New Mayors of WNC: Maureen Copelof of Brevard

Maureen Copelof won the city of Brevard with 47 percent of the vote. She was previously a member of city council for four years. Copelof says that time on city council has given her a deep understanding of the regional issues facing Brevard and its neighbors across Western North Carolina. She tells BPR's Lilly Knoepp that healthcare, housing, development and the environment are all at the top of her list of goals as mayor. The former U.S. Navy captain served for 30 years before retiring to Brevard. "[The military] taught me, you know, that you get involved. You want to see something happen, you get out there and you work to make it happen," said Copelof. Copelof has been vocal about the need for quality healthcare as city council member by working Transylvania Regional Hospital and Mission Health/HCA Healthcare after Mission's 2019 sale to HCA. She says she will continue to be an advocate as mayor. "My role is really to be an advocate for the community. Healthcare is so critical for