The City of Asheville is pleased to announce that Rafael Baptista has been selected to join the City of Asheville’s executive leadership team as an Assistant City Manager. His first day of service will be Nov. 30, 2026.
“Rafael brings a strong understanding of our community and a proven ability to connect strategic vision with organizational performance and results,” said City Manager DK Wesley. “His expertise in long-term planning and organizational improvement, coupled with his ability to work effectively with elected and appointed officials and lead enterprise-wide and multi-jurisdictional initiatives, will be a tremendous asset to our City. I am excited to welcome him to our team as we continue building organizational capacity, supporting our employees and advancing the City’s long-term priorities.”
Baptista brings more than 10 years of progressive local government experience, including more than six years of executive-level service with Buncombe County where he currently serves as Director of Strategy & Innovation. In this capacity, Baptista advises the County Manager and executive leadership on strategic priorities, operational risks, organizational performance, and complex enterprise decisions. In this role, he led the development and implementation of the County’s 2030 Strategic Plan. He also established a countywide performance management framework, strengthened departmental accountability, and provided executive oversight of an internal consulting function that delivers more than 175 projects annually.
“Asheville is a place I’m proud to call home, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to a community that means so much to me,” said Baptista. “I’m looking forward to getting to know my new colleagues, learning from the people we serve, and working together to make a meaningful difference in our community.”
Prior to joining Buncombe County, Baptista served in several leadership and strategic management roles with the City of Raleigh and Durham County. His experience includes leading community economic development initiatives, supporting strategic financial decisions, coordinating public safety and community safety initiatives, and developing organizational performance and innovation programs.
Baptista holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from Willamette University. His professional credentials and recognition include the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy, the ICMA Certificate of Distinction in Performance Management, the Public Sector Human Resources Certification, and the Center for Accountability and Performance’s Emerging Leaders Award.