides support for the Henderson County officer’s team.
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Whatever is needed, we can count on Beth. She prefers to stay “behind the scenes,” so her work often goes unnoticed. But during this busy election year, Beth’s skills, support, and dedication have made it possible for our county Party to continue to drive Henderson County to the left.
Tracy Grant - Jackson County
Tracey has been a rock solid volunteer since she joined the Jackson Dems. This year she stepped up when she was asked to fill a most important role as our event planner and logistics organizer. Tracey has gained a wealth of experience organizing events. She enables people to participate using their skills to their full advantage.
Tracey is a dependable and dedicated Party member. She always appears calm and confident and is not shy about sharing her ideas. Tracey answered the call to step up, got us organized and our events have been executed with aplomb, style, and efficiency. We are thrilled to present our Volunteer of the Year award to Tracey Grant.
Debbie Tallent - Macon County
The Macon NC County Democratic Party is proud to nominate Debbie Tallent for the 2026 Liston B. Ramsey Award because of her dedication and commitment as Treasurer of the Macon Democratic Party since 2021.
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Born in Macon County, Debbie moved to Charlotte after college to pursue her career in advertising, where she excelled for 40 years as a Marketing Director. She moved back to Macon County for her family, and applied her gifts for marketing at the local newspaper.
In 2021, she jumped into community service with both feet. Debbie was asked by our former Chair, Gary St. Arnauld, to serve as treasurer, and despite a background in advertising and marketing, she took to it with commitment and passion for detail. Around the same time, Debbie was appointed to serve on the Macon County Library Board, and the Fontana Regional Library Board. She is currently the Secretary of her precinct leadership team, a member of the Rotary Club, and serves on the Town of Franklin Planning Board. With all that going on, Debbie felt it was time to give up the reins as our County Democratic Party treasurer and train someone new.
We have been so fortunate to have Debbie as an exemplary leader in our community, and especially in our Democratic Party. Being the treasurer is one of the hardest jobs in politics because there is constant scrutiny of every single action you take. The Executive Committee is grateful for Debbie’s dedication and her diligent attention to detail. She has kept us on the right path, always paying attention to what’s important, and sharing her vast knowledge and experience with everyone.
Nancy Fosson - Madison County
Nancy Fosson has been a lifelong Democrat in spite of being raised in a Republican household. Or maybe she would say she became a Democrat “because of what she learned” growing up in a Republican household in Ohio. When she registered to vote, she registered as a Democrat and has never looked back! The first campaign in which she became an active volunteer was knocking doors for Eugene McCarthy.
Nancy’s intro to political involvement in Madison County began when she served as treasurer for the local school board campaign of Don Anderson, and then later for Ray Rapp who served the N.C. General Assembly four terms. She is currently serving her third term as chair of the Beech Glen Precinct – a model precinct in Madison County! Beech Glen’s Dems work hard at community building and GOTV efforts. They are the benchmark by which the remaining eleven precincts in the county measure their progress.
Nancy’s wisdom, advice, friendship and leadership is a valuable treasure to those with whom she works alongside. She is thorough, reliable, thoughtful and a joy to work with!
With deep gratitude for her outstanding service, Madison Democrats recognize Nancy Ashley Fosson as Liston B. Ramsey Award recipient of the year!
Susan Elliot - McDowell County
Susan Elliott has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to Democratic values and public service. Raised in a family with generations of proud Democrats, she learned early the importance of civic engagement and participating in the democratic process.
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For many years, Susan and her late husband, Marty Elliott, quietly supported the McDowell County Democratic Party through their family printing and sign business. In a county where publicly supporting Democratic candidates could affect a small business, they contributed behind the scenes by donating resources, sharing their talents, and helping wherever they were needed.
As their involvement grew, they assumed leadership roles, and when Marty became County Chair, they worked together to strengthen and expand the local party. Following Marty’s passing in 2024, Susan accepted the responsibility of serving as Chair and continued the work they had begun together.
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Under Susan’s leadership, every precinct in McDowell County remains organized into active precinct clusters, and recruitment of Democratic election officials continues to be strong. She has strengthened the party’s organization, expanded its presence through community service and local events, and built positive working relationships with the McDowell County Board of Elections.
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Susan believes that respect, collaboration, and a servant’s heart strengthen both the Democratic Party and the community, and she has worked to foster positive relationships with Republicans, unaffiliated voters, and
community organizations alike. Her goal has always been to leave the party stronger, better organized, and better prepared for the future.
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Susan is a deserving recipient of the Liston B. Ramsey Service Award.
Eddie Gouge - Mitchell County
The Mitchell County Democratic Party (MCDP) is proud to nominate Eddie Gouge for the 2026 Liston B. Ramsey Award. Eddie served as third vice chair (2021-2023) of the MCDP and chair since 2023 after returning home following a long career in Washington, DC. Through his leadership, the MCDP has seen an increase in activity and visibility, greater cooperation and collaboration with neighboring counties, and more funding resources and opportunities.
Eddie has been active in the Democratic Party since his days as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he served as secretary for the UNC-CH Young Democrats Club 1974-76 and as a volunteer for the Rufus Edmisten for Attorney General and the Impeach Nixon campaigns.
After graduating from Carolina, Eddie completed an independent study at UNC-Asheville and served as a Lyndon Baines Johnson Congressional Intern in the office of U.S. Congressman Lamar Gudger. He went on to serve as: Legislative Assistant/Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Gudger; Legislative Assistant/Assistant Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Jamie Clarke; and, also served on the Congressional staffs of U.S. Delegate Ron de Lugo of the U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. Congressman Thomas A. Luken of Ohio.
Gouge held various positions while in Washington, DC, including: Program Manager for the American Society Engineering Education; Assistant Director for Legislative Education and Public Affairs for the Navy League of the United States; and, spent thirty-two years with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities where he was Assistant Vice President for Food and Agriculture and Executive Director for the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) and Board on Human Sciences. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (now known as the National Institute for Food and Agriculture) of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Since retiring back to Spruce Pine in 2021, Eddie has been involved in activities other than politics, including: board member and volunteer of The Beacon Center of Spruce Pine (an overnight warming center); treasurer and chair of the scholarship committee of the Spruce Pine Kiwanis; and, a member in the Spruce Pine United Methodist Church.
Mary McKeller - Transylvania County
From graphics, to Facebook posts, to columns in the Transylvania Times, Mary McKeller has done it all. As Third Vice Chair of the Transylvania County Democratic Party, she has handled the vast majority of the party's communications since 2024. Whether designing a flyer for a precinct event, helping the chair write columns for the paper, or crafting social media posts, Mary has guided the TCDP's messaging with skill and care.
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A communications professional by trade, Mary has volunteered that expertise to the TCDP, producing persuasive messaging, attractive rack cards, and a look now recognizable across the county. She has led a messaging team that designed billboards throughout 2024 and 2026, updated the TCDP website, created educational content such as a guide to the different roles people fill at the polls, and designed shirts that built the TCDP brand.
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In recognition of her hard work and dedication, Mary McKeller is the Liston B. Ramsey Award winner for the Transylvania County Democratic Party.
Joy Boothe & Norman Rangel - Yancey County
Yancey County selected Joy Boothe and Norman Rangel to receive their county's Liston B. Ramsey NC11 Democrat Award. However, only a photograph was sent in with the notification that Joy and Norman were the Yancey County honorees.
District 11 sends a heartfelt thank you to these dedicated Democrats
and to all WNC democrat volunteers working hard to save Democracy.
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Thank you all.