Politics

Filing makes Hensley-Smith race official for mayor

By AMY B. MCCRAW and BILL MOSS, Published: December 1, 2025

Hendersonville Mayor pro tem Jennifer Hensley made it official, filing for mayor to formalize a run she announced in July, Gina Baxter filed to run for re-election, Rudd Orr of Mills River filed for the open District 3 seat on the Henderson County Board of Commissioners and Jennifer Capps Balkcom signed up to run for a third term in the state House on Friday as the first week of qualifying closed for the 2026 elections.

Balkcom touted her sponsorship of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, support for criminal justice and safety reforms and work to secure $37 million in state appropriations for Henderson County.

“I am honored to serve the people of Henderson County,” she said in a news release. “We have worked hard to deliver legislation that strengthens public safety, protects children, and reflects the values of this community. The significant funding secured for Henderson County will help us grow responsibly, improve infrastructure, and support the services our residents depend on. I am running for re-election to continue this work, to defend our values, and to keep our community a safe, strong and exceptional place to live and work.”

On Wednesday, Sheriff Lowell Griffin filed to run for a third term and Andrew Murray signed up to run for a second term as district attorney, ensuring a slate of four Republican incumbents on the ballot for Henderson County's constitutional offices. Clerk of Superior Court J. Tyler Ray and Register of Deeds Lee King filed for re-election on opening day of qualifying. Appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper in May 2021, Murray won election in 2022 as the chief prosecutor for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties. 

A native and lifelong resident of Henderson County who started his public service as a teen-age volunteer firefighter at Edneyville Fire Department, Griffin, 59, defeated incumbent sheriff Charlie McDonald in the Republican primary in 2018, then cruised to re-election without opposition in 2022.

Also on Wednesday, Preston Blakely said he plans to run for a second term as Fletcher mayor.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve Fletcher as mayor," he said. “We have accomplished much, and I am proud of our council, staff and community. We have supported our parks and infrastructure, worked to recover after Hurricane Helene and so much more! I am grateful to work with a cohesive, diligent council and staff.”

On Tuesday, Henderson County Commissioner Michael Edney signed up to run for a seventh term. Edney, who served two terms from 1988 to 1996, was elected to the Board of Commissioners again in 2010 and has won re-election three times since then. So far, no one else has filed to run for the District 1 seat. Incumbent commissioner Rebecca McCall, who has announced for re-election, has drawn a challenger in the Republican primary, Tom Appleby of Bat Cave.

Dr. Christopher Lamar Wilson, a Republican, filed for the state House District 117 seat; a Democrat, Lynne Russo of Hendersonville, has also filed for the seat Balkcom holds. State Sen. Tim Moffitt filed for re-election to a third term in the senior chamber of the General Assembly. A Democratic challenger, Doyle Brown, has not yet filed but has announced a campaign kickoff event for the seat on Saturday afternoon at Dry Falls Brewery.

EARLIER COVERAGE

Hot coffee, Christmas cookies and peppermint candy greeted candidates at Henderson County’s Board of Elections on Monday as the first day of filing for local, state and federal elections opened.

But most candidates, eager to officially begin their runs for elected office, bypassed the refreshment table on their way in the door.
Former Henderson County Manager Steve Wyatt was first in line to sign up shortly after the filing period opened at noon.
“My team decided this was the best thing to do,” Wyatt said of his decision to arrive as early as possible.
Several supporters, including former Henderson County commissioners Grady Hawkins and Tommy Thompson, came to the office with Wyatt, who is running for a seat on the board now held by retiring Commission Chair Bill Lapsley.
Wyatt said he was taken aback by all the encouragement and support he has received from the community including current and former elected officials.
“It’s overwhelming to think about,” he said. “I’m honored to have their support.”
Mills River Mayor Shanon Gonce and homebuilder Rudd Orr of Mills River have also announced their candidacies for the seat.
Other candidates who came to the board of elections when the filing period opened on Monday included former Hendersonville City Council member and teacher Jerry Smith, who filed to run for mayor. Mayor Barbara Volk is not seeking reelection this year.
Smith said Monday was the beginning of his campaign.
“I really like serving the city of Hendersonville,” he said. “I still have the desire to do it, and I’d like to do it as mayor.”

Incumbent Register of Deeds Lee King also filed on Monday to run for a fourth term.
King said he wants to continue the work he started putting official county records online. He said he also wants to get the office ready for the upcoming expansion of the courthouse.
Candidates for the three open seats on the Flat Rock Village Council also lined up Monday to file for election.
Incumbent Barbara Jeter and newcomers Roger Bass and John Gerni all said they wanted the chance to serve or continue serving the village. Bass will begin serving on the council this month after council members appointed him to serve the unexpired term of Susan Gregory, who resigned.
John Brandon Olsen also joined the line of candidates on Monday. Olsen filed to run for Fletcher Town Council’s District 1 seat.
Olsen ran unsuccessfully for the town council in 2021. He said he hopes to win a seat on the council this year to ensure that the town’s policies serve the people who live in Fletcher.

U.S. Rep Chuck Edwards also filed on Monday to run for reelection to North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
In a news release, Edwards touted the work he has done to help the mountains recover from Hurricane Helene, strengthen the economy, support law enforcement, secure the border, protect parental rights and defend rural communities.
“Serving Western North Carolina in the United States House of Representatives has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” he said. “I filed for reelection today because the people of NC-11 deserve a representative who understands our values, defends our freedoms and stands up to Washington overreach. That’s what I’ve done, and that’s what I will continue to do.”

Filing opened at noon Monday for seats ranging from town councils to the U.S. Senate. Qualifying closes at noon Friday, Dec. 19. The primary is  March 3. The general election is Nov. 3.

Although there’s no presidential or gubernatorial election on the ballot, there's lots of other races. Voters will choose three county commissioners, three school board members, the sheriff and three other constitutional officers — clerk of superior court, register of deeds and district attorney — judges at the district and state level and the 11th Congressional District representative and will decide who fills the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Thom Tillis.

Here’s a roundup, with incumbents listed:

Henderson County Board of Commissioners

A lively Republican primary is possible for the District 3 seat, which became open when incumbent Lapsley announced that he would not seek re-election. Steve Wyatt, who served as Henderson County manager from 2006 until 2021, Mills River Mayor Shanon Gonce and homebuilder Rudd Orr of Mills River, who filed on Friday, have all announced their candidacies for the seat. Also up for election are Rebecca McCall, who announced her intention to seek re-election in August, and Michael Edney, who filed for re-election on Tuesday. 

On the Henderson County School Board, seats up for election in 2026 are currently held by Blair Craven (appointed in 2024 to fill the seat made vacant by Jay Egolf’s election to Board of Commissioners), Shelia Dale and Alyssa Norman.

Constitutional offices

Two-term incumbent Sheriff Lowell Griffin has announced his re-election campaign. Other offices on the ballot:

• Clerk of Superior Court, J. Tyler Ray, filed.
• Register of Deeds, Lee King, filed.
• District Attorney (Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties), Andrew Murray.
• Diastrict Court Judge, seat 5, Abe Hudson, filed.

Municipal elections

• Hendersonville: mayor, Barbara Volk (not seeking re-election). Mayor pro tem Jennifer Hensley and former council member Jerry Smith have filed; two council seats, Gina Baxter, who filed Friday; Melinda Lowrance.
• Flat Rock: District 1, Matthew Toner III, John Gerni filed; District 2, Susan Gregory, Roger Bass, filed; District 3, Barbara Jeter, filed.

   

• Fletcher: mayor, Preston Blakely; District 1, Amber McKinney and John Brandon, Olsen filed; District 4, Trevor Lance.
• Laurel Park: two seats, Debra Bridges, filed; Mark Morse, filed.
• Mills River: mayor, District 3 (town council elects mayor), Shanon Gonce; District 1, Sandra Goode, filed; District 2, James Cantrell, filed; District 3, Katrina McGuire, Jerry Frady
• Saluda: mayor, Tangie Morgan; two seats, Paul Marion, Mark Oxtoby.

School Board

Incumbents are Blair Craven (unaffiliated), who was appointed to fill the seat made vacant by Jay Egolf's election to the board of commissioners; Shelia Dale, R, and Alyssa Norman, R. On Friday, challenger Randy Beaver, a Republican, became the first to file for School Board.

N.C. Legislature

• House District 113: Jake Johnson
• House District 117: Jennifer Balkcom, R, filed; Lynne Russo, D, filed; Dr. Christopher Lamar Wilson, R, filed.
• Senate District 48: Tim Moffitt, filed.
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• Statewide, besides the U.S. Senate race, are elections for a Supreme Court seat and three Court of Appeals seats.