Politics

Mills River Town Council elects Davis as mayor

Chae Davis, with husband Jason Davis, takes the oath to serve on the Mills River Town Council.

By Bill Moss, Published: December 15, 2017

MILLS RIVER — The Mills River Town Council elected Chae Davis as mayor on Thursday night, making her the second female mayor in Henderson County. The town of Mills River under its charter elects the mayor from among the five council members.

Davis was one of three new members to win election in the November election, defeating two other candidates to win the seat  incumbent Shanon Gonce vacated after three terms. Davis, vice president and general manager of Shuler Forest Lawn Funeral Service, presided at the regular meeting of the Town Council, which held its organizational meeting after she and new members Richmond Meadows and Brian Caskey. 

District Court Judge Athena Brooks swore the members in.

Meadows defeated incumbent Billy Johnston and Caskey defeated Larry Freeman, who had served as mayor since December 2013. The council honored Johnston and Gonce with plaques thanking them for their service; Freeman did not attend the meeting.