News

Opponent of high-density zoning files for City Council

By Bill Moss, Published: December 14, 2023

An activist who frequently rises at public comment time during Hendersonville City Council meetings to oppose loss of trees and wildlife habitats, increased traffic and high density zoning filed for a seat on the council, two Republican state House members drew challenges from Democrats and two more candidates signed up to run for the Mills River Town Council in the latest qualifying at the county Board of Elections.

Lynne Williams, who lives on Chadwick Avenue, became the first candidate to file for the City Council seat made vacant by the resignation of Jerry Smith. The winner will complete the unexpired term of the seat, which will be on the ballot again in 2026. Incumbent council members Jennifer Hensley and Lyndsey Simpson have filed to run for re-election.

In the other new filings, Michelle Antalec, chair of the county Democratic Party, filed to run against Rep. Jake Johnson and Democrat Steve Martinez signed up to run against Jennifer Capps Balkcom.

On Tuesday, a fifth Republican candidate qualified to run for the Henderson County School Board, triggering a March primary to nominate four candidates for the general election. Later, a sixth Republican filed.

Terrill Rashaud "Tae" Brown and Beth Campbell join Amy Lynn Holt, Robert Bridges, Kathy G. Revis and Michael Absher in the Republican primary for School Board race. Democrat Mary Ellen Kustin has also filed to run.

Meanwhile, Tiffany Watson Councill filed to run for an at large seat on the Mills River Town Council as qualifying for local, state and national office entered its final days. Councill and Jeff Moore have filed for the two at large seats in Mills River. Neither of the incumbents, Jeff Young and Randy Austin, had filed for re-election as of Wednesday afternoon.

The filing period ends at noon Friday, Dec. 15. The primary election is March 5 and the general election is Nov. 5. The last day to register to vote or change voter registration for the primary is Feb. 9 (except for military or overseas voters, who may register until 5 p.m. the day before the election).Early voting begins Feb. 15.

Here are the candidates who have filed as of Wednesday afternoon (with party affiliation indicated in partisan elections):

• Flat Rock Mayor, Anne Guerard Coletta
• Flat Rock District 1, Thomas F. Carpenter
• Flat Rock District 3, Cheryl Stuller
• Laurel Park Mayor, Carey O'Cain
• Laurel Park Town Council, George Banta
• Laurel Park Town Council, Travis Bonnema
• County Commissioner District 2, Daniel Andreotta, R
• County Commissioner District 2, Sheila Franklin, R
• County Commissioner District 2, Erik Weber, D
• County Commissioner District 5, Jay Egolf, R
• County Commissioner District 5, David Harold Hill, R
• Hendersonville City Council, Jennifer Hensley
• Hendersonville City Council, Lyndsey N. Simpson
• Hendersonville City Council (unexpired term), Lynne Elizabeth Williams
• Hendersonville City Council (unexpired term),Colby Coren
• Fletcher Town Council District 2, Keith Reed
• Fletcher Town Council District 3, James Player
• Mills River Town Council at large, Jeff Moore
• Mills River Town Council at large, Tiffany Councill
• Mills River Town Council at large, Jeff Young
• Mills River Town Council at large, Jim Foster
• School Board, Amy Lynn Holt, R
• School Board, Robert Bridges, R
• School Board, Michael Absher, R

• School Board, Kathy G. Revis, R

• School Board, Tae Brown, R
• School Board, Beth Campbell, R

• School Board, Mary Ellen Kustin, D

• NC Senate District 48, Timothy Moffitt, R
• NC House District 113, Jake Johnson, R
• NC House District 113, Michelle Antalec, D
• NC House District 117, Jennifer Capps Balkcom, R
• NC House District 117, Steve Martinez, D
• District Court Judge Seat 1, James Marshall, R
• District Court Judge Seat 2, Gene Johnson, R

• District Court Judge Seat 3, Monica Jean Gillett, R
  

• District Court Judge Seat 4, Kim Gasperson Justice, R