Kim Roney Outlines Housing, Safety, and Transit Goals for Asheville Mayoral Race
- Asheville mayoral candidate Kim Roney is campaigning on a platform to expand hurricane relief funds to families left out of federal assistance programs.
- Only 14 percent of housing repair projects following Hurricane Helene have been completed in Asheville, according to Roney.
- The situation migratoria no debería determinar la capacidad de una familia para recuperarse tras un desastre.
Asheville mayoral candidate Kim Roney is campaigning on a platform to expand hurricane relief funds to families left out of federal assistance programs. Roney, a current city council member and music teacher, faces incumbent Mayor Esther Manheimer in the nonpartisan general election scheduled for November 3, 2026, Enlace Latino NC reported.
Immigration Status Limits Hurricane Helene Disaster Aid
Only 14 percent of housing repair projects following Hurricane Helene have been completed in Asheville, according to Roney. She argued that the city’s immigration status policies should not dictate who receives disaster aid.
The situation migratoria no debería determinar la capacidad de una familia para recuperarse tras un desastre.
Kim Roney
Many households failed to qualify for federal assistance or lacked insurance coverage for their losses. Grassroots groups led by Latinos and immigrant support organizations often face exclusion from local recovery decisions. Fear of federal immigration enforcement creates an additional barrier for residents seeking aid.
Roney stated she would collaborate with city, county, and community partners to deliver funds for rent, utilities, and home repairs to families excluded from other programs. While she did not outline a specific dollar amount or a brand-new program, she proposed modifying regulations so nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and PODER Emma can utilize recovery funds for housing fixes.
Roney Supports Housing Repair Funds and Tenant Protections
Fixing a roof or foundation to keep a family housed often costs less than constructing a brand-new apartment unit for that same family, Roney noted. She supported allocating 3 million dollars in housing repair funds proposed by the Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition, which represents leaders from five Asheville neighborhoods including Emma and Burton Street.
On September 8, 2026, the Asheville City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting landlords from collecting rent on properties deemed unsafe or uninhabitable by a city inspector. Roney backed this No Rent for Slumlords campaign.
Roney Seeks to Eliminate Automated License Plate Readers
Roney supports eliminating all automated license plate readers in the city, going beyond the council’s August 25, 2026, vote to cancel its contract with Flock Safety. She asserted that the devices violate constitutional rights and can be abused by local law enforcement or utilized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to track residents.
Her security platform includes establishing a Community Safety Office alongside the HEART program. This initiative would dispatch certified professionals for emergency situations involving mental health, substance use, and homelessness. Durham utilizes a similar model through its Holistic and Empathetic Assistance Response Teams. Roney also called for refinancing the Strategic Collaboration Fund to prevent gun violence.
Asheville Mayoral Election Logistics
The November 3, 2026, election is nonpartisan and determines who will lead the seven-member city council without veto power. Mayor Esther Manheimer has governed the city since 2013 and defeated Roney in the 2022 mayoral race. Asheville operates under a council-manager form of government where a city manager directs daily operations.
In addition to housing and public safety, Roney’s platform includes partnering with the county to establish a joint public transit system extending to south Asheville and Swannanoa with night service. She also advocates confronting HCA Healthcare, the owner of Mission Hospital.