Politics

VOTER GUIDE: Hensley, Smith vie to succeed Volk

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 15, 2026

When the Hendersonville City Council gavels its meeting to order on Dec. 3, it will mark the first session in 37 years that does not include Barbara Volk.

Mayor for the past 17 years, Volk decided to retire rather than stand for re-election to a fifth term as the city’s elected leader.

Mayor pro tem Jennifer Hensley and former council member Jerry Smith Jr. are running to succeed her.

Meet the candidates

My name is Jennifer Hensley. I am 47 years old. My husband, Kevin, and I have two children, Shelby and Enzo. I studied biochemistry as an undergraduate and went on to Palmer College in Iowa to earn my Doctor of Chiropractic degree. I am the owner of Well Adjusted Chiropractic and Wellness Center. Outside of my practice and public service, I enjoy cooking and skiing with my family. Much of my time is spent cheering on my children in their various athletic activities, volunteering in our community and enjoying all that Hendersonville and Western North Carolina have to offer, including beautiful hiking trails and greenways, amazing restaurants and locally owned small businesses.

Jerry Smith Jr., 58, and his wife, Dr. Anne Smith, have three children: Martha Westphal, married to Scout Westphal; Miriam Smith and JT Smith. He has a B.A. in sociology from UNC at Chapel Hill, a masters in education from George Mason University and a law degree from North Carolina Central University. He is a retired National Board-certified, 26-year public high school teacher and coach, having taught 23 years at Hendersonville High School and one year at East Henderson High School. He practices law with the Derek Jones Law Office, plays saxophone, speaks intermediate Spanish and travels to fun places with his family.

Why are you running for the Hendersonville City Council?

Smith: Serving on the Hendersonville City Council is rewarding. The most fulfilling part of serving for 14 years on Council has been being able to help residents and businesses when they need assistance with a problem. I like working with the public, listening to their stories and empathizing with their needs. Serving as Mayor and having regular office hours in City Hall will give me the opportunity to meet with even more residents and local businesses to learn about the challenges they are facing and then come up with ways the City can provide help.

Hensley: I am running for mayor because I love Hendersonville and believe experience and commitment matter as we make decisions about its future. I have served this community for more than 20 years in a variety of roles. For the past six years, I have served on Hendersonville City Council, including the last two years as mayor pro tem. During that time, I have worked with residents, city staff, and regional partners on public safety, parks, transportation, and the essential services that families and businesses rely on every day. I want Hendersonville to remain a safe, welcoming place where people can build a life.

County commissioners often criticize the city for permitting high-density apartment complexes on the city’s borders. This generally requires the developer to agree to annexation. Do you agree with this city policy? Why or why not?

Hensley: I understand the county’s concerns about growth along the city’s borders. I also understand why the city wants a say when it extends sewer service and assumes the responsibilities that come with new development. However, annexation should not be treated as an automatic answer to every request for service, and access to sewer should not mean automatic approval of a high-density project. I helped work toward the city-county agreement on water, sewer and land use because these decisions affect the same residents, roads, and landscape regardless of which side of a boundary they fall on.

Smith: The City makes up 2% of Henderson County acreage. Most areas of the City are already developed and not suitable for high density apartment complexes. It makes sense to add density where it is appropriate. These complexes must be built in areas that are able to handle their infrastructure needs, which have been along the borders of the City. The City requires most sewer customers to be within the City’s borders in order to maintain financial stability and cover important services to these areas. I support this current policy. I am also open to creative alternatives that don’t require annexation. 

What is your position on city Flock cameras?

Smith: Most residents with whom I have spoken do not have a concern with HPD using this technology, as ALPRs have been one of the most successful tools in solving crimes in the last several decades. Residents do have grave concerns with other entities using the information obtained, particularly portions of the federal government and AI systems. My understanding is that our system allows HPD to limit and prevent all other entities from viewing our images. Before we remove our system, I recommend we close our system to all other agencies and determine if this will provide needed privacy protections. 

Hensley: Residents’ privacy concerns deserve a direct answer. The police department has demonstrated how license plate readers can help locate missing people and investigate serious crimes. That public safety value matters to me. So does the public’s right to know who can search the data, why they can search it, how long the information is retained, and whether it is shared. My position is to continue using the cameras only with clear limits and meaningful oversight. I support regular public reporting, independent review of access and searches, strict limits on data sharing and retention, and a public City Council review before the contract is renewed. Our policy should be transparent.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the city moving ahead in the next 2–4 years and beyond?

Hensley: Our biggest challenge is managing growth while keeping Hendersonville safe, affordable, and recognizably the community we love. New homes and jobs bring opportunity, but they also place additional demands on roads, water and sewer systems, public safety, and city finances. Over the next several years, I want us to remain focused on the basics: reliable infrastructure, well-equipped first responders, responsible budgeting, and closer coordination with the county and state on transportation and land use. We should make room for families and workers while protecting neighborhoods, natural areas, and the character that makes people want to live here. That requires thoughtful planning, honest conversations about tradeoffs, and a willingness to listen.

Smith: Helping residents create and maintain connections with each other, their local institutions, their favorite amenities and their city is vital to keeping Hendersonville a hometown. Many residents move here or stay here because they want this feeling. As businesses, infrastructure and housing evolve to meet our needs, city government must remain stable, approachable, and affordable to maintain our hometown. In a fragmented world, residents and businesses are counting on the city of Hendersonville to remain a unifying presence in our community. Celebrating our hometown culture while managing compatible growth for families and seniors has always been my priority.