David Gates

Our Staff

David Gates lives on Hemlock Street in Dillsboro. David comes from the Sylva area, the son of Harold and Ellen Gates. He attended the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, Sylva Webster High School, and Southwestern Community College. He enjoys meeting and getting to know new people, as well as working with and restoring antique cars. David completed his internship to be a funeral director and obtained his funeral director's license in October 2015 (NC Lic. # 4136) from Fayetteville Community College. David finished an autobiography of his life, The Way I See It​, early in 2019. His book tells his story about growing up blind in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Dillsboro could be on the hook for railroad loan

David is the owner and funeral director at Appalachian Funeral Home in Sylva. He is a licensed contractor and has remodeled over twenty local homes, as well as built nine new homes in the past fifteen years. He previously owned David's Place and Bradley's General Store in Dillsboro.

David Gates (Dillsboro Town Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

David is currently a member of the Dillsboro Town Board. He has served on the board since 2009. He previously served on the Sylva Board of Commissioners for four years in the 1990s.

As of September 4, 2025, David Gates’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "I think the future for Dillsboro is really good with the brewery coming to town, and I think the future should be good."

As of September 4, 2025, David Gates did not have a website or any information online.

- Town council members serve as the governing body of the town, along with the mayor. 
- The town council members make policy decisions for the town, including creating ordinances, policies, and making agreements with other governments. 
- The town council can amend and revise town policies, as well as approve or reject the town budget. 
- The town council is also in charge of the appointment of advisory boards, commissions, task forces, committees, the town manager, and the town attorney. 
- Members of the town council are elected to staggered 4 year terms. 

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Town Council Member

Walter Ley

David is the owner and funeral director at Appalachian Funeral Services in Sylva. He has been in business in the Sylva-Dillsboro area for over thirty years. He is a licensed contractor and has remodeled over twenty local homes, as well as built nine new homes in the past fifteen years. 

David is currently a Dillsboro Town Council member. He has served on the town board since 2009. He previously served on the Sylva Board of Commissioners for four years in the 1990s.

Supports the deal between the county and the railroad.

Supports helping the railroad in some significant, still-to-be-determined manner.