VOTE411 Voter Guide

I believe the most important experience I bring to the office of Mayor is a combination of proven municipal leadership, small-business experience, regional collaboration, and more than two decades of service to the Hendersonville community.

I have served on the Hendersonville City Council since 2019 and currently serve as Mayor Pro Tempore. During that time, I have gained an in-depth understanding of how our city operates—from budgeting and infrastructure to public safety, utilities, housing, economic development, parks, greenways, and long-range planning. Serving as Mayor Pro Tem has also given me the opportunity to step into the responsibilities of the Mayor when needed and has prepared me for the leadership this office requires.

Supporting a SAFE CITY with a commitment to providing our First Responders the tools and pay they need and deserve Managing the NEED to Grow with the RIGHT kind of growth while maintaining our small town charm Keeping TAXes and living here AFFORDABLE

Keeping Hendersonville safe is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of city government, and supporting our first responders has been one of my highest priorities throughout my service on City Council. For me, that commitment means more than simply saying we support our police officers and firefighters. It means making the difficult budget decisions necessary to ensure they have competitive pay, adequate staffing, quality equipment, proper training, and the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

During my time on City Council, we have made significant investments in our employees, particularly our first responders. Following a comprehensive pay and classification study, the City worked to bring employee compens

Hendersonville has been my home for more than two decades. It is where I built my business, raised my family, and chose to dedicate much of my life to serving this community.

For the past six years, I have had the privilege of serving on Hendersonville City Council, including the last two years as Mayor Pro Tempore. That experience has given me a deep understanding of our city—its budget, infrastructure, public safety needs, utilities, neighborhoods, businesses, parks, transportation challenges, and opportunities for the future. More importantly, it has taught me that effective local government depends on listening, collaboration, preparation, and relationships.

I believe experience matters, but experience should also produce results. During my time on Council, I have worked to strengthen public safety and invest in our first responders, improve and expand parks and greenways, address housing needs, support economic development, strengthen infrastructure, and build partnerships throu

I served 14 years on City Council, both as Mayor Pro Tem and as a Council member. I have extensive experience balancing municipal budgets, educating myself on the issues of the City, making difficult decisions, and listening to constituents’ concerns. I also have decades of public service as a retired public high school teacher/coach, with 23 years at HHS and one at East. For decades, I have worked with Hendersonville families to teach students information they need to learn, motivate students to succeed, listen to students’ challenges and lead students and athletes in competition. Now, as a practicing attorney, I work with my clients help them get justice in our civil court system.

1)Celebrate our hometown character while managing compatible growth for families and seniors. Strong connections among residents, local institutions, favorite amenities, and the City are essential to keeping Hendersonville our hometown. 2)Protect established neighborhoods citywide while expanding workforce and affordable housing. The City should develop property it owns, or can acquire, to create homes that remain permanently attainable and welcoming. 3)Attract a diverse mix of industrial and business investment providing jobs for residents at every skill level. We must continue offering incentives that bring manufacturing employers to Hendersonville while supporting small businesses’ need for local talent. Learn at jerrysmithformayor.com.

I propose that City Council create a population density standard to guide Council decisions, particularly regarding new developments. Our current density is around 2000 people per square mile. We have to decide at what density can Hendersonville maintain its hometown charm that makes folks move here or decide to stay here. Next, I will propose that City Council comes to an understanding with the County as to how the City will accommodate the City’s population density standard and what that means for the expansion of the City’s borders. Finally, I will continue to listen to our residents and businesses to learn what makes Hendersonville a special hometown for them.

In a fragmented world, residents and businesses are counting on the City of Hendersonville to remain a unifying presence in our community. City government must remain stable, approachable, and affordable in order to maintain our hometown feel. The City makes up only 2% of Henderson County acreage and just 13% of the County’s population, but what happens in the City can have ripple effects throughout the County and WNC. The phrase that was used when I was on Council, and is still used, is that we play bigger than we are. We must ensure that the ripples we create are positive, uplifting, and sustainable for a hometown in the 21st Century. As mayor, I will have office hours in City Hall on Thursdays and Fridays so I can meet with residents, businesses and visitors to hear their stories and see what the City can do to help them.