News

VOTER GUIDE: Henderson County Board of Commissioners

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 18, 2026

Voters will choose Republican nominees for two Henderson County Board of Commissioners seats and two state House seats in the March 3 primary election. Early voting is currently under way. No Democrats filed for a seat on the Board of Commissioners, meaning winners of the March 3 primary election will win the seat, barring an unprecedented write-in campaign. No candidate from either party filed to oppose Commissioner Michael Edney, who is expected to begin a seventh term on the board in December.

Here are the Lightning candidate surveys in the contested primaries for the District 3 and District 4 seats on the Board of Commissioners:

Board of Commissioners District 3

Two candidates have filed for the Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat that incumbent Bill Lapsley will vacate upon his retirement in December. Although candidates must live in the district, all commissioners are elected at large in a countywide vote.

Rudd Orr, 29, lives in the Mountain Home community with his wife, Margaret, and two sons, Whit, 2, and Wilson, 3 months. A Clemson University graduate with a degree in agriculture, Orr is a licensed general contractor, real estate broker and volunteer firefighter. He also serves on the county’s Fire & Rescue Advisory Committee. Coming from a family with deep roots in Henderson County, Orr has a great-great-grandfather who served as a county commissioner in the early 1900s. “Henderson County is, and always will be, my home,” he says.

Steve Wyatt, 66, has more than four decades of local government experience. When he announced his retirement as Henderson County manager in March 2021, he noted that during his tenure, there have been four different Henderson County schools superintendents, four sheriffs and three Blue Ridge Community College presidents. A graduate of Appalachian State University, Wyatt was a founding member and past president of ASU Local Government Alumni Association. He earned Appalachian’s Distinguished Alumni Award and served as the University Board of Visitors chairman. He currently serves as a senior adviser to North Carolina local governments.

Why are you running for the Henderson County Board of Commissioners?

Orr: I am running because Henderson County is at a turning point. Growth is coming, but how we manage it will determine whether we protect our farmland, quality of life, and community character. I bring a private-sector mindset, hands-on experience with land use and construction, and a strong belief that local government should serve the people first. I want to help ensure we have responsible growth that protects what makes this county special for future generations.

Wyatt: I am offering my service to the citizen-taxpayers of our community as your District 3 Commissioner in order to preserve, protect and improve our quality of life. My vast experience , knowledge and expertise gained through years of working with citizens and elected officials at all levels of local, state and federal government uniquely qualifies me to be your voice and your vote as we face the challenges, obstacles and opportunities of today and tomorrow. My qualifications and accomplishments are a matter of vetted public record. I am ready on day one to make a difference for all of us. 

The city of Hendersonville and Henderson County have been in conflict for decades on the issue of water and sewer extensions, growth regulation on the city’s borders (where land is annexed in order to receive city sewer service). What would you do as a county commissioner to resolve the dispute? 

Wyatt: Three parties are involved with the issues of utilities, growth regulation and annexation. The County, the City and the General Assembly. I am the candidate that has the long-term working relationships based on mutual interests, and mutual respect as well as the technical expertise to bring these parties together, facilitate and craft an agreement that serves the best interests of all three entities. It will be a process not unlike many others I have guided where difficult issues are overcome. The Hendersonville High School renovation and construction as well as the Health Sciences Center at Pardee are two recent, tangible examples. 

Orr: As a county commissioner, I would work toward cooperation instead of confrontation. Long-standing disputes only create uncertainty for residents and landowners. We need clearer agreements that respect municipal boundaries, protect rural areas from unintended density, and align infrastructure expansion with realistic growth plans. Open communication, shared data, and mutually agreed-upon long-term planning are essential to reduce conflict and give citizens predictability.

When it comes to land-use planning, how would you describe your position on higher density residential applications? 

Orr: I am cautious about higher-density residential development, especially in rural and agricultural areas. Density must match available infrastructure, road capacity, schools and emergency services. High-density projects should be carefully placed, not scattered, and should not come at the expense of farmland or established communities. Growth decisions should be deliberate, not reactive, and focused on protecting the county’s long-term character.

Wyatt: Location specific. Smart growth dictates that high density residential development be directed where infrastructure capacity, in excess, already exists, generally that means within corporate limits. I do not expanding that footprint and creating sprawl. My guiding philosophy is “first, do no harm.” While we as a community cannot turn back the clock, we can certainly make decisions that do not add fuel to the fire. Managing the growth of our community with foresight and perhaps a degree of healthy skepticism will go a long way in preserving and promoting our quality of life. 

Now that Berkeley Park Recreation Complex is close to completion, commissioners are starting to look at an aquatics center. Would you favor that? 

Wyatt: I have had numerous conversations with the advocates of a multipurpose aquatics center and am committed to supporting a comprehensive feasibility study, economic impact assessment and the development of a realistic business plan. There are a hundred questions that must be answered and this process will provide those answers. Scope and subsequent cost. Location. User profiles. Marketing and revenue potential. Financing options such as revenue bonds. Operational responsibility. Partnership opportunities. It must be a community effort, conducted with transparency and the highest level of due diligence.

Orr: I believe major capital projects must be evaluated carefully and in the proper order. While recreation amenities are important, we must first ensure we are meeting core needs such as schools, public safety and infrastructure. Any aquatics center proposal should be driven by clear public demand, realistic cost projections and long-term operating sustainability before moving forward.

What specifically would be your highest priorities as a county commissioner? 

Orr: My highest priorities would be managing growth responsibly, protecting farmland and rural communities, supporting all public safety, county fire departments, EMS, Rescue Squad and sheriff’s department, investing in infrastructure that keeps pace with development, and maintaining fiscal responsibility. I believe it is time for a fresh perspective, and if we are going to focus on the future of Henderson County, it’s time we give the future a seat at the table. I believe in listening to citizens, asking hard questions and making decisions that balance today’s needs with long-term stewardship of our community.

Wyatt: Throughout my 40-plus years of public service, the ability to bring decision-makers together to make the best possible decisions to solve difficult problems, to overcome daunting obstacles and realize success for our citizens have driven me to serve. Pardee Hospital, one of our greatest community assets, must continue to thrive under the partnership with UNC Health that I initiated as county manager. Finally, the most vulnerable among us — the young and the aged, the abused and the addicted — must be afforded the care and compassion that lifts them up to the realization that our community truly cares and is with them in their time of need. 

Board of Commissioners District 4

Bat Cave resident Tom Appleby is running in the Republican primary against incumbent Commissioner Rebecca McCall, who is seeking a third term on the board.

Appleby did not respond to the Lightning’s questions in the candidate survey. Instead he submitted this statement:

“As a county commissioner, I am committed to helping farmers and citizens. I intend to re-evaluate all new projects, as I have not been happy with the direction of the last four years. I am an outdoor enthusiast who loves to ski, race and hike. I hold a four-year degree in business and economics, and I have spent my life working hard with my work boots on. After the hurricane, Bat Cave relied heavily on volunteers. If elected, I hope to change that by securing more county assistance. I love this county and want to make it better while protecting its charm, wildlife and streams. I once sued to remove paid parking kiosks from the downtown Main Street shopping district because I believe the people own the right-of-way, not mayors. Also, I’m a licensed ginseng dealer.” Appleby is married to Fran Purdey, who he says “saved my life by getting me cancer doctors at Sloan Kettering — now in remission!”

Rebecca McCall, 69, a retired lighting engineer/product manager with GE Lighting Systems and Hubbell Lighting, has served two-year terms as vice chair and as chair of the board of commissioners. In her announcement for re-election last August, she pointed to capital projects the county had completed during her service including the new Edneyville Elementary School, renovation/new construction of Hendersonville High School, new EMS facility in Fletcher, renovation of the VFW building, renovation and construction of a new Patton Building at BRCC, expansion of the solid waste transfer station, completion of the first six miles of the Ecusta Trail and multiple upgrades to existing schools and county facilities. “All of these projects have been accomplished without increasing the property tax rate,” she said. “In fact, following the state required revaluation of property (in 2023), the local tax rate was lowered by 13 cents.” Among the achievements she’s most proud of, she says, are creation of the Pathfinder mentoring program in middle and high schools and the founding of the county’s Farmland Preservation Program.

McCall and her husband, Ernest W. McCall Sr., have three children, Ernest “Bud” McCall Jr., Erik McCall and Katie Lamb, and seven grandchildren, ages 2 through 18.

Why are you running for the Henderson County Board of Commissioners?

McCall: As the incumbent serving my eighth year in office, I wish to continue the work I am presently involved with and see to fruition projects that have started and those yet to start. My 25 years working for major corporations provided me the training to help these projects run smoothly and efficiently, thus saving money for the taxpayers. I am also involved in the new Farmland Preservation program, which I helped initiate, and have a desire to see it continue to grow. If elected, this will be my final term in office. Giving back to Henderson County is my primary goal.

The city of Hendersonville and Henderson County have been in conflict for decades on the issue of water and sewer extensions, growth regulation on the city’s borders (where land is annexed in order to receive city sewer service). What would you do as a county commissioner to resolve the dispute?

McCall: The main issue is the city offers “voluntary annexation” to developers in exchange for sewer. The county has no vote in the matter. This has resulted in spot annexation and city limits extending beyond I-26, close to farmland. It is vitally important to keep the high-density developments away from our farming communities as it not only inhibits the daily work but affects the quality of the farming environment. I would reopen our negotiations to develop a Joint Water-Sewer commission which would allow the county “a seat at the table” when these development issues arise.

When it comes to land-use planning, how would you describe your position on higher density residential applications?

McCall: I believe most people agree that there is a need for high-density developments. However, they belong in urban environments, and not in rural areas. I also believe that we have reached a peak for high density in this county. There are 1,500 new apartments, along with a multitude of single-family homes and townhomes, which have (or are being) constructed. It will be interesting to see if these new units will affect the market level of houses in our area, due to “supply and demand.” Rural county areas need to remain R2R zoning (one house per acre).

Now that Berkeley Mills Recreation Complex is close to completion, commissioners are starting to look at an aquatics center. Would you favor that?

McCall: I am a huge advocate for providing recreation opportunities for our citizens to encourage healthy lifestyles. I was a proponent of the Ecusta Trail and of providing new multi-purpose sports fields which resulted in Berkeley Park.  While my desire was to have a larger complex, the Berkley land was already available at no additional cost. We have begun the process of researching possible grant opportunities as well as locations where an Aquatic Center could be located. It would provide recreation and be a training ground for the Rescue Squad as well as a place to teach all children to swim.

What specifically would be your highest priorities as a county commissioner?

McCall: First and foremost is to provide safety and security for our citizens by continuing to support our Sheriff, EMS and Rescue Squad. As part of the safety factor, we need to complete the enclosure of the East Henderson High School campus. As we are now a Tier 2 county (based on economy factors), the opportunity is open for grants to help with this project. It is also imperative that we expand the Farmland Preservation program to help ensure that Henderson County remains a farming community for many years to come. Along with that, I hope to start an Agricultural Apprenticeship program through BRCC.

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