Asheville Mayor · Nov 3, 2026

Esther Manheimer

Candidate for Mayor (incumbent)

8 candidates · 4 seats11 sourced positions

Esther Manheimer, the incumbent, is running for mayor of Asheville in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Kim Roney.

Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.) · Fri, Oct 9, 2026

In 4 days

Mayor of Asheville since 2013, first elected to the City Council in 2009. She chairs the council's Policy, Finance & Human Resources Committee.

Endorsed by: Gov. Josh Stein; Asheville Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 332; Rep. Brian Turner; Sen. Julie Mayfield; Buncombe County Commissioner Al Whitesides; Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards; Sierra Club Manheimer for Mayor
Campaign website: manheimerformayor.com

Where Esther Manheimer stands: positions on the record

Transit2 sourced positions

Voted yes on a four-year, $54.9 million contract with RATP Dev to operate the city's bus system (passed 4-3, March 2026).
Council voteAsheville City Council minutes, March 24, 2026 · Mar 24, 2026
Supports letting voters decide on a sales-tax referendum for transit.
Own statementManheimer for Mayor

Surveillance technology3 sourced positions

Voted yes on accepting a $1.14 million federal grant for a police real-time intelligence center, together with a policy on civil liberties in the use of cameras and license plate readers (passed 6-1, May 2026).
Council voteAsheville City Council minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
Voted yes on the resolution directing the city manager to end the city's contract with Flock, which runs 11 license plate readers (passed 5-2, August 2026).
Council voteAsheville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
as reported by Mountain Xpress; not a direct quote
Said the city has relied on the sheriff's real-time intelligence center and that the federal grant would help Asheville set up its own.
Forum answerMountain Xpress · May 28, 2026

Budget1 sourced position

Voted yes on the fiscal 2026-27 budget with a property tax rate of $0.3769 per $100 of assessed value (passed 4-3, June 2026).
Council voteAsheville City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026

Development1 sourced position

Voted yes on rezoning 3 South Tunnel Road at the Asheville Mall from Urban Place to Regional Business (passed 4-2, July 2026).
Council voteAsheville City Council minutes, July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026

Housing2 sourced positions

Voted yes on allowing duplexes in all residential zoning districts (passed unanimously, August 2026).
Council voteAsheville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
Supports zoning changes that allow more missing-middle housing such as duplexes and triplexes, paired with anti-displacement strategies.
Own statementManheimer for Mayor

Transparency1 sourced position

Said council members need to be able to talk with one another and with staff outside public meetings.
“That’s not a transparency issue, that’s a functioning issue”
Forum answerMountain Xpress · May 28, 2026

Homelessness1 sourced position

Supports a housing-first approach through the Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care and the REST team.
“I oppose criminalizing poverty.”
Own statementManheimer for Mayor

In their words

Supports letting voters decide on a sales-tax referendum for transit.
Manheimer for Mayor

On the record

Voted yes on a four-year, $54.9 million contract with RATP Dev to operate the city's bus system (passed 4-3, March 2026).
Mar 24, 2026 ·Asheville City Council minutes, March 24, 2026 · Mar 24, 2026

In their words

Said the city has relied on the sheriff's real-time intelligence center and that the federal grant would help Asheville set up its own.
May 28, 2026 ·as reported by Mountain Xpress; not a direct quote ·Mountain Xpress · May 28, 2026

On the record

Voted yes on accepting a $1.14 million federal grant for a police real-time intelligence center, together with a policy on civil liberties in the use of cameras and license plate readers (passed 6-1, May 2026).
May 12, 2026 ·Asheville City Council minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026

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