The city is where the RTIC was approved and where the Flock vote happens. Everyone here either cast a vote on it, runs it, or recruited cameras for it. Elected officials first, by the date voters next see them; then the staff who run it without a ballot.

On the ballot November 3, 2026

Mayor, the RTIC’s presiding officer vs its only opponent:

RoleSinceSurveillance record
Esther ManheimerMayor, seeking a 4th term2013Voted yes both RTIC items; ran the May 12 meeting; called for Flock termination Aug 19
Kim RoneyCouncil member, running for mayor2020The only no vote, every time; the 29 unanswered questions

City Council, three seats, all three incumbents voted yes:

RoleSinceSurveillance record
Antanette MosleyCouncil member & Vice Mayor2020Yes; asked the one ICE question at committee, accepted the answer
Sheneika SmithCouncil member2017Yes, after the dais’s best skeptical questions
Maggie UllmanCouncil member2022Yes; first public position Aug 20, 2026: pull Flock, keep Axon
Drew BallCounty commissioner, running for council2024Challenger; no position found
Keith YoungFormer council member, running againChallenger; a “local firewall” in his DSA questionnaire, nothing on the RTIC
Jeffrey BurroughsFirst-time candidateChallenger; no position found

Not on a ballot until 2028

RoleSinceSurveillance record
Sage TurnerCouncil member2020Yes; her Flock-removal condition unmet, then “maybe a part of the contract we wish wasn’t there”
Bo HessCouncil member; chairs the Public Safety Committee2024Yes; the RTIC’s strongest advocate; wrote the civil-liberties resolution

Running it without a ballot

RoleWhy they’re here
D.K. WesleyCity managerSigns the contract; picks the chief; terminates Flock if council says so
Jackie SteppInterim police chiefSold the RTIC at five meetings; the Aug 14 memo: “not pursuing a full transition away from Flock”
Sean AardemaDeputy chief, operationsThe “will not be sharing with federal immigration” promise; also a Housing Authority commissioner
Brandon MooreCaptain, special services”Short of a court order”; the workgroup’s operational voice
Jimmy WingoTechnology managerThe single gate for outside data requests; “100% of the time, we have reasons”
Brad BranhamCity attorneyThe legal opinion council never got; signs the Aug 25 resolution

Housing and downtown

RoleWhy they’re here
Ella SantosHousing Authority president and CEOA HACA staffer joins the RTIC policy board; BCSD and APD hold the DVR passwords; no board question asked
David NashFormer HACA CEO (to June 2023)“Underpoliced”: spoke for the network in 2023
Downtown InstitutionsChamber, Downtown Association, tourism authorityThe camera-registry campaign; the business owners on record

The city’s own timeline: Asheville. The county’s deciders: Buncombe County. The ballot view: Election 2026.

19 items under this folder.