Title: City Council member · music teacher & piano technician · kimroney4asheville.com · official page In this role since: Dec 2020 (elected Nov 2020; re-elected Nov 2024) Current term ends: Dec 2028 Next voter decision: Nov 3, 2026: running for Mayor against Esther Manheimer, having advanced from the March 3 primary with 33.43% (BPR); her council seat is not on the 2026 ballot · Election 2026
Surveillance record
The only member of council to vote against the surveillance buildout, every time, usually alone:
- Jan 24, 2023: sole no on the interlocal agreement joining the Buncombe Sheriff’s Fusus network (passed 4–1). (WLOS)
- Mar 25, 2025: pulled the first RTIC grant off the consent agenda, submitted 29 written questions to APD on data control and constitutional implications (never publicly answered), voted no (passed 6–1). (BPR)
- May 12, 2026: sole no on the $1.14M grant and 7.5-year Axon contract; presented ACLU-NC and EFF concerns; afterward: “21 people were sent home without the opportunity to speak.” (BPR)
In her words
- On process (2025): “We’re really missing those levels of public transparency and accountability… skipping all of those steps and burying it into the consent agenda.”
- At the first 2026 mayoral debate: concerns about “a billionaire-owned, AI-fueled, for-profit tech company… working with ICE and Homeland Security and also the police department to surveil people without a warrant.” And: “For me, it’s important to do the people’s work in public.” (BPR)
- On the check-in system, same debate: “a series of three-by-threes and sometimes one-on-one meetings where staff might spend anywhere from, like, eight to 10 hours with agendas and presentations, counting votes throughout the day… none of those meetings are public. And there’s no minutes.” Per Manheimer’s own account, Roney is the only member who opposes the practice.
Beyond the dais
Consulted ACLU-NC and EFF during the RTIC fight; appeared on the RE:FUSUS panel (May 25, 2026, DayTrip) alongside Benn Jordan and Patrick Conant. Faces Esther Manheimer in November, the only race where the RTIC is squarely on the ballot. See Election 2026.
Last updated: Aug 17, 2026