City & town
Mayor, City of Asheville
- Vote for
- 1
- Term
- 4 years
- Candidates
- 2
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
What this office does: The mayor leads the city of Asheville, presides over its governing board and represents it.
Nonpartisan.
Taxes & budget
Kim RoneyNo party listed
- Voted against this year's city budget over pay
Esther ManheimerNo party listed
No documented position found.
Public safety
Kim RoneyNo party listed
- Opposes police surveillance technology like Flock cameras
Esther ManheimerNo party listed
- Supports mental-health co-responders on police crisis calls
Housing
Kim RoneyNo party listed
- Supports zoning for more Missing Middle housing
Esther ManheimerNo party listed
- Supports zoning that allows more missing-middle housing
Roads & infrastructure
Kim RoneyNo party listed
- Supports a Buncombe-Asheville regional transit authority
Esther ManheimerNo party listed
- Supports letting voters decide a sales tax for transit
Health & human services
Kim RoneyNo party listed
No documented position found.
Esther ManheimerNo party listed
- Supports a housing-first approach to homelessness
Government & transparency
Kim RoneyNo party listed
- Pledges to end private Council check-in meetings
Esther ManheimerNo party listed
- Supports keeping local police out of civil immigration enforcement
Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.