Politics

VOTER GUIDE: Four candidates vie for two seats in Mills River

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 14, 2026

In Mills River, Jennie Case Sealey is challenging incumbent Sandra Goode for the District 1 seat while Katrina McGuire is running against Jerry Frady in the District 3 seat being vacated by Mayor Shanon Gonce. District 2 council member James Cantrell is running unopposed. The Mills River Town Council will elect a mayor from among the members in December.

Frady did not respond to the Lightning’s candidate survey.

Meet the candidates

My name is Sandra Goode. I’m 63 and married with two children and three grandchildren. I have been a Mills River resident for 63 years. I have been employed at Advent Health for 31 years and currently I am a surgery desk technician. I enjoy working around the house and spending time with my grandchildren.

I am Jennie Case Sealey. I’m 48, a yoga teacher and owner of Mills River Prana.

Why are you running for the Mills River Town Board?

Sealey: To implement the initial UDO.

Goode: I have served on the Mills River Town Council for the past five years 2020-current. I have been honored to serve the residents of the community. I feel it is good to have someone in the position that is not trying to drive an agenda but willing to get out talk and listen to the residents and truly represent them.

The town has tabled the Unified Development Ordinance while it does more research. Do you favor the UDO as it’s currently drafted? Why or why not?

Goode: The town has been working on a Unified Development Ordinance for a several years with a lot of residents input. We have had some bumps along the way but are still working on it.

Sealey: I support the UDO in both forms. However, the current UDO proposed doesn’t include the downzoning that is needed to maintain our current rural community. It is a half measure until we can work with the state Legislature to repeal the zoning restrictions under the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the town of Mills River moving ahead in the next 2-4 years and beyond.

Sealey: Overdevelopment and agricultural/farm loss. 

Goode: We need to find a solution for urban sprawl and keeping our rural character while respecting land owner’s rights.

What are your top priorities for the town should you be elected to serve?

Goode: My priorities are maintaining a low tax rate, supporting agriculture and keeping our rural community character intact. I want Mills River to always be the special place it is. I would appreciate your vote and support. 

Sealey: 1. Integrity. Mean what you say, say what you mean. 2. Protect our rural town from overdevelopment and protect our farms. 3. Balance tax base needs while maintaining low town taxes for residents.

DISTRICT 3

My name is Katrina McGuire. I am married to my husband, Joel, and together we have three grown children—two daughters and a son—along with a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and one granddaughter, who is an absolute joy in my life. I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from William Tyndale College and a certification in Trauma and Resilience from Florida State University. For the past three years, I have served as the executive director of the Hendersonville Family YMCA. Prior to joining the Y, I was the executive director of the Literacy Connection in Hendersonville.

Why are you running for the Mills River Town Board?

McGuire: I love the rural character of Mills River, and I want to help preserve what makes this community special while thoughtfully planning for its future. Growth and change will come, but how we manage them matters. I believe we can respect our agricultural heritage and rural landscape while supporting responsible growth, local businesses, and opportunities that benefit the people who live here. I bring a perspective that is simply that of a resident who cares deeply about this community. I do not own a business here, I am not a farmer, and I am not a generational landowner. But I value each of those voices and recognize how important they are to Mills River.

The town has tabled the Unified Development Ordinance while it does more research. Do you favor the UDO as it’s currently drafted? Why or why not?

McGuire: First and foremost, Mills River must comply with North Carolina law. The changes required by the state’s downzoning statute have significantly affected the UDO that was originally developed and adopted. I agree that the Town must make the changes necessary to comply with state law. At the same time, I believe those changes deserve careful review so we fully understand what they mean for Mills River and whether the revised document still reflects the goals and values of our community. Agriculture is part of the identity of Mills River, and I want policies that protect our agricultural heritage and allow our farmers to flourish. I also believe in zoning that provides some predictability about where and how development occurs.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the town of Mills River moving ahead in the next 2-4 years and beyond.

McGuire: The question I keep coming back to is: What does Mills River want to be? We should be intentional about answering that question rather than allowing growth to answer it for us. We need reasonable guardrails that protect the rural character, agricultural heritage, open spaces, and quality of life that generations of residents have worked to build. At the same time, we need to recognize that new residents are choosing Mills River for many of those very same reasons. They are putting down roots, raising families, starting businesses, and becoming part of our community. I don’t see those interests as being in conflict. Our challenge is to bring them together.

What are your top priorities for the town should you be elected to serve?

McGuire: First, I want to make sure our land-use policies and zoning give us the best tools available under state law to manage development responsibly. Second, I want agriculture to remain a viable part of Mills River—not simply something we celebrate as part of our history. Third, I believe we need to be fiscally responsible and plan ahead for the infrastructure and services that come with growth. As our population increases, we need to ask whether our roads, public safety, parks, and other services can keep pace and what investments make sense for the residents who are paying for them. Finally, I want to strengthen communication between the Town and its residents.