David Young kicked off his campaign for state treasurer Tuesday.

The Buncombe County commissioner raised $181,250 at a fundraiser at the home of University of North Carolina Board of Governors member Adelaide Daniels Key.

Among those in attendance were state Reps. Bruce Goforth and Susan Fisher, former N.C. Secretary of Revenue Helen Powers and former Court of Appeals Judge Alan Thornburg.

"I'm humbled by the great showing of support from Asheville and Western North Carolina," Young said in a statement. "This is a great start."

He faces state Sen. Janet Cowell and Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel in the Democratic primary.

State Sen. Walter Dalton has a fundraiser tonight in Asheville.

The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor is holding the event at the home of David and Leigh Young. He is a four-term Buncombe County commissioner, former congressional candidate, and a member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, Rob Christensen reports.

Sponsors of the event, which costs between $250 and $2,000 per person, include Wayne McDevitt, a former state Democratic chairman and top aide to Gov. Jim Hunt; long-time Democratic activist Bruce Elmore, Rep. Bruch Goforth, state Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Sam Neill, a former UNC board member, Mack Pearsall, a civic activist; Helen Powers, a former Revenue Secretary under GOP Gov. Jim Martin, and Alan Thornburg, a former N.C. Court of Appeals judge.