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CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

The Hendersonville City Council is composed of five members elected at-large in nonpartisan elections for four-year staggered terms held in even-numbered years.The mayor serves as the official head of the city government and presides at all meetings of the City Council. The mayor has the power to vote on all questions coming before the Council, but has no power to veto.No person is eligible to be a candidate or be elected as a member of the City Council, or to serve in such capacity, unless (s)he is a resident and a qualified voter of the city.

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  • Candidate picture

    Gina Baxter
    (NON)

  • Candidate picture

    Jeff Groh
    (NON)

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    Melinda P. Lowrance
    (NON)

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    Brett Werner
    (NON)

Biographical Information

What experience and skills make you the best candidate for this office? (Max. 750 characters)

Identify your top three (3) issues that you wish to address during your tenure in office and rank them in order of priority. (Max. 750 characters)

How will you address the top issue once you are in office? (Max. 750 characters)

Additional Comments (Max. 1000 characters)

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Position/philosophy statement I am running to bring a common-sense, business approach to council and provide more diversity of opinions and experience.
Campaign Mailing Address PO BOX 1187
FLAT ROCK, NC 28731
Current Occupation Small business owner
Campaign Email groh4council@gmail.com
Campaign Website http://www.groh4council.com
After earning a BSME and MBA, I spent 30+ years in industry in a variety of roles including management. As VP of Technology for a manufacturing company I managed large organizations and budgets. Since leaving industry 13 years ago, my wife and I are small business owners. I spent two years on the Fletcher Planning and Zoning Board, and was President of the Brickton Village HOA before moving to the city. I have been involved in a grassroots organization advocating for an Article V convention of states to rein in an out-of-control federal government. That experience led to strong relationships with state legislators. Those relationships are important to solve issues in the city, as are my strong relationships with county officials.
1) I want to make sure we keep the government as small as possible and only focus on core responsibilities. I am fiscally conservative. Taxes directly affect affordability. Keeping government small will also help keep our small-town character. 2) I am passionate about addressing the growing homeless issue. I don't believe anyone should be living on the streets. It impacts public safety, impacts businesses and is not compassionate. I have published a 10-point plan on my website on the areas I would focus on. 3) There are a myriad of interconnected issues that affect growth and housing affordability including supply, the regulatory landscape, and zoning. We need to balance all these to maintain our quality of life and small-town character.
I want to use my common-sense, business approach to solving problems in a pragmatic way, and bring new perspectives and ideas to council. So many of the issues we face will require working with the state legislature and county officials, and my relationships with both will help solve problems. My platform is focused on 1) fiscal responsibility, 2) safety & security, 3) support of small business, and 4) maintaining the character of our small town. Every decision I make will be filtered through the lens of those four concepts.
We live in a diverse community and I want to bring a perspective that does not exist on council today. We have many decisions looming as we grow, and we need more diversity of opinions and experience on council to solve those problems for the good of the entire community.

Growth is a significant factor for all of us in the city, but as a NC State Representative recently said, we can approach it at 50 mph or 10 mph. We have to balance that growth and protect what we all cherish.

Those seeking housing they can afford is a challenge. The focus should be on clear zoning rules for developers, reducing the regulatory burden that impacts project time lines and ultimately the cost to build, and reducing taxes. That is where we need to focus first.

I value fiscal responsibility, personal responsibility, integrity and honesty, and treating everyone with dignity. I believe in our founding principals of equal justice under the law, and that our rights flow from our creator, not government.
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Position/philosophy statement I am running to bring a pragmatic, grassroots approach to local government that prioritizes workforce housing, reliable infrastructure, and meaningful transparency.
Campaign Mailing Address 706 GOLDFINCH DR
HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28792
Current Occupation South Carolina Department of Agriculture - Retail Food Safety Officer
Age (optional) 44
Campaign Phone 828-237-2737
Campaign Email 828Werner@gmail.com
Campaign Website http://betonbretthvl.com
My background bridges public regulatory oversight, 30 years of private-sector experience, and dedicated civic leadership. Working since age 12 instilled in me a relentless work ethic and a deep understanding of everyday economic challenges.

Professionally, as a SC Dept of Agriculture Food Safety Officer, I specialize in regulatory compliance, risk management, and public health. Locally, my second term on the Hendersonville Board of Adjustment provides strong working knowledge of zoning, land use, and development policies. I also bring advocacy experience as a former Miami-Dade Police advisory co-chair.

Alongside my wife Katie, I have a deep, personal stake in ensuring our city remains livable, affordable, and resilient.
1-Workforce Housing & Sensible Growth: Hendersonville must prioritize dedicated housing for our local workforce, teachers, and service workers while restricting irresponsible development that threatens our vulnerable floodplains.

2-Community Resilience & Infrastructure: In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we must harden our roads, stormwater, and sewer systems against extreme weather. I will also champion property tax relief for seniors, support for public schools, and compassionate solutions for the unhoused.

3-Revitalizing 7th Avenue: Leveraging foot traffic from the Ecusta Trail, I support creating a designated social district to host community events, support small businesses, and ease Main Street congestion.
I will leverage my Board of Adjustment experience in zoning and land use to drive immediate policy shifts.

First, I will push to reform municipal zoning codes to actively incentivize developers to build dedicated workforce housing for our teachers, service workers, and essential staff. We must stop rubber-stamping high-priced residential builds that locals cannot afford.

Second, I will strictly enforce building restrictions and block irresponsible development in our vulnerable floodplains to protect our natural geography. By offering targeted zoning incentives and demanding sustainable practices, we will ensure that new development respects our environment and serves the people who actually live and work in Hendersonville.
Hendersonville is at a pivotal moment. The decisions we make today about development, infrastructure, and community support will shape our city for generations. As a working professional, a Board of Adjustment member, and the husband of a local teacher, I am deeply invested in ensuring Hendersonville works for everyone—especially the working families and retirees who built this community.

We need proactive leadership that balances growth with preservation, and compassion with practical policy. My background in regulatory oversight and local zoning has given me the tools to navigate complex challenges, stand up for sensible development, and deliver real results. I am running to be a clear voice for workforce housing, strong infrastructure, and a thriving local economy that benefits all our residents.

I would be honored to earn your vote so we can work together to keep Hendersonville livable, resilient, and forward-thinking. To learn more about my vision, please visit betonbretthvl.com