Get There Asheville: City Council Candidate Forum

A partnership between Asheville on Bikes, Mountain True, and Strong Towns, Asheville

Location: The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave
Date: Wednesday, February 4
Time: 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Save the date via Get There AVL facebook event.

Get There Asheville is a city council candidate forum presented in partnership by Asheville on Bikes, Mountain True, and Strong Towns Asheville, focused on the interconnected issues that shape how Asheville grows and how residents experience our city—housing, mobility, resilience, and land use.

About the Forum

The format is organized by three components where candidates and constituents have the opportunity to be seen and heard by one another:

• The Stump: Each candidate has two minutes to introduce themselves and their platform, with remarks addressing housing, mobility, resilience, and land use.
• The Breakout: Candidates host individual tables while attendees rotate for small-group, one-on-one conversations. This portion lasts approximately 20 minutes.
• The Closing: Candidates return to the stump for a one-minute reflection on what they heard from voters, followed by a closing statement.

A Message From Mike Sule: Get There AVL Expands to Discuss the Interconnected Issues of Housing, Mobility, Resilience, and Land Use

Originally rooted in questions of complete streets and mobility, Get There Asheville has expanded to reflect the realities of how Asheville is changing. Transportation does not exist in isolation—housing, development patterns, land use, and a sense of belonging all shape how people move through and experience our city.

As Asheville grows, rebuilds, and plans for its future, city leaders are increasingly called to make decisions that sit at the intersection of these issues. This expanded focus invites candidates to share how they understand these connections and how they would lead the complex work of guiding the city toward outcomes that are equitable, resilient, and safe for everyone.

I am grateful for the partnership of Susan Bean, Housing & Transportation Director for MountainTrue, and Tim Watkins, Co-founder of Strong Towns, Asheville, whose collaboration helped shape this election cycle’s Get There Asheville programming.

Mike Sule
Executive Director, Asheville on Bikes