The great divide: Issues of race, justice, opportunit­y discussed at YWCA election forum

The final question asked of Asheville’s two mayoral and five city council candidates did not focus on the usual inquires raised during this municipal election. It wasn’t about the economy. It wasn’t about jobs. It wasn’t about the police department — though it certainly touched on all of those topics. And it had nothing to do with the Asheville Art Museum. (Photo by Max Cooper)

Mayoral, City Council candidates discuss key downtown issues at Pack’s Tavern on Oct. 14

At the Oct. 14 Asheville mayoral and City Council candidate forum at Pack’s Tavern, contenders discussed pressing downtown issues highlighted in a survey by the Asheville Downtown Association.
From cleanliness to crime and toplessness to construction, the seven candidates voiced their opinions on key issues affecting the city and its residents. (pictured: John Miall and Jonathan Wainscott; photo by Max Cooper)

Primary results by the numbers: Manheimer, Miall emerge from Asheville mayoral primary

With all precincts reporting, Asheville Vice Mayor Esther Manheimer emerged from the mayoral primary with a strong lead, racking up 60 percent of the vote. Former city risk manager John Miall was runner-up with 25 percent of the vote, and will go on to face Manheimer in the Nov. 5 general election. The third candidate, community activist Martin Ramsey, gathered 14 percent of the vote.

Storify: Asheville’­s 2013 mayoral primary through social media

Today, voters in the City of Asheville cast their ballots to decide which two candidates will continue onward in the journey to become Asheville’s next mayor. These are the tweets, photos and quotes from throughout the day and night of the mayoral primary. Use the hashtag #avlelect to become part of the story. This post will be updated throughout the evening. (Photo courtesy of Instagram user Wes Wehking)

Doublehead­er: Mayoral candidates tackle forums sponsored by business and bikes

The stages and the supporters could not have been more different for the Asheville Mayoral candidates yesterday: A power lunch at Magnolia’s Bar & Grille sponsored by the more conservative Council of Independent Business Owners and an evening forum at the Odyssey Ceramic Arts Studio hosted by the multimodal-minded group Asheville On Bikes. (Photos by Max Cooper)

A day of debates for Asheville mayor, Council candidates

Today has no shortage of debates about local government and the future of our city. The three mayoral candidates meet at the Council of Independent Business Owners luncheon this afternoon, then have a rematch at tonight’s Get There Asheville forum, where they will be joined by the five Asheville City Council candidates. Follow live Twitter dispatches of today’s debates here.