Kyle Turner

Kyle Turner, 62, is a retired federal civil servant and veteran, a nonprofit grant writer, and an advocate for housing and youth in transition. He lives in Lucerne Park in West Asheville. He has two daughters who are twenty years apart in age. He has lived in Asheville just over two years.

In one word, what is the top issue that is motivating you to run for Asheville City Council?

Obtainable

The region is still recovering from Hurricane Helene — and likely will be for a long time. Considering that resources will be limited, where do you prioritize putting the redevelopment funds?

I would prioritize redevelopment funds where recovery outcomes are realistically achievable for residents. Housing stability, basic habitability, and critical infrastructure should come first. Too often, projects clear legal or planning hurdles but stall before delivering results. Redevelopment funds should be tied to a clear statement of objective, defined milestones, and measurable outcomes. If public dollars are involved, progress should be transparent and trackable. Limited resources require disciplined, execution-focused choices.

One of the biggest issues facing Asheville is lack of affordable housing. What is your top policy change that you think would help address the situation?

My top priority is aligning housing policy around stability rather than production alone. The City should issue requests for proposals that directly respond to documented housing needs. Incentives should reward creative, community-informed solutions with clear delivery timelines. Removing barriers like zoning restrictions is necessary but not sufficient. Each approved project should include an objective, milestones, and public reporting. Success should be measured by who remains housed, not just by units approved.

The city is facing a budget deficit of at least $30 million. How would you prioritize allocating what funds the city does have? Is there a section of the budget where you would make budgetary cuts, or would you choose to raise property taxes?

I would prioritize core services that protect safety, housing stability, and basic quality of life. Spending should be aligned with measurable outcomes rather than legacy allocations. Programs that do not demonstrate progress toward stated objectives should be reevaluated. Budget decisions should be transparent and tied to clear performance expectations. Property tax increases should be considered only after efficiencies and accountability measures are exhausted. Residents deserve to see how limited dollars translate into results.

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County spent years working on a reparations plan for Black residents. Now the federal government is withholding funds from any entity that refers to DEI or that singles out a specific race for any special consideration and is actively discouraging DEI initiatives in local government. What is your feeling about the work the Community Reparations Commission produced? Would you implement its recommendations considering the federal restrictions? How?

The Community Reparations Commission produced serious and thoughtful work documenting real historical and ongoing harms. That work should not be discarded because of shifting federal politics. Federal restrictions must be navigated carefully and lawfully. The City can pursue race-neutral policies that address documented disparities in housing, health, and economic access. Implementation should focus on outcomes while maintaining compliance. The goal should be progress with accountability, not paralysis.

Do you think the current City Council has prioritized the right issues? If yes, why are those the right issues? If not, where would you re-direct the focus?

City Council has identified many important issues, including housing and homelessness. Over the past three years, multiple plans, studies, and approvals have been adopted. At the same time, unsheltered homelessness increased rather than declined. In several cases, the City removed barriers such as zoning or deed restrictions without establishing a clear path to construction. What has been missing is a publicly adopted statement of objective, defined milestones, and regular progress reporting. I would re-direct focus toward execution, timelines, and accountability residents can track.

What do you love about Asheville that you want to see more of?

I love Asheville’s creativity and sense of mutual care. People here consistently show up for one another. I want to see that care formalized through clear commitments to protect youth in transition, including trans masculine and trans feminine youth. Proclamations matter when they reflect lived realities and guide action. Collaboration should lead to safeguards people can trust. Asheville is strongest when compassion and accountability move together.