Politics

New City Council is seated, makes board appointments

New council members Lyndsey Simpson (left) and Jennifer Hensley joined Mayor Barbara Volk to give the City Council a female majority.

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 6, 2019

A new Hendersonville City Council launched a new era in city government on Thursday night with the swearing in of new members Jennifer Hensley and Lyndsey Simpson, two young moms and business owners whose election flipped the council to a female majority for the first time since 2001.

State Rep. Chuck McGrady administered the oath for Hensley. Mayor Barbara Volk administered the oath for Simpson.

"It looks a lot different from up here," Simpson said as she took her seat on the council dais. Simpson and Hensley replaced mayor pro tem Ron Stephens, who retired, and council member Steve Caraker, and lost his re-election bid. The new members' first vote came at 7:44 p.m., when they joined colleagues in unanimously appointing Jerry Smith mayor pro tem.

As part of its biennial organizational meeting, the council also filled seats on committees and advisory boards. Appoints were"

• Downtown Advisory Committee: Simpson
• Firemen’s Relief Fund: Smith, Hensley
• Transportation Advisory Committee, French Broad MPO: Hensley
• Public School Facility Committee: Smith, Miller.
• Seventh Avenue Advisory Committee: Simpson
• Land of Sky Board of Delegates: Volk; Simpson (alternative)
• Local Government Committee for Cooperative Action: Volk, Smith.
• Mills River Partnership: Miller.
• Water and Sewer Advisory Council: Miller.
• Business Advisory Council: Hensley.