Hensley, Simpson and Baxter win seats on the Hendersonville City Council

Jennifer Hensley, Lyndsey N. Simpson and Gina Baxter have won seats on the Hendersonville City Council.

The mayor and members of the city council serve staggered four-year terms. Elections are held every two years.

Two full-term seats, currently held by Hensley and Simpson, were open during this election cycle, with both incumbents running for re-election and DJ Harrington also a candidate. Another unexpired seat, currently held by Jeff Miller, was also open, and Baxter, Colby Coren and Lynne Elizabeth Williams were running to fill it.

Miller had previously served two terms on the City Council and decided not to seek re-election in 2021. But in October 2023, he was appointed to fill an office held by Jerry Smith, who resigned.

“I’m just really proud of the campaign that I ran, and just proud of all the work that I’m doing,” Hensley said after the results were announced on election night. “I work very hard, I do, and I’m very happy to see that my work is appreciated, and that people want me back.”

The council race is nonpartisan, but Hensley is a Republican. Voters elected Republicans in numerous races in Henderson County, including the county commission and school board.

“They want to feel safe,” Hensley said. “They want to make decisions about their families, they value their families, and they work hard. We have some of the hardest working, most honest people here. I don’t think it’s necessarily Republican and Democratic. I think it’s just – this is like Middle America, just hardworking, honest, good people.”

Lynne Elizabeth Williams, who had no affiliation with any party, said she was proud that “I got around 1,500 more votes than our current mayor did in her last mayoral election. I think that’s an important point. And I’m very happy for Gina. I think she’s going to do great.”

Williams said she would remain active in local politics.

“I mean, we have a city council meeting on Thursday and I plan on being there to speak out against the First Ave Villas (proposed condominium project) because I think it will cause gentrification and displacement of the neighbors there.”

This article originally appeared on the Hendersonville Times-News: Hensley, Simpson and Baxter win seats on the Hendersonville City Council