A familiar face takes City Council seat formerly held by Jerry Smith

Jennifer Heaslip
Updated ·2 min read
Jeff Miller takes the oath of office with Hendersonville City Council member Lyndsey Simpson and Hendersonville City Clerk Jill Murray at the Nov. 2 City Council meeting at the City Operations Center.
Jeff Miller takes the oath of office with Hendersonville City Council member Lyndsey Simpson and Hendersonville City Clerk Jill Murray at the Nov. 2 City Council meeting at the City Operations Center.

HENDERSONVILLE - A familiar face will be taking the place of Hendersonville City Council member Jerry Smith, who resigned in October, a year before his term was up.

Blue Ridge Honor Flight founder Jeff Miller of Hendersonville talks prior to the takeoff of the flight on April 29 at the Asheville Regional Airport.
Blue Ridge Honor Flight founder Jeff Miller of Hendersonville talks prior to the takeoff of the flight on April 29 at the Asheville Regional Airport.

At the Nov. 2 City Council meeting, former city council member Jeff Miller was sworn in, taking his seat once again after having served on the council for two terms from 2013-21.

Miller said he has no plans to serve more than the one year left on Smith's term.

"I'm glad it's one year. I'll go right back to that rocking chair they gave me when I fulfilled my last term," he said.

Smith was given a rocking chair at the Oct. 5 meeting, when he officially announced he was stepping down.

Miller said he always wants to help when there is a need in the city, but this was something he wasn't looking for at all.

"I didn't actually volunteer ... I was called. I've been gone almost two years now. After talking to them, I felt like that it was the right thing to do to help," he said. "I will not use that as a springboard to run for something again. I absolutely promise not to run for this seat or the other seats."

For the 2024 election, the seats of Jennifer Hensley and Lyndsey Simpson will be on the ballot, along with Smith's seat.

"I fully intend to support both Jennifer and Lyndsey for them to be reelected," Miller said.

After a call for nominations from Mayor Barbara Volk, Hensley nominated Miller and Councilwoman Debbie Roundtree nominated Mary Jo Padgett. The vote for Miller drew a 3 to 1 majority.

“Jeff Miller has been elected for the vacancy on City Council,” Volk announced, calling the new councilman to the front of the room to be sworn in.

Miller took the oath of office to applause from council members, staff and the audience, and shook each council member’s hand before taking his place on the panel once again.

He thanked the mayor and council for their confidence in him. “I will do my best not to let you down,” he added. “It’s a short role, and I want to pledge the fact that I will not run for this seat when the time is up, nor will I run for any other seat when the time’s up. It’s an honor just to be up here with you… to the staff, I’m excited to work with you again.

“Lastly, I’d like to make a commitment to civility. That seems to be a thing of the past these days … I plan to be civil, not just with my counterparts up here but with staff and with anyone who comes before us, and I would only ask the same for all of us.

“Let’s go to work.”

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: City Council member Jerry Smith's replacement is a familiar face