Politics

All-female City Council is seated in historic first

Hendersonville City Council members Melinda Lowrance, Lyndsey Simpson, Mayor Barbara Volk, Jennifer Hensley and Gina Baxter begin work on Thursday, Dec. 5.

By Bill Moss, Published: December 6, 2024

With the oath of office by three members and the swearing in of a new mayor pro tem, the first-ever all-female Hendersonville City Council was seated on Thursday night — at 7:07 p.m., if history would like to record the moment.

Re-electing incumbents Lyndsey Simpson and Jennifer Hensley and choosing Gina M. Baxter to fill an unexpired term, city voters on Nov. 5 put five women aboard the council. Baxter took her seat after Jeff Miller, appointed to fill a vacancy last year, departed from the council for a second time.

"You're the Lone Ranger sitting up here, big guy," Miller said in parting to City Manager John Connet. "I just look forward to great things that you guys can do together."

"Congratulations," he said to Baxter. "This seat is dangerous, so learn to love it."

"It has been an honor to be able to serve this city in this way, and to be able to work with all the staff members that make our city so great," Simpson said. "They're the reason why we all look so good. They're the ones doing the hard work every day so I'm just really thankful that the residents decided that I get to do this for four more years because it really is a joy, and even if it is tough sometimes I love being able to be a part of my community this way."

Hensley, who succeeds Simpson as mayor pro tem, said: "It's an honor and a privilege to be here, and I love what I do, and I just really enjoy being here."

Baxter, who defeated two other candidates to win a two-year unexpired term, said: "I just want to say that I am so incredibly proud to be a member of this community. This community raised me. It is my home. I'm so honored to get to serve in this way, and I'm so grateful that I get to serve alongside such an amazing council and with such an incredible city staff."

The wins of three women in city elections came amid strong gains, and at least one other first, across the county in the November election:

• The School Board went from a 4-3 female majority to 5-2 after an election in which three out of four Democratic and Republican nominees were women.
• Vice Mayor Anne Coletta became the first female mayor of the Village of Flat Rock, succeeding Nick Weedman, who has served as mayor since 2019 and on the council for 21 years. The Village Council would go from 4-3 to 5-2 female if Emily Whitmire was successful, as expected, in her write-in campaign for District 2 seat.
• With the election of Sheila Franklin in the District 2 seat, the Board of Commissioners doubles the number of women, from one to two. She joins Chair Rebecca McCall on the board, who served as chair during the tail end of the coronavirus pandemic, a large Edneyville forest fire and Hurricane Helene.
• With Franklin’s move up to the county board, the Fletcher Town Council loses its only female. The four men remaining on the board could neutralize the loss by appointing a woman to Franklin’s seat.