News

City Council members agree on a choice to fill Roundtree's seat

Melinda Lowrance said she would like to focus on mental health and affordable housing on the City Council.

By Bill Moss, Published: April 30, 2024

Melinda Lowrance, who has been active in community service and on city and county advisory boards for many years, is likely to fill the seat on the Hendersonville City Council made vacant by the resignation of Debbie Roundtree.

City Manager John Connet said last week council members have agreed informally to appoint Lowrance, possibly as soon as this week’s council meeting. What’s unclear at the moment is when Roundtree’s former seat would be up for election. That could be as early as November if the state set a new filing period, or in November 2026. The term for the seat expires in December 2026. Connet and Henderson County Board of Elections officials will receive guidance on the process from the state Board of Elections this week.

Lowrance has served as chair of the city Zoning Board of Adjustment, on the city Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the county Board of Social Services and is president of the local chapter of the NAACP. She has owned Mop Head Cleaning Service for 35 years.

“I'm willing to serve because I think maybe I can bring something to the table that will benefit the citizens from my experience being on city boards and county boards and just dealing with the public in general,” she said in an interview Monday. “I would like to see concentrating on mental health and opioids and affordable housing. I think I can bring a fresh perspective to this.”

She was also invited to participate in the North Carolina Leadership Forum’s study of affordable housing. She said she would have voted yes on a rezoning to allow 60 affordable apartments for seniors on Greenville Highway at Chadwick Avenue.

“There is a growing population of senior citizens — I'm included,” she said. “But I also think we need to consider affordable housing for the working class, especially our educators and our law enforcement, health workers. We're losing them because they can't afford to live here.”

Lowrance said she worries about Hendersonville’s growth.

“I just think we need to slow down the growth,” she said. “I think we’re growing a little too fast.”