Kimberly Ann Roney

Kimberly Ann "Kim" Roney is a current Asheville City Council member who has entered the 2026 race for mayor of Asheville, North Carolina, with the general election slated for Nov. 3, 2026 [16][17]. As a councilmember since 2020, she serves on the city’s legislative body and works alongside the city manager on policy initiatives.

Roney was raised in Asheville and has deep ties to the community. Sources differ on her college education: she is reported to have graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville [16][17] and also to hold a degree in Music Industry from James Madison University, earned after moving to Asheville in 2006 [19]. She works as a music educator, piano technician, and small‑business owner, and she helped found and serve as the station manager of 103.3 Asheville FM, a community radio station.

Before her council service, Roney served on several city advisory boards, gaining experience in local governance and community outreach. She previously ran for mayor in 2022, advancing through the municipal primary before losing to incumbent Esther Manheimer in the general election [16][17].

In her 2026 campaign, Roney emphasizes three core priorities. First, affordability: she proposes building deeply affordable housing on city‑owned land, partnering on home‑repair programs, investing in resilient infrastructure, directing Helene disaster‑relief funds to local businesses, and completing long‑awaited transit and multimodal projects [12][16]. Second, public safety: she plans to work with the new city manager, DK Wesley, on collaborative solutions addressing mental‑health and behavioral‑health needs, homelessness, and preventing intimate‑partner and gun violence [12]. Third, representation: she seeks to mobilize voter turnout in 2026 to secure elected officials at all levels who will invest in Western North Carolina’s health and well‑being [12].

Roney also cites advancing climate action and neighborhood resiliency as part of her platform, echoing a Labor‑Day social‑media post that highlighted affordability, climate, and public‑safety responses as key goals [16][17]. Her campaign narrative stresses community solidarity, resource sharing, and grassroots engagement, urging residents to participate in door‑to‑door outreach, digital organizing, and other volunteer activities to build a stronger, more connected Asheville [12][19].

Sources

• [11] Kim Roney for Asheville (@KimRoneyforAsheville)
• [12] Looking ahead: Council member Kim Roney emphasizes community solidarity and getting out the vote in 2026 – Mountain Xpress
• [16] Asheville City Council member Kim Roney enters 2026 mayoral race | WUNC News
• [17] Asheville City Council member Kim Roney enters 2026 mayoral race
• [19] Home - Kim Roney for Mayor