WPVM’S COVERAGE OF LOCAL AND STATE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC ISSUES AND EVENTS
“From homelessness to Mission Hospital to reparations, here’s what candidates say is next for Asheville.”
Hear local leaders dive into what’s really shaping our city right now: housing and the “missing middle,” tourism’s impact, hurricane recovery, working with Raleigh, regional partnerships, homelessness, Mission/HCA, transportation, reparations, and the big issues we’re still not talking about enough.
Overall Analysis
The forum reveals a city at a crossroads, grappling with post-disaster recovery, an affordability crisis, and citizens’ demand for more transparent, responsive government. Candidates present a blend of experienced leadership and fresh energy, unified by shared values of equity, inclusion, and fiscal prudence. The dialogue underscores that successful governance requires blending empathy for residents’ lived realities with technical knowledge and strategic foresight. Emphasis on revitalizing democratic processes through boards and commissions signals a desire to extend participatory governance beyond elections into ongoing civic engagement. Fiscal discussions highlight the delicate balancing act in managing finite resources amid external fiscal pressures, elevating the role of innovation and intergovernmental advocacy. Together, these insights paint a picture of a community-driven city government evolving to meet modern challenges while honoring Asheville’s unique identity.
9.18.2026 Asheville Mayoral Forum, moderated by Dr. Chris Cooper.
TIMELINE BELOW
2:10 Opening statements
6:30 What can a mayor do that council members cannot do?
13:40 Two years post-Helene, recovery is far from finished; what are the two most important things the Mayor will need to do to improve Asheville’s recovery?
19:20 Flock cameras; when should Asheville say yes or no to surveillance cameras?
26:10 Councilperson Roney: if elected, how will public participation for someone who tries to influence City decisions look different? And for Mayor Manheimer, what are you most proud of in how you facilitate during your time as Mayor?
32:40 One concrete example of something Asheville needs from state government, and how would you go about getting it?
39:36 How would electing you change or preserve the city’s relationship with the business improvement district? And what does that difference tell us about how you would govern?
45:59 The debates and complaints about Mission Hospital HCA have continued to dominate the conversation locally. So, what I’d like you all to address is: what is the proper role of the city of Asheville in these debates, and what specifically can the mayor do?
51:59 You’ve been on council before; you’ve been mayor before. In one case, um, you both have an accumulated voting record. What’s one vote you cast that, knowing what you know now, you would cast differently? 58:15 Closing statements
Part One of our Asheville City Council Primary Candidate Forum features Maggie Ullman, Jeffrey Burroughs, and Dan Ferrell, presented by Radio Asheville 103.7. In this conversation, the candidates dig into what Asheville is doing well, how they’d tackle housing through the 2023 “Missing Middle” study, and the tension between growth and legacy neighborhoods.
They also explore how to work more effectively with Raleigh, the impact of tourism and the TDA on our city and region, and concrete policy ideas that could move Asheville forward. The forum wraps with their assessments of post–Hurricane Helene recovery, one issue we’re not talking about nearly enough, and why they’re asking for your vote.
Part Two of our Asheville City Council Primary Candidate Forum features Nina Ireland and Drew Ball in a focused, issues-driven conversation about the city’s future. Presented by Radio Asheville 103.7, this forum digs into what Asheville does well and how to protect that progress, the “Missing Middle” housing study, and the role of tourism in a sustainable local economy.
The candidates also tackle Hurricane Helene recovery, working with the General Assembly and regional partners, and how to avoid duplicating strained services. They share specific ideas on addressing homelessness, the city’s role in the Mission/HCA debate, improving transportation, learning from the reparations commission process, and the critical issues they believe Asheville still isn’t talking about enough, and why they’re asking for your vote.
David Moritz and Blake Butler sit down with Dr. Chris Cooper for Part 3 of the Asheville City Council primary candidate forums, presented by Radio Asheville 103.7. In this conversation, they dig into what Asheville is getting right, how to build on that progress, and where the city is falling short.
The forum covers concrete ideas on policy and strategy, Hurricane Helene recovery, the “missing middle” housing study, working with the General Assembly, and how to keep tourism in balance with residents’ needs. The video closes with each candidate’s vision for Asheville’s future and why they’re asking for your vote.
Dr. Chris Cooper Interview on his recent Politico article about Tom Tillis’ decision to quit politics in North Carolina.
Dr. Cooper, discussing Tom Tillis’s resignation in Politico, says Tillis’s departure highlights how moderation has become untenable in today’s polarized politics. Once an asset, centrism now alienates both party extremes, especially in swing states like North Carolina where partisan voters dominate primaries. Trump’s public attacks on dissenting Republicans have reshaped party dynamics, enforcing loyalty through intimidation and accelerating the exodus of pragmatic figures such as Tillis and Patrick McHenry. Cooper notes this trend leaves institutional voices fading, as ideological purity eclipses compromise and narrows the space for moderate leadership in national politics.