Suzanne Leigh Biggs Gavenus

Suzanne Gavenus is the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 85 in the 2026 election. The North Carolina House is a 120‑member lower chamber; members serve two‑year terms, must be at least 21 years old, and must have lived in the district for at least one year before the election. District 85 covers the western mountain counties of Avery, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey, and the seat is currently held by Republican incumbent Dudley Greene, who will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot alongside Gavenus ¹¹⁹.

Gavenus is a lifelong resident of western North Carolina. She has lived in Burnsville, Yancey County, for more than 23 years with her husband Gary, and previously lived and worked in Avery County. She and Gary raised three children, two of whom graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM)‑Durham campus ^13141518.

Professionally, Gavenus is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over three decades of experience in psychiatric hospitals, community outpatient clinics, private practice, wilderness programs, and both university and public‑school settings. She earned an AAS in Mental Health Technologies from Virginia Western Community College, a BA in Social Work from Christopher Newport University, and an MSW in Clinical Social Work from the University of New England ¹⁸.

Since August 2022 she has served as Director of Counseling and Wellness at NCSSM’s Morganton campus, where she oversees student counseling services, managed the campus’s Naviance implementation, and participates on the school’s Strategic Plan Action Team and Website Advisory Committee ¹⁸. Prior to joining NCSSM, she was the Student Support and Transition Specialist for Buncombe County Schools, providing district‑wide professional development on college‑and‑career readiness, social‑emotional learning, and Section 504 compliance, and she facilitated GoAlliance Academy courses for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction ¹⁸.

Gavenus’s campaign emphasizes three core pillars: expanding affordable health‑care and mental‑health services for rural families; strengthening public schools and ensuring fair compensation for educators; and improving economic stability for working families through affordable housing, childcare, livable wages, and long‑term disaster‑recovery investments, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene. She describes herself as a “people‑first” leader who has spent her career listening to families, students, and educators when systems aren’t working and helping them find real solutions. Her platform is aimed at ensuring that the voices of Avery, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties are heard in Raleigh ¹³¹⁵¹.

The Democratic primary for District 85 was canceled, allowing Gavenus to advance to the general election without appearing on the primary ballot ¹. She is actively campaigning across the four counties, leveraging her background in counseling and education to connect with constituents and advocate for policies that address the unique challenges of western North Carolina’s mountain communities.

Sources