From Staffb Reports

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — A number of early birds filed on the first day available — Dec. 1 — in the Henderson County’s Board of Elections. 

First in line was former Henderson County Manager Steve Wyatt, who is running for a seat on the Henderson County Board of Commissioners held by the retiring commissioners’ Chair William “Bill” Lapsley.

Among those escorting Wyatt were former Henderson commissioners Grady Hawkins and Tommy Thompson.

The Hendersonville Lightning noted that “Wyatt said he was taken aback by all the encouragement and support he has received from the community, including current and former elected officials.”

The newspaper then quoted Wyatt as saying, “It’s overwhelming to think about. I’m honored to have their suport.”

Also, Rudd Orr of Mills River filed for the District 3 comissioners seat. 

Besides Lapsley’s commissioners’ District 3 seat vacancy, Commissioner Rebecca McCall has announced her intention to seek re-election, and commissioners’ Vice Chair Michael Edney, whose seat is open, has not publicly announced his plans.

Statewide, GOP incumbent state congress members Jennifer Balkcom and Jake Johnson filed for re-election. In addition, Lynne Russo, a Democrat from Horse Shoe, filed to run against Balkcom.

Among the other Dec. 1 early birds were Jerry Smith, who filed to run for Hendersonville mayor. Smith, now an attorney, is a former Hendersonville City Councilman, former high school teacher. (Current city Mayor Barbara Volk has announced that she is not seeking re-election next year.)

Smith told the Hendersonville Lightning, “I really like serving the City of Hendersonville. I still have the desire to do it — and I’d like to do it as mayor.”

Also filing was Mayor pro tem Jennifer Hensley, who, on July 9, was the first to candidate to announce an intent to run for Hendersonville’s mayoralty.

Early birds filing for Hendersonville City Council seats were were incumbents Gina Baxter and Melinda Lowrance. 

In addition, incumbent Henderson County Register of Deeds Lee King filed on Dec. 1 to run for a fourth term, along with two-term incumbent Sheriff Lowell Griffin, Clerk of Superior Court J. Tyler Ray and District Attorney (for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties) Andrew Murray.

In Flat Rock, early birds filing for seats on Village Council were as follows:

• District 1 — Matthew Toner III and John Gerni

• District 2 — Susan Gregory and Roger Bass

• District 3 — Barbara Jeter 

In Fletcher, early birds filing for seats included the following:

• Mayor — Incumbent Preston Blakely

• District 1 — Amber McKinney and John Brandon

District 4 — Trevor Lance 

In Laurel Park, filing for two Town Council seats were Debra Bridges and and Morse.

In Mills River, early birds filing for Town Council seats were as follows:

• District 1 — Sandra Goode

• District 2 — James Cantress

• District 3 — Shannon Gonce

In Saluda, early birds in filing were Tangie Morgan for mayor, and Paul Marion and Mark Oxtoby for Town Council.