Mayor of Asheville · Standing up for Asheville
She stands up for Asheville. And she doesn’t stand alone.
Esther fights shoulder to shoulder with Gov. Josh Stein, on his Western North Carolina recovery committee and in Washington, for the needs of Asheville. When threats of federal immigration raids loomed, she stood up for our neighbors. Now she’s fighting to make Asheville affordable and safe.
Our water
Kept in city hands after the N.C. Supreme Court struck down the legislature’s takeover
Privacy
Ended the city’s Flock camera contract over reports the company shares data with ICE elsewhere
Hundreds
of affordable homes in the works, 231 already created, plus new protections for renters
$225M
won from Washington, with 70% aimed at investment in the needs of working neighborhoods
Her record
She stands up. She delivers.
Four results that show how Esther works: stand up for Asheville, go to whoever can fix the problem, and don’t stop until Asheville gets what it needs.
Standing up for Asheville
When Raleigh and Washington overreach, she pushes back.
When state legislators tried to take our water system, the city fought it to the N.C. Supreme Court and, with Esther as mayor, won. When threats of federal immigration raids came, she led city and county leaders to keep local police out of civil immigration enforcement, then ended the city’s Flock camera contract after reports it shared data with ICE elsewhere.
Affordability
She’s making room for working families to stay.
Hundreds of affordable homes are in the works, a 60-unit community just opened on Tunnel Road, and renters in unsafe housing have new protections. And 70% of the city’s $225 million recovery grant is aimed at low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
Public safety
Safer neighborhoods, with the right responder for every call.
Esther swore in 20 new officers, many from our own community, added mental-health co-responders to crisis calls, and backed the Asheville Fire Department’s REST team so outreach workers take the calls a badge can’t fix.
Recovery & jobs
She brought the money home, and Costco back.
Esther went to Washington and secured $225 million in federal recovery funding, including $15.5 million for a Small Business Grant Program, then personally asked Costco to reconsider West Asheville. Costco came back with new plans, and the jobs that come with them.
Swipe for more →
A trusted advocate
When Asheville needs a voice in Raleigh and Washington, Esther is the one at the table.
- Co-Chair, Gov. Josh Stein’s Advisory Committee on WNC Recovery
- U.S. Conference of Mayors — Homelessness and Intergovernmental Emergency task forces
- Past Chair, N.C. Metropolitan Mayors Coalition
- 2025 Public Leadership in the Arts Award, Americans for the Arts
- “Most Valuable Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyer,” Pisgah Legal Services
“
There’s one person we trust to lead the city of Asheville.
Scott Mullins, President
Asheville Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 332
Also endorsed by:
- Rep. Brian Turner
- Buncombe County Commissioner Al Whitesides
- Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards
- Sen. Julie Mayfield
- Sierra Club
Why I’m running
Asheville is worth fighting for.
Asheville shaped me, and I raised my family here. I’ve learned that Asheville gets what it’s willing to fight for. When the legislature tried to take our water, we fought, and we won. When federal raids spread fear in our neighborhoods, we made clear that our police serve our residents and are not an arm of federal immigration enforcement. Now the fight is about whether working families can afford to stay, and whether every neighborhood feels safe. I know how to win those fights for Asheville, and I’m not done.
— Esther
What’s next
Her priorities for Asheville’s next chapter.
01
Stand up for Asheville
Protect our residents, our water and our values from overreach in Raleigh and Washington.
02
Housing people can afford
Preserve and build deeply affordable housing so working families can stay in the city they love.
03
Safe neighborhoods
More officers from our own community, mental-health responders on crisis calls, and public safety built on trust.
04
Finish the rebuild
Put every recovery dollar to work in the open, starting with the neighborhoods and small businesses hit hardest.
“
We will not let federal overreach and political theater put our residents in danger.
— Esther Manheimer
On federal immigration raids in Asheville, Jan. 2026 (WLOS)
Your vote
Make your plan to vote.
Step 1
Check your registration
It takes 30 seconds on the N.C. State Board of Elections site.
Step 2
Vote early: Oct 15–31
Find an early voting site near you. You can register and vote the same day during early voting.
Step 3
Election Day: Tue, Nov 3
Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Bring a photo ID.
Donate
Chip in to keep Asheville moving forward.
Every dollar goes to reaching voters before early voting starts Oct 15.
Secure donation via ActBlue
Volunteer
Join Team Esther.
Yard signs, door knocking, phone banks, poll greeters: there’s a spot for everyone.
- Get a yard sign
- Knock doors
- Make calls
- Work the polls