Asheville Mayoral Candidates Share Views on Youth Issues Ahead of Election

Mayor Esther Manheimer and City Council member Kim Roney laid out competing visions for Asheville's young people this week, answering questions about youth priorities as the two candidates prepare for a fall mayoral contest.

The Q&A, published as part of Mountain Xpress' 2026 coverage dedicated to children and youth issues, asked both Manheimer and Roney about their personal connections to young people and what they see as the most urgent needs facing Asheville's youth. Manheimer, the incumbent, is seeking re-election to the mayor's seat she currently holds. Roney, who serves alongside Manheimer on Asheville City Council, is mounting the challenge.

The format put the two candidates on parallel ground, giving each a direct opportunity to define what youth advocacy would look like under their leadership at City Hall. The coverage is notable for its focus on a constituency that cannot yet vote but whose needs, from early childhood services to teen programming to school infrastructure, regularly intersect with municipal budget and policy decisions.

Buncombe County's fall elections will determine whether Manheimer continues in the role she holds or whether Roney becomes the city's next mayor. The youth-focused exchange represents one of the earlier substantive policy comparisons between the two candidates ahead of what is shaping up to be a competitive race.