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Sage studied accounting at North Carolina State University, earned her bachelor's degree in consumer science & marketing from Appalachian State University, and both her master's certificate in GIS geographic information systems and her master's degree in community and regional planning from the University of Florida.

Sage is currently a proprietor. She has worked in the finance & project management fields for 21 years. 

Sage Turner is currently an Asheville City Councilmember. She was elected in 2020 and is serving her first term.

Candidate website

Believes neighborhoods need more services and community engagement on issues like public safety and state-owned roads. Encourages joining neighborhood coalitions or the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods (CAN).

Believes neighborhoods need more services and community engagement on issues like public safety and state-owned roads, and encourages joining neighborhood coalitions or the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods (CAN).

Believes neighborhoods are organizing better and encourages residents to join and participate in their neighborhood coalitions and groups.

Believes community work is essential and serves on various boards and commissions to influence policies and projects. Plans to continue this work to benefit the community.

Believes community work is essential and serves on various boards and commissions to influence policies and projects, and plans to continue this work to benefit the community.

Believes community work is essential and values serving on boards and commissions to shape policies and projects. Plans to continue contributing to public services through active involvement in city committees.

Believes community work is essential and values serving on boards and commissions to shape policies and projects, and plans to continue contributing to public services through active involvement in city committees.

- Believes neighborhoods need more services and community engagement on issues like public safety and state-owned roads, and encourages joining neighborhood coalitions or the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods (CAN).
- Believes neighborhoods are organizing better and encourages residents to join and participate in their neighborhood coalitions and groups.
- Believes community work is essential and serves on various boards and commissions to influence policies and projects, and plans to continue this work to benefit the community.
- Believes community work is essential and values serving on boards and commissions to shape policies and projects, and plans to continue contributing to public services through active involvement in city committees.

Public Services

Supports increasing police staffing through salary and benefit enhancements, sign-on and retention bonuses, and hiring experienced officers from other areas.

Supports expanding the community paramedic program to address mental health and addiction crises, supplementing first responders and addressing staffing shortages.

Believes policing as a career has faced significant changes and challenges due to the pandemic, social uprisings, and increased mental health needs. Said, "Asheville is no different and has seen a loss of officers that is still slowly recovering."

Believes policing as a career has faced significant changes and challenges due to the pandemic, social uprisings, and increased mental health needs, saying, "Asheville is no different and has seen a loss of officers that is still slowly recovering."

- Supports increasing police staffing through salary and benefit enhancements, sign-on and retention bonuses, and hiring experienced officers from other areas.
- Supports expanding the community paramedic program to address mental health and addiction crises, supplementing first responders and addressing staffing shortages.
- Believes policing as a career has faced significant changes and challenges due to the pandemic, social uprisings, and increased mental health needs, saying, "Asheville is no different and has seen a loss of officers that is still slowly recovering."

Public Safety

Supports paying a minimum living wage of $20.10/hr for all city employees and contract workers.

Believes in educating businesses about the need for living wages and pooling resources to reduce costs and support higher wages.

Supports creating a Business Improvement District (BID) to fund downtown services through a new property tax.

Believes creating economic mobility is crucial for city development. Said, "Many residents are paycheck to paycheck, caught in high rent cycles, moving further & further out."

Believes creating economic mobility is crucial for city development, saying, "Many residents are paycheck to paycheck, caught in high rent cycles, moving further & further out."

Supports tying incentive programs to paying living wages.

Supports increasing wages to retain and hire staff and hiring outside contractors to improve staffing.

Supports using tourism taxes for maintenance and infrastructure impacted by tourism, such as larger trashcans.

Supports organizations that pay a living wage.

Believes fiscally strong cities have a thriving downtown with a robust business community, diverse local options, and abundant entertainment, food, arts, and activities.

Believes the City has struggled with staffing levels in key departments since the pandemic and that employment strategies must adapt and grow.

- Supports paying a minimum living wage of $20.10/hr for all city employees and contract workers.
- Believes in educating businesses about the need for living wages and pooling resources to reduce costs and support higher wages.
- Supports creating a Business Improvement District (BID) to fund downtown services through a new property tax.
- Believes creating economic mobility is crucial for city development, saying, "Many residents are paycheck to paycheck, caught in high rent cycles, moving further & further out."
- Supports tying incentive programs to paying living wages.
- Supports increasing wages to retain and hire staff and hiring outside contractors to improve staffing.
- Supports using tourism taxes for maintenance and infrastructure impacted by tourism, such as larger trashcans.
- Supports organizations that pay a living wage.
- Believes fiscally strong cities have a thriving downtown with a robust business community, diverse local options, and abundant entertainment, food, arts, and activities.
- Believes the City has struggled with staffing levels in key departments since the pandemic and that employment strategies must adapt and grow.

Economy

As of June 14, 2024, Sage Turner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

Supports upzoning major corridors to allow "Missing Middle housing" like townhomes and ADUs to focus growth along existing infrastructure and protect neighborhoods.

Supports drafting a new Affordable Housing Plan to include larger family households and workforce income ranges, addressing current subsidy exclusions.

Believes Asheville's housing demand has surged, causing a 40% rent increase. Notes that public safety, infrastructure, and homelessness issues have intensified post-pandemic.

Believes Asheville's housing demand has surged, causing a 40% rent increase, noting that public safety, infrastructure, and homelessness issues have intensified post-pandemic.

Believes increasing the supply of voucher-accepting rental units is essential to address the underutilization of housing assistance vouchers.

Believes building up can "reuse the same roads, sewers, water lines, power etc.," reduce maintenance costs, and preserve green space.

Supports increasing housing diversity with options like duplexes, quadplexes, and townhouses to promote affordability and economic mobility.

Believes housing requires a "multifaceted, all hands on deck approach" to address gentrification, housing loss, scarcity, and high rents. Supports intervention and creation of abundance where needed.

Believes housing requires a "multifaceted, all hands on deck approach" to address gentrification, housing loss, scarcity, and high rents, and supports intervention and creation of abundance where needed.

Supports aligning local, regional, state, and federal funds and funding cycles to maximize affordability in housing developments.

Believes too many people face difficult choices between essential expenses like rent and utilities. Supports policies addressing affordable housing and homelessness.

Believes too many people face difficult choices between essential expenses like rent and utilities, and supports policies addressing affordable housing and homelessness.

- Supports upzoning major corridors to allow "Missing Middle housing" like townhomes and ADUs to focus growth along existing infrastructure and protect neighborhoods.
- Supports drafting a new Affordable Housing Plan to include larger family households and workforce income ranges, addressing current subsidy exclusions.
- Believes Asheville's housing demand has surged, causing a 40% rent increase, noting that public safety, infrastructure, and homelessness issues have intensified post-pandemic.
- Believes increasing the supply of voucher-accepting rental units is essential to address the underutilization of housing assistance vouchers.
- Believes building up can "reuse the same roads, sewers, water lines, power etc.," reduce maintenance costs, and preserve green space.
- Supports increasing housing diversity with options like duplexes, quadplexes, and townhouses to promote affordability and economic mobility.
- Believes housing requires a "multifaceted, all hands on deck approach" to address gentrification, housing loss, scarcity, and high rents, and supports intervention and creation of abundance where needed.
- Supports aligning local, regional, state, and federal funds and funding cycles to maximize affordability in housing developments.
- Believes too many people face difficult choices between essential expenses like rent and utilities, and supports policies addressing affordable housing and homelessness.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports upzoning major travel corridors to focus growth along existing infrastructure and adding multimodal and transit options to ease neighborhood pressure.

Believes building new infrastructure triggers ongoing maintenance costs that strain budgets. Said, "Building new lines in new areas of the city creates more maintenance over time."

Believes building new infrastructure triggers ongoing maintenance costs that strain budgets, saying, "Building new lines in new areas of the city creates more maintenance over time."

Supports implementing a downtown shuttle for employees to reduce parking costs.

Supports establishing and connecting sufficient multi-modal paths to enable residents to travel without a vehicle.

Supports increasing public transit frequency and timeliness to boost ridership and reduce personal automobile use. Plans to grow grant access for transportation improvements.

Supports increasing public transit frequency and timeliness to boost ridership and reduce personal automobile use, and plans to grow grant access for transportation improvements.

Supports walkability, multiple transportation modalities, and reducing the need for automobiles.

Supports focusing transit strategies on increasing ridership, reliability, and frequency to encourage residents to use public transit instead of cars.

Believes the public works department is essential for maintaining city infrastructure but has been hindered by staffing shortages.

Supports focusing on partnerships and strategies to increase funding for transit.

Supports shuttles for quick transportation around downtown and adjacent business areas.

- Supports upzoning major travel corridors to focus growth along existing infrastructure and adding multimodal and transit options to ease neighborhood pressure.
- Believes building new infrastructure triggers ongoing maintenance costs that strain budgets, saying, "Building new lines in new areas of the city creates more maintenance over time."
- Supports implementing a downtown shuttle for employees to reduce parking costs.
- Supports establishing and connecting sufficient multi-modal paths to enable residents to travel without a vehicle.
- Supports increasing public transit frequency and timeliness to boost ridership and reduce personal automobile use, and plans to grow grant access for transportation improvements.
- Supports walkability, multiple transportation modalities, and reducing the need for automobiles.
- Supports focusing transit strategies on increasing ridership, reliability, and frequency to encourage residents to use public transit instead of cars.
- Believes the public works department is essential for maintaining city infrastructure but has been hindered by staffing shortages.
- Supports focusing on partnerships and strategies to increase funding for transit.
- Supports shuttles for quick transportation around downtown and adjacent business areas.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Sage Turner

As of July 10, 2024, Sage Turner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sage Turner has an extensive background in community service, actively participating on various boards and commissions. They are currently a member of the city council and are involved in committees that focus on policy and project development, long-term strategy, and citizen engagement. Specific details on the length of time in office, the exact appointments, or past electoral runs were not provided.

- Believes neighborhoods need more services and community engagement on issues like public safety and state-owned roads. Encourages joining neighborhood coalitions or the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods (CAN).
- Believes neighborhoods are organizing better and encourages residents to join and participate in their neighborhood coalitions and groups.
- Believes community work is essential and serves on various boards and commissions to influence policies and projects. Plans to continue this work to benefit the community.
- Believes community work is essential and values serving on boards and commissions to shape policies and projects. Plans to continue contributing to public services through active involvement in city committees.

The candidate's website says, "CLEAN & SAFE COMMUNITY AMID STAFFING SHORTAGES"

- Supports increasing police staffing through salary and benefit enhancements, sign-on and retention bonuses, and hiring experienced officers from other areas.
- Supports expanding the community paramedic program to address mental health and addiction crises, supplementing first responders and addressing staffing shortages.
- Believes policing as a career has faced significant changes and challenges due to the pandemic, social uprisings, and increased mental health needs. Said, "Asheville is no different and has seen a loss of officers that is still slowly recovering."
- The candidate's website says, "CLEAN & SAFE COMMUNITY AMID STAFFING SHORTAGES"

- Supports paying a minimum living wage of $20.10/hr for all city employees and contract workers.
- Believes in educating businesses about the need for living wages and pooling resources to reduce costs and support higher wages.
- Supports creating a Business Improvement District (BID) to fund downtown services through a new property tax.
- Believes creating economic mobility is crucial for city development. Said, "Many residents are paycheck to paycheck, caught in high rent cycles, moving further & further out."
- Supports tying incentive programs to paying living wages.
- Supports increasing wages to retain and hire staff and hiring outside contractors to improve staffing.
- Supports using tourism taxes for maintenance and infrastructure impacted by tourism, such as larger trashcans.
- Supports organizations that pay a living wage.
- Believes fiscally strong cities have a thriving downtown with a robust business community, diverse local options, and abundant entertainment, food, arts, and activities.
- Believes the City has struggled with staffing levels in key departments since the pandemic and that employment strategies must adapt and grow.

Believes that the quality and cost of housing are crucial to one's budget, health, and future wealth.

- Supports upzoning major corridors to allow "Missing Middle housing" like townhomes and ADUs to focus growth along existing infrastructure and protect neighborhoods.
- Supports drafting a new Affordable Housing Plan to include larger family households and workforce income ranges, addressing current subsidy exclusions.
- Believes Asheville's housing demand has surged, causing a 40% rent increase. Notes that public safety, infrastructure, and homelessness issues have intensified post-pandemic.
- Believes increasing the supply of voucher-accepting rental units is essential to address the underutilization of housing assistance vouchers.
- Believes building up can "reuse the same roads, sewers, water lines, power etc.," reduce maintenance costs, and preserve green space.
- Supports increasing housing diversity with options like duplexes, quadplexes, and townhouses to promote affordability and economic mobility.
- Believes housing requires a "multifaceted, all hands on deck approach" to address gentrification, housing loss, scarcity, and high rents. Supports intervention and creation of abundance where needed.
- Supports aligning local, regional, state, and federal funds and funding cycles to maximize affordability in housing developments.
- Believes that the quality and cost of housing are crucial to one's budget, health, and future wealth.
- Believes too many people face difficult choices between essential expenses like rent and utilities. Supports policies addressing affordable housing and homelessness.

- Supports upzoning major travel corridors to focus growth along existing infrastructure and adding multimodal and transit options to ease neighborhood pressure.
- Believes building new infrastructure triggers ongoing maintenance costs that strain budgets. Said, "Building new lines in new areas of the city creates more maintenance over time."
- Supports implementing a downtown shuttle for employees to reduce parking costs.
- Supports establishing and connecting sufficient multi-modal paths to enable residents to travel without a vehicle.
- Supports increasing public transit frequency and timeliness to boost ridership and reduce personal automobile use. Plans to grow grant access for transportation improvements.
- Supports walkability, multiple transportation modalities, and reducing the need for automobiles.
- Supports focusing transit strategies on increasing ridership, reliability, and frequency to encourage residents to use public transit instead of cars.
- Believes the public works department is essential for maintaining city infrastructure but has been hindered by staffing shortages.
- Supports focusing on partnerships and strategies to increase funding for transit.
- Supports shuttles for quick transportation around downtown and adjacent business areas.

- Supports upzoning major corridors to allow "Missing Middle housing" like townhomes and ADUs to focus growth along existing infrastructure and protect neighborhoods.
- Believes Asheville's housing demand has surged, causing a 40% rent increase. Notes that public safety, infrastructure, and homelessness issues have intensified post-pandemic.
- Believes increasing the supply of voucher-accepting rental units is essential to address the underutilization of housing assistance vouchers.
- Believes building up can "reuse the same roads, sewers, water lines, power etc.," reduce maintenance costs, and preserve green space.
- Supports increasing housing diversity with options like duplexes, quadplexes, and townhouses to promote affordability and economic mobility.
- Believes housing requires a "multifaceted, all hands on deck approach" to address gentrification, housing loss, scarcity, and high rents. Supports intervention and creation of abundance where needed.
- Supports aligning local, regional, state, and federal funds and funding cycles to maximize affordability in housing developments.
- Believes that the quality and cost of housing are crucial to one's budget, health, and future wealth.
- Believes too many people face difficult choices between essential expenses like rent and utilities. Supports policies addressing affordable housing and homelessness.

As of July 8, 2024, Sage Turner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 