About Julie Mayfield
Sen. Mayfield represents Asheville in the NC Senate. She has led MountainTrue, where she pushed Duke Energy to retire its coal-fired plant at Lake Julian and clean up its coal ash. She has served on the ACLU of Western North Carolina’s board and worked with Amnesty International USA. In the Senate, she has stood firm for voter protections and LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, including publicly standing her ground when then-Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson confronted her after she challenged his attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals..
“This election is not a choice between progressive values and compromise. It is a choice between two approaches to turning progressive values into results. We have a mayor who has a long track record of building consensus, building trust, and working respectfully with all parts of our community, city staff, and council members to move the city forward. Repeated no votes can show an inability to build trust, gain consensus, and make an impact. Voters should look closely at which candidate has demonstrated that capacity. The choice is clear. Vote Esther Manheimer for Mayor..” – Sen. Julie Mayfield
A record of getting things done
Sen. Mayfield points to Esther’s ability to navigate hard issues and deliver results:
- Fiscal leadership: She successfully navigated changes to the occupancy tax to better serve Asheville residents, and passed budgets in fiscally tight years.
- Public safety: She invests in equipping emergency responders, increasing pay, community policing, and sending the right resource on each call, which can include mental health clinicians.
- Recovery funding: She secured $225 million for Helene recovery from Washington and will ensure we get the full $1 billion promised.
- Economic wins: She got Costco back to the table. A Costco in West Asheville can offer lower prices on groceries and goods and well-paying jobs.
“That work can be slow and tedious, and it can take a lot of one-on-one conversations and shuttle diplomacy, but it is sometimes the only way to find common ground on difficult issues,” Mayfield said.
Leadership, not just positions
“Leadership is about doing the work, not just taking a position. It’s about building trust, finding consensus, and working respectfully with people you sometimes deeply disagree with. Esther has done that in spades, here, in Raleigh, and in Washington. She has gained the respect of elected officials across the political spectrum, while never betraying her progressive values.” – Sen. Julie Mayfield
Mayfield says the stakes are high: with MAGA leaders at the state and federal levels, Asheville could become a target again, risking years of progress.
“Asheville needs strong job performance, someone who builds, someone who provides consistent leadership and forward movement. The choice is clear. Vote Esther Manheimer for Mayor.” – Sen. Julie Mayfield
