Asheville Council Bids Farewell to Two Members
Esther Manheimer and Sheineka Smith spoke at their final meeting after losing their 2026 election bids, and the council delayed filling Kim Roney's vacated seat.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in City Hall
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Asheville City Council members Esther Manheimer and Sheineka Smith bid farewell at the Nov. 10 council meeting. Manheimer was defeated in the 2026 mayoral race by Kim Roney, and Smith was not re-elected in the midterm elections.
Why it matters
Roney's election as mayor leaves an open council seat, and the council has agreed to delay its appointment decision until next Tuesday. Drew Ball, who received the most votes of all city council candidates, is set to replace Smith on the council.
Drew Ball, a current Buncombe County Commissioner, received the most votes of all city council candidates and will replace Sheineka Smith. The council has not determined who will fill the seat vacated by Kim Roney, and Jeffrey Burroughs, who finished fourth in the vote count, has drawn community requests for appointment.
The players
Esther Manheimer
Manheimer served on the Asheville City Council and was defeated in the 2026 mayoral race by Kim Roney.
Sheineka Smith
Smith served on the Asheville City Council and was not re-elected in the 2026 midterm elections.
Kim Roney
Roney was elected mayor of Asheville in 2026, creating the council vacancy now being filled.
Drew Ball
Ball is a current Buncombe County Commissioner who received the most votes of all city council candidates.
The details
Manheimer and Smith delivered farewell remarks during the Nov. 10 council meeting. The council agreed to postpone appointing a replacement for Roney's seat until next Tuesday, leaving the matter open for now.
Timeline
Nov. 10: Council meeting where Manheimer and Smith delivered farewell remarks.
2026 midterm elections: Smith was not re-elected and Manheimer lost the mayoral race.
Next Tuesday: Council expected to decide on appointing a replacement for Roney's seat.
Season Trajectory
The council's handling of Roney's vacated seat follows its established process for mid-term vacancies, which the council is applying here by delaying the decision. Ball's arrival as the top vote-getter reshapes the council's composition as the new term begins.
Asheville residents will have a new council composition once Ball replaces Smith and the Roney seat is filled. Voters in the city are affected by who holds these seats when council votes on local budgets, zoning and services.
The takeaway
Council seats can change hands through elections and appointments, and the outcome of the pending appointment will shape the council's direction. Residents who follow the next council meeting can track who is selected to fill the open seat.
What happens next
The council is scheduled to decide on appointing a replacement for Kim Roney's seat next Tuesday.
Further reading
For more on the local council's decisions, see City Hall coverage in Asheville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLOS.
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