Living Portrait: Asheville City Councilman Keith Young

Keith Young is originally from Asheville and grew up in the east end of the city. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia State University and completed executive education in implementing public policy at Harvard Kennedy School before returning to Asheville. 

Keith is a community organizer. He previously worked at HoodTalk and other neighborhood and civic organizations. 

LinkedIn

Keith previously worked as a deputy clerk of Superior Court for the State of North Carolina and founded the Young Foundation for Social Justice and the Arts and the Government Accountability Project Asheville. He also co-founded the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville.

Keith is currently a member of the Asheville City Council. He was first elected in 2015. He previously ran for Buncombe County Commissioner in 2012 and 2014 but did not win.

Keith previously served as a city council member for the City of Asheville. He served five years from 2015 to 2020. Keith is currently running for Asheville City Council.

Critiques Asheville's tourism-driven economy for not securing diverse talent and living wage jobs, advocating for a more diversified workforce.

Supports workforce and economic opportunity through living wages and fair employment practices.

- Critiques Asheville's tourism-driven economy for not securing diverse talent and living wage jobs, advocating for a more diversified workforce.
- Supports workforce and economic opportunity through living wages and fair employment practices.

Economy

Candidate website

Supports basic infrastructure needs and parks and recreation improvements, particularly for the Wesley Grant project in a traditional African-American community.

Supports accountable and effective city government focused on implementation and results

- Supports accountable and effective city government focused on implementation and results

Public Services

Believes the South Charlotte Street project can enhance economic and cultural diversity in downtown, promote homeownership, and prevent gentrification.

Supports practical, data-driven housing policies to address affordability

For Candidate Keith Young on Issue Housing & Urban Development: Acknowledges the challenges of gentrification in Asheville and emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts to address the issue, while recognizing that it is not solely the city's responsibility.

Acknowledges the challenges of gentrification in Asheville and emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts to address the issue, while recognizing that it is not solely the city's responsibility.

- Supports practical, data-driven housing policies to address affordability
- Acknowledges the challenges of gentrification in Asheville and emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts to address the issue, while recognizing that it is not solely the city's responsibility.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports improving emergency communication systems to protect residents during crises

- Supports improving emergency communication systems to protect residents during crises

Public Safety

Supports coordinated, long-term infrastructure planning for roads, sidewalks, water, and storm systems

Supports infrastructure investments that reduce long-term maintenance risks and improve safety

- Supports coordinated, long-term infrastructure planning for roads, sidewalks, water, and storm systems
- Supports infrastructure investments that reduce long-term maintenance risks and improve safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports integrating equity and civil rights protections into city systems

- Supports integrating equity and civil rights protections into city systems

Energy & the Environment

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Keith Young

Keith previously worked as a Deputy Clerk of Superior Court for the State of North Carolina and founded the Young Foundation for Social Justice and the Arts and the Government Accountability Project Asheville. He also co-founded the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville.

Keith previously served as a City Council Member for the City of Asheville. He served five years from 2015 to 2020. Keith is currently running for Asheville City Council.

As of January 2, 2026, Keith Young’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. 