Time to take Asheville where no city has ever gone

Congratulations to Esther Manheimer on her Nov. 5 landslide victory over former city risk manager John Miall.

With over 70 percent of the vote, dare we call it the “Manheimer Steamroller”? Manheimer will be sworn in to the top job on Dec. 10.

 Outgoing Mayor Terry Bellamy, who gave her farewell address to City Council on Nov. 12, received a well-deserved standing ovation. Bellamy shared her feelings of gratitude for the opportunity to have served the city for 14 years, eight as mayor.

 Bellamy had announced her intention to run for Congress instead of seeking re-election as mayor. But in late November, she decided to take a break from politics.

Meanwhile, Manheimer said she ran for the mayoralty because she loves the city, and she wants it to continue to excel.

She said she sees Asheville taking a leadership position in the state in two ways. First, she would like the city to be innovative and creative in working on issues, solving problems, and stepping up more in terms of job growth and economic development.

 Secondly, Manheimer would like the city to serve as a leader in terms of the “political atmosphere in North Carolina.” Specifically, with the projected growth in minority populations and the influx of Hispanic residents, she expects the state, as a whole, to eventually join Asheville in the liberal vanguard, with social justice and education issues taking the forefront

 If Manheimer is right, there will be a major correction in the direction the state legislature has taken. She wants to ensure that Asheville will be ahead of the curve, perhaps even riding the tidal wave as a leader, with a city-friendly legislature.

 While the Nov. 5 voter turnout was poor, it definitely showed a preference for the “Manheimer Steamroller;” that is, more investment in greenways, bike trails, and sidewalk construction and repairs – over contender John Miall’s more fiscally frugal approach.

 Manheimer’s progressive politics aside, we wish all the best to the new mayor, who claims to enjoy running “a really good meeting” and harboring a deep-seated reverence for “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

 Let’s rock this city . . . for the better!