News

Jerry Smith announces campaign for mayor

Jerry Smith Jr. announced on Monday that he is running for mayor of Hendersonville.

By Bill Moss, Published: August 19, 2025

Jerry Smith Jr., who served on the Hendersonville City Council from 2009 to 2023, announced his candidacy for mayor of the city on Monday.

Speaking behind a lectern in front of Black Bear Coffee Co. on Main Street, Smith recalled how he decided in 2009 “to take my love for Hendersonville to a new level. I ran for city council with the slogan of ‘active, dedicated and ready.’”

Smith and his wife, Dr. Anne Smith, a pediatrician, moved to Hendersonville in 2000. An attorney, Smith left the profession to take a job teaching social studies at Hendersonville High School. He’s now practicing law again with attorney Derek Jones. He earned an undergraduate degree from UNC at Chapel Hill, a law degree from N.C. Central University and a master’s degree in education  from George Mason University.

“We must celebrate our hometown culture while managing compatible growth,” he told the gathering of around 55 friends and family members, including his parents and three children, Miriam, Martha and J.T. “We either moved here or we stayed here because the culture and lifestyle of Hendersonville is the way we want to live our life. Whether it is the pace of living, the close connection to the people in our community, the presence of the mountains or the sustainability of our jobs, Hendersonville is special to all of us.”

He pointed to the new police station on Ashe Street and the new Fire Station 1 at Five Points as examples of smart investments in public safety.

“We will keep Hendersonville thriving by providing these high quality municipal services,” he said.

Smith joins a current council member, Jennifer Hensley, in declaring for the seat, which Mayor Barbara Volk plans to vacate when her fourth term expires in December 2026. Filing for the seat is Dec. 1-19. Because the city election is nonpartisan, there is no primary.

Here is Smith’s take on other topics:

• Economic development: “We need diversified industry and business investment to provide jobs for residents of all skill levels,” he said. “As your mayor, I will continue to work with our economic partners to seek out businesses that are a good fit for Hendersonville and keep Hendersonville thriving.
• Growth management: “I will decide development and zoning requests on a case-by-case basis, balancing the need for adequate housing and the guidelines of our comprehensive plan with the need to keep Hendersonville culture and neighborhoods thriving.” In an interview after his announcement, the Lightning asked Smith his position on the pending rezoning request to allow 180 rental units on Haywood Road near Blythe Street. “I'm against it,” he said. “I told them, just do what the zoning allows. There won't even be a meeting.”
• Utilities: “We have one of the best water and sewer systems with regard to quality and price in North Carolina,” he said. “This has come about through decades of investment and strategic planning on the part of the city council, and that planning must continue over time. We also have police and fire departments that are staffed and trained for levels of service to meet the demands of a population that is estimated to triple every workday and school day here in the city of Hendersonville.”
• Recreation: “Finding a way to connect the Ecusta Trail with the Oklawaha (Greenway), along with creating more parking options, should be priorities of the city.” He wants the city to act on an updated parks master plan and he has a proposal to fund it. “I will advocate that council create a parks bond issue that you, the voters of Hendersonville, can vote on and fund these various parks projects,” he said.