Mayor Esther Manheimer promises that recovery funds will be released following the Hurricane Helene First, reach the neighborhoods that were left behind, including the mobile home parks where many Latino families live.
“The local response was inadequate, especially for mobile home parks. Residents who owned their homes but rented the land were often left out of public clean-up efforts, and we learned from that,” Manheimer told Enlace Latino NC .
On November 3, Manheimer She faces off against councilwoman Kim Roneywho already challenged him for mayor in 2022, in a nonpartisan election. The winner will preside over the seven-member City Council, without veto power, since in Asheville's system of government, day-to-day operations are handled by a city manager.
As part of the initiative 'Your Vote is Power' and our commitment to report in Spanish on issues that impact the entire community, in Enlace Latino NC We sent the same questionnaire, with the same deadline, to both candidates for mayor of Asheville, the largest city in western North Carolina.
Who is Esther Manheimer?
Manheimer graduated from Asheville High School and is a lawyer. She served on the City Council from 2009 to 2013 and has been mayor since then. She and her husband, Mark, raised their three children in Asheville. “Like many parents, we worry about whether our children will be able to afford to stay in the city where they grew up,” she said.
Housing, the most neglected area
“Housing is the most delayed issue. Many families are still waiting to repair or rebuild, and federal money has been slow to move,” said Manheimer, who co-chairs Governor Josh Stein’s advisory committee for the recovery of western California. “I will continue to press Washington to release the funds that Congress has already approved.”
Manheimer confirmed that, as required by federal rules, 70% of the $225 million in recovery funds the city received must benefit low- and moderate-income residents.
Among the neighborhoods that were left behind, he mentioned Burton Street, Shiloh, and Deaverview, historically African American communities, as well as public housing and mobile home parks in Riverview, Mosswood, Highway 70, and Hendersonville Road.
“Programs that reward property value and paperwork can leave them behind,” he said. “I will make sure that recovery money reaches these neighborhoods early, not late.”
“I’m concerned about the lingering contamination in the flooded areas, where even planting a garden can put families at risk,” he added. “I urge residents to have their soil tested before planting, and I support land trusts held by residents of mobile home parks so that neighbors can lead their own recovery efforts.”
Families with mixed immigration status
“Federal rules limit who can receive recovery aid, and too many mixed-status families were left out. It’s a gap I take seriously,” Manheimer said.
“I will make sure that the funds controlled by the city reach all the families that it can legally reach, with materials in Spanish and through trusted local partners,” he said.
“I will work with legal experts, philanthropy, and community partners to fund aid where federal regulations fall short.” She did not specify a particular program or amount.
Local police and immigration control
“I spearheaded the effort by city and county leaders to keep local law enforcement out of civilian immigration control,” Manheimer said.
In the fall of 2025, after consulting with Latino leaders, he issued a statement with Amanda Edwards, president of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that create fear of reporting crimes or asking for help.
He also asked to cancel the city's contract with Flock SafetyThe company that operated 11 license plate reader cameras for Asheville was shut down following reports that it shared data with ICE in other cities. The City Council approved the cancellation by a vote of 5 to 2 on August 25.
“What matters is practical protection, not just statements,” he said.
Tenants and the limits of state law
As a volunteer attorney with Pisgah Legal Services, Manheimer represented tenants facing eviction. Today, she supports rent assistance, eviction prevention, and housing code enforcement in neglected properties.
“State law limits what cities can do about rent, so I focus on what we can do: keep people in their homes and make sure those homes are safe,” he said.
“I want growth to happen where we already have housing, jobs, and transportation, instead of spreading across our hillsides,” he added. Among his recent votes, he highlighted the rezoning that paved the way for 89 affordable housing units in Emma, which families in that neighborhood had requested.
To give Latino residents a voice in zoning, she proposes consultation sessions in neighborhoods, at accessible times and with Spanish interpretation. “Decisions shouldn’t be made by those who have the most time to attend a meeting,” she said.
Related: Raleigh City Council candidates answered questions about housing, transportation, and data centers
Safety, transport and health
Manheimer highlighted the recent swearing-in of 20 new police officers and the work of the Resource and Liaison Support Team (REST) of the Fire Department, which handles calls related to homelessness. “Any resident should be able to report a crime or ask for help without fear,” she said.
She supports asking voters to levy a county sales tax to improve buses. “Bus riders come first,” she stated. On healthcare, she noted that Asheville joined the 2022 antitrust lawsuit against HCA Healthcare, owner of Mission Hospital. “Healthcare is a human right,” she said.
Candidate's website: manheimerformayor.com
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