Asheville City Council · Nov 3, 2026

Sheneika E. Smith

Candidate for City Council (incumbent)

8 candidates · 4 seats10 sourced positions

Sheneika E. Smith, the incumbent, is running for Asheville City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 6 candidates are running for 3 seats.

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

In 4 days

Asheville City Council member, first elected in 2017 and again in 2022. She chairs the council's Equity & Engagement Committee.

Where Sheneika E. Smith stands: positions on the record

Transit1 sourced position

Voted no 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

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 no 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
Said she believes she made the right decision in voting for the May 12 surveillance technology resolutions.
“We’re surveilled every day”
Forum answerMountain Xpress · Sep 10, 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
Cited the council's rejection of the Caribou Commons proposal, saying residents' neighborhood plans should not be disregarded.
“That decision was significant to me because community engagement has to mean something”
Forum answerBPR · Aug 13, 2026

Homelessness1 sourced position

Supports outreach, treatment and housing while maintaining safe public spaces.
“Again, sustainable solutions require services, treatment and housing; not tolerance of unsafe conditions.”
Own statementMountain Xpress · Feb 5, 2026

Federal immigration enforcement1 sourced position

Says the council should take guidance from affected communities and maintain a posture of restraint.
“Council should maintain a posture of restraint and prioritize the protection of civil rights.”
Own statementMountain Xpress · Feb 5, 2026

In their words

Said she believes she made the right decision in voting for the May 12 surveillance technology resolutions.
Sep 10, 2026 ·Mountain Xpress · Sep 10, 2026

On the record

Voted no 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).
Aug 25, 2026 ·Asheville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.