Asheville's Esther Manheimer to Lead Mayors Coalition

Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer is taking the helm of a coalition of mayors across the state.  Manheimer was elected chairwoman of the North Carolina Metropolitan Mayors Coalition.  She was previously vice-chair.  The coalition of dozens of mayors from the state's larger municipalities works to be an advocate for the interest of cities in the legislature.  The coalition will be busy during the legislative session beginning in April of next year.  A number of bills could affect cities and towns.  She noted examples of successes in the last session of getting historic preservation tax credits restored and heading off an effort to redistribute sales taxes in the state.  But she says sales tax redistribution could reappear in the short session, as well as issues affecting municipal elections, economic incentives, and how cities handle debt.