The City of Asheville continues its nationwide search as we move toward the retirement of current City Manager Debra Campbell at the end of this year. In late August, the community was invited to participate in a survey and in-person listening sessions to share the opportunities and challenges that Asheville faces in the coming years. The results are summarized below and the raw data is provided here.
Next Steps
The decision on the next city manager is ultimately the decision of the City Council and information from the survey will help to inform their decision..
- City Manager job posting closes on October 5.
- City Council reviews applications beginning October 6.
- Assessment process for selected candidates November 6-7
- Interviews the week of November 10.
- Announcement of new city manager (tentative) – late November.
Community Survey Results
Just over 275 community members responded to the survey.
Top Priorities for the City Manager
When asked to identify the top three priorities for the new City Manager over the next year or two, many responses focused on actionable solutions to the challenges listed below.
The top priorities are:
- Infrastructure and Helene Recovery: the need for immediate and long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene. This includes rebuilding parks and greenways, strengthening the water system, and repairing roads.
- Housing and Homelessness: Addressing the housing crisis, both in terms of affordable housing for the workforce and compassionate solutions for the unhoused population.
- Economic Development and Diversification: attracting new industries with high-paying jobs to reduce the city’s reliance on tourism. This also includes supporting local businesses and ensuring a healthy economic environment.
Important Leadership Qualities
The most cited traits include:
- Integrity and Trust: honesty and transparency to continue building public trust.
- Communication and Community Engagement: good communication skills such as visibility in the community, and community engagement
- Action-Oriented and Problem-Solving: decisive actions and a proven track record of solving complex problems.
- Experience and Vision: Experience in city government, an understanding of Asheville’s specific challenges, and a bold, long-term vision for the city’s future.
Data from this survey will be used by the City Council to inform their hiring decision.
A complete record of the data is available on the City of Asheville project page.