Ball

by CHRISTOPHER CLARK
Intern News Reporter

Senior political science major Andy T. Ball is campaigning for a seat on Boone Town Council in the Nov. 3 election. 

Despite this being his first campaign as a candidate for public office, Ball is no stranger to political involvement on the Appalachian State University campus or in Boone.

During last year’s presidential election, Ball was hired to work as part of Barack Obama’s campaign.

“They wanted someone to coordinate student involvement and activism on campus,” Ball said.  “It was quite fun; we had over 2,000 volunteers and 4,000 voters.”

Ball’s campaign relies on his record of working with pro-environment groups and his support for small business and recreational space development in an attempt to gather broader support for his run for Boone Town Council, he said.

Ball has worked with a number of pro-environment groups and projects, including the Appalachian Committee for the New River, Appalachian Voices, and both Boone’s Adopt-a- Stream and Adopt-a-Street programs.

Ball currently serves on the Boone Board of Adjustment, which reviews proposed changes in regulation governing development in town. 

“This doesn’t sound very exciting, but it is,” Ball said. “But it’s one of the most important things we can do to make sure Boone grows in the right ways.”

If elected to town council, Ball will take on a more active and central role in managing development beyond his current role in regulation, he said.

Although Ball’s campaign primarily focuses on his involvement in the Boone political community, he has been involved for years in political groups on the Appalachian campus. 

Ball served as a senator and a cabinet member in the Student Government Association where he helped organize candidate debate forums during local elections.

Ball has also been involved with the ASU College Democrats as a club organizer and liaison to local political campaigns. 

Junior English major Brittany N. Sherrill, president of ASU College Democrats, said Ball helped to register a record 3,000 voters in 2008.

“He is always at the voter registration table,” she said.

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