Asheville Mayor
- General election
- November 3, 2026
- On the ballot
- 2 candidates
- You can vote for
- One
What this office controls
The mayor is one of City Council's seven members.
City Council decides local land use through zoning, funds city programs through the budget, and directs the city administration under the council-manager form of government. It does not set state law or state taxes.
Side by side
The same three things for everyone: time in office, their own words, and how they voted when the minutes name who voted no. Motions aren't compared, because a mayor chairs the meeting and a challenger holds no seat.
Esther ManheimerIncumbent- On City Council since Dec. 2009
- Mayor since Dec. 2013
- Term through Dec. 2026
As mayor, chairs Council meetings and votes on every item. The mayor rarely makes or seconds motions, so motions aren't compared here.
Kim RoneyCouncil member- On City Council since Dec. 2020
- Term through Dec. 2028
Votes on Council and can make and second motions.
Esther Manheimer
In their own words
“Growth in housing is needed to address the affordable housing crisis and provide much needed housing to the thousands of people identified through the Bowen Housing study. But there must be increased investment in our most vulnerable neighborhoods.”
Undated, read it in contextRecorded split votes
Voted no on 3 of 38.
Kim Roney
In their own words
“Housing drives Asheville’s affordability crisis. We need deeply-affordable homes, stronger infrastructure, pathways to home ownership, and protections that keep renters from being pushed out.”
Undated, read it in contextRecorded split votes
Voted no on 24 of 36.
Where they differed on housing
- Motion to deny the rezoning request for the property located at 3 South Tunnel Road failed
Jul 28, 2026. Failed 2–4.
- Manheimer: Voted no
- Roney: Not among the no votes
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Budget ordinance with the following adjustments to the form presented by…
Jun 9, 2026. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council approved conditional zoning for 93 & 95 Springside Rd
Aug 26, 2025. Carried 5–2.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council approved rezoning 99999 Trade St
Jul 29, 2025. Carried 4–2.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council approved the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with… (motion 2)
Mar 11, 2025. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council approved the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with… (motion 3)
Mar 11, 2025. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- And 17 more on the full comparison below.
Esther Manheimer
In their own words
“The biggest reason some cities have high rates of homelessness and others don’t is not because of poverty, mental illness, drug use, or local politics, but because of housing costs and housing availability.”
Undated, read it in contextRecorded split votes
Voted no on 0 of 4.
Kim Roney
In their own words
“Using best practices to prevent and reduce homelessness.”
Undated, read it in contextRecorded split votes
Voted no on 3 of 4.
Where they differed on homelessness
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Budget ordinance with the following adjustments to the form presented by…
Jun 9, 2026. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Operating Budget
Jun 28, 2022. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Annual Operating Budget
Jun 22, 2021. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
Esther Manheimer
In their own words
“Since Hurricane Helene, my focus has been to finish the rebuild to meet our community’s needs for affordability, equity, and recovery. Seventy percent of our $225 million recovery grant is aimed at low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, and community Helene Recovery Boards guide how it's spent.”
Undated, read it in contextRecorded split votes
Voted no on 0 of 2.
Kim Roney
In their own words
“The harsh reality: Asheville received $225-million in CDBG-DR funds to address $1.1-billion in damages to our housing, infrastructure and economy. This decision reveals the need for more funding to deliver a true recovery from the catastrophe of Hurricane Helene.”
Undated, read it in contextRecorded split votes
Voted no on 1 of 2.
Where they differed on helene recovery
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Budget ordinance with the following adjustments to the form presented by…
Jun 9, 2026. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
Esther Manheimer
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 0 of 2.
Kim Roney
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 1 of 2.
Where they differed on water
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Fees & Charges Manual
Apr 26, 2022. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
Esther Manheimer
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 0 of 18.
Kim Roney
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 17 of 18.
Where they differed on public safety
- Council approved the appointment of the proposed slate of directors for the Asheville Downtown Improvement District…
Apr 8, 2025. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) 2024…
Mar 25, 2025. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accepted the 2024 BVP Grant from the U.S.…
Mar 25, 2025. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Safeguard Recruiting LLC for…
Mar 25, 2025. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council authorized the City Manager to execute contract with the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) for a…
Jan 14, 2025. Carried 5–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted the second and final reading of an ordinance creating a Downtown Asheville Business Improvement District
Jun 11, 2024. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- And 11 more on the full comparison below.
Esther Manheimer
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 1 of 6.
Kim Roney
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 2 of 6.
Where they differed on streets and transit
- Council approved the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with… (motion 2)
Mar 11, 2025. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council approved the resident-led proposed wording amendments to Chapter 7 of the Asheville Code of Ordinances, with… (motion 3)
Mar 11, 2025. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council approved an ordinance granting a franchise agreement to Blue Ridge Rickshaw to operate a pedal bicycle taxi…
Feb 8, 2022. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Voted no
- Roney: Not among the no votes
Esther Manheimer
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 0 of 13.
Kim Roney
In their own words
No statement on this found yet.
Recorded split votes
Voted no on 9 of 13.
Where they differed on budget and taxes
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Annual Budget ordinance with the following adjustments to the form presented by…
Jun 9, 2026. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council authorized the City Manager to execute contract with the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) for a…
Jan 14, 2025. Carried 5–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted the second and final reading of an ordinance creating a Downtown Asheville Business Improvement District
Jun 11, 2024. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted the the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Operating and Capital Budget with a one-cent tax increase to pay for…
Jun 11, 2024. Carried 4–3.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Operating Budget
Jun 28, 2022. Carried 6–1.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- Council adopted a Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget amendment in the amount of $45,000 in the General Fund to allocate budget…
Jun 28, 2022. Carried 5–2.
- Manheimer: Not among the no votes
- Roney: Voted no
- And 2 more on the full comparison below.
"Not among the no votes" means the minutes name who voted no and this person isn't one of them. A unanimous vote names no one, so it isn't counted. Minutes before December 2024 aren't matched to members yet.
Esther Manheimer
Incumbent
- On City Council since Dec. 2009
- Mayor since Dec. 2013
- Term through Dec. 2026
Photo: City of Asheville
Service record
2109 covered council decisions (Oct 23, 2018 to Sep 22, 2026). Seconded 1, voted no on 8, recused from 11 and did not vote on 1.
In their words
“Growth in housing is needed to address the affordable housing crisis and provide much needed housing to the thousands of people identified through the Bowen Housing study. But there must be increased investment in our most vulnerable neighborhoods.”
Questionnaire answer, Get There Asheville (Asheville on Bikes, MountainTrue, Strong Towns Asheville)Undated page, retrieved Oct 16, 2026
Read it in context“The biggest reason some cities have high rates of homelessness and others don’t is not because of poverty, mental illness, drug use, or local politics, but because of housing costs and housing availability.”
Questionnaire answer, Get There Asheville (Asheville on Bikes, MountainTrue, Strong Towns Asheville)Undated page, retrieved Oct 16, 2026
Read it in context
Kim Roney
Council member
- On City Council since Dec. 2020
- Term through Dec. 2028
Photo: City of Asheville
Service record
1585 covered council decisions (Dec 8, 2020 to Sep 22, 2026). Moved 53, seconded 43 and voted no on 95.
In their words
“Housing drives Asheville’s affordability crisis. We need deeply-affordable homes, stronger infrastructure, pathways to home ownership, and protections that keep renters from being pushed out.”
Campaign websiteUndated page, retrieved Oct 16, 2026
Read it in context“Adding to my position supporting the Missing Middle Housing Study, I advocate for a community benefits table for use by right development of housing density on transit corridors–just like the City uses for hotels.”
Questionnaire answer, Get There Asheville (Asheville on Bikes, MountainTrue, Strong Towns Asheville)Undated page, retrieved Oct 16, 2026
Read it in context
Photos are official portraits for officeholders and campaign-site photos for challengers, cropped the same way for everyone. Candidate lists come from the State Board of Elections file for the Nov. 3 general election.