City Employee Sues Asheville Over Racial Discrimination
A federal lawsuit alleges the city of Asheville blocked promotions for Black female staff members.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Human Resources
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City employee Alisha Mazza filed a federal lawsuit against Asheville on October 28, 2026, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. The complaint claims the city has a pattern of denying internal promotions to Black women in favor of less-qualified white candidates.
Why it matters
The legal action highlights ongoing concerns regarding equity in municipal staffing and the efficacy of internal city hiring practices. It specifically challenges the city's commitment to its adopted Equity Action Plan in the face of alleged systemic bias.
The lawsuit cites that in 2020, Black employees comprised 10.11% of the city workforce, while 94.20% of temporary higher-grade assignments went to white employees. Additionally, 17 Black female employees have reportedly documented similar experiences with denied promotions.
The players
Alisha Mazza
She is a city employee who initiated federal legal action against Asheville alleging racial discrimination and retaliation.
Christopher Budzinski
He is the Deputy Fire Chief of Asheville and is named as a defendant in the discrimination lawsuit.
Rebecca Ogles
She is a city employee named as a defendant in the lawsuit brought by Alisha Mazza.
Jessica Hughes
She was selected for the fire administration and financial business manager position in October 2025.
The details
Mazza, who is diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression, claims she was passed over for a fire administration position despite being better qualified than the white candidate selected. The suit also names Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Budzinski and employee Rebecca Ogles as defendants in the case.
Timeline
June 19, 2018: Asheville City Council adopted an Equity Action Plan.
May 2025: Alisha Mazza applied for a storm recovery position.
September 2025: Mazza applied for a fire department business manager role.
October 9, 2025: Jessica Hughes was selected for the fire position.
October 28, 2026: Mazza filed the federal lawsuit.
Market Landscape
This litigation highlights a disconnect between the city of Asheville's 2018 Equity Action Plan and its internal hiring outcomes. It reflects a broader institutional challenge in local government as municipalities struggle to align internal promotion processes with stated diversity goals.
Local taxpayers may be impacted by the potential legal costs and administrative burden associated with a federal lawsuit of this nature. The case could also prompt the city to implement further oversight or transparency changes in municipal hiring panels.
The takeaway
This case underscores the importance of objective, transparent criteria in public sector hiring processes to avoid litigation. Employees and supervisors should familiarize themselves with current city equity policies to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination standards.
Further reading
Learn more about local labor standards and policies in the Asheville Human Resources section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Asheville Citizen Times.
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