MANHEIMER
for Mayor 2026
Partnership - Collaboration - Community
Experienced leadership working for Asheville
FOR VOTERS
Find out how to register, get sample ballots and more at the Buncombe County Election Services webpage.
ELECTION INFO
Primary is March 3, 2026 with last day voter registration February 3, 2026. Find out who's running for office for Asheville including City Council seats.
ENDORSEMENTS
September 13, 2022
Mayor Manheimer Endorsed by Five of Six Council Members
"We jointly endorse Esther for her consensus building, effectiveness, respect, and passion,” said Council Member Sheneika Smith, who is Vice-Mayor. “We ask you to join us in voting to re-elect Esther so that we can keep collaboration and service to the entire community at the heart and the helm of our City Council."
March 28, 2022
Esther is endorsed by the Asheville Fire Fighters Association
December 3, 2021
Sierra Club Endorses Manheimer
"I am pleased to let you know that the Sierra Club is happy to endorse you in your race for re-election as mayor of Asheville. We look forward to helping you in your re-election campaign and want to thank you for your strong support for our environment."
April 8, 2022
Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party Endorses Manheimer
"The Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party is pleased to inform you that you are being offered our Endorsed Candidate seal of approval. We are honored to be working alongside you to bring an end to poverty and extreme income inequality, to improve healthcare for all, to protect our environment, to raise wages and empower workers, to protect voting rights, and so much more for all North Carolinians. "
September 27, 2022
Esther is endorsed by the The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains
September 28, 2022
North Carolina Police Benevolent Association Endorses Manheimer
The Mountain Chapter of the NCPBA is proud to endorse Esther Manheimer for mayor, Asheville.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the NC Police Benevolent Association. I support the officers of APD who show up each day ready to serve our whole community. I support our officers as we work to build back the ranks in Asheville’s police force.” -Mayor Esther Manheimer
NEWS
October 26, 2021
NC law makes mandating affordable housing hard — did Asheville find a solution?
In Asheville, officials stopped hotel construction after a years-long boom of developer interest. And while the city didn’t call what happened next “inclusionary zoning,” the game plan did achieve something similar.
October 26, 2021
Asheville leaders unanimously approve millions of dollars for affordable housing efforts
Six million dollars will be going toward affordable housing in Asheville.
Back in 2016, city voters voted in favor of a $25 million housing bond; over $18 million has been invested and leaders now have to decide what to do with the rest.
October 26, 2022
City council adopts plans to make Asheville more walkable, safer for pedestrians
City leaders took a step Tuesday night to make Asheville more walkable and safer for pedestrians.
City council unanimously approved a resolution to adopt the Close the GAP Plans, which identify a network of greenway, accessibility and pedestrian networks for the community.
Aug 24, 2022
Council subsidies could bring more than 100 affordable units to Asheville
Earlier this year, members of Asheville City Council named affordable housing a top priority for the city. And during its meeting of Aug. 23, Council put that priority into practice by voting unanimously to back two projects that promise to add more than 100 affordable units to the city’s housing supply.
Aug 2, 2022
Asheville protesters urge US Forest Service to decrease logging in Pisgah National Forest
Asheville is the largest city within the 18-county footprint of the Pisgah National Forest, Manheimer said, and both the city's economy and its watershed is dependent on the protections of the forests. Of the crowd gathered that evening, she said it wasn't something that would happen in "just any community."
March 7, 2022
State of Asheville: Mayor talks homelessness, police, affordable housing at CIBO
The homelessness crisis is at the forefront of city issues, says Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, addressing a group of area business owners as City Council heads into budget season.
Manheimer presented the State of the City of Asheville at a March 4 Council of Independent Business Owners issues meeting, and while the city's top issue has changed many times during her tenure, she said right now they're seeing a "spike" in homelessness.
June 29, 2021
Asheville police chief and mayor address officer shortage, response times
“There is consensus around, does change need to happen? Yes, change needs to happen," Manheimer said. "Do we defund the police department to make that happen? No, we don’t defund the police department to make that happen. We need to make sure our community’s safe, we need to make sure that our community is being kept safe in a fair and equal way."
September 22, 2022
Asheville, Canton mayors meet with Biden Administration in Washington, DC
Several North Carolina mayors were in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Sept. 22, speaking with the Biden Administration about the impact of the president's legislative agenda.
Both Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers were in attendance and shared with News 13 about the experience.
March 8, 2022
Avery apartments proposal returns with twice the affordable units after council rejection
After a large apartment complex proposed for downtown Asheville was rejected last month, the developer has returned with three changes for City Council approval, including double the affordable housing units.
November 6, 2021
Council to consider 911 services consolidation
In an emergency, every minute counts.
That’s why leaders in Asheville and Buncombe County are considering coordinating their emergency dispatch services to improve response time and provide more consistent and effective service delivery.
During their meeting of Tuesday, Nov. 9, Asheville City Council will consider an agreement with the county that would consolidate the two jurisdictions’ 911 dispatch offices starting Saturday, Jan.1.
February 15, 2022
Asheville City Council hears from 18 applicants during Reparations Commission interviews
The City of Asheville interviewed candidates for the Reparations Commission on Tuesday. During the hours-long process, city council members heard from 18 applicants for the positions.