Jackson voters to choose two new commissioners
With two current commissioners not seeking reelection, no matter the outcome, the Jackson County Commission will have two new faces following next week’s election.
In District Four, Michael Jennings and Sally Jennings Hudson are running for the seat that will be vacated by current Commissioner Mark Jones. In District Three, Cody Lewis and Jenny Lynn Hooper are running to replace Tom Stribling. Each commissioner is elected county-wide but must reside in the district they seek to represent.
District four
Sally Jennings Hudson worked as a nurse until she took over her father’s trout farm — Sunburst Trout Company, previously Jennings Trout Farm — in Waynesville in 1985. While living in Waynesville, Hudson served on the Haywood Economic Foundation, the Tourism Development Authority, Women in Business and the Entegra Bank Board.
Over the last 10 years, her children have taken over the trout farm and, having been born and raised in Jackson County, Hudson returned and settled in Cashiers.
About a year ago, Hudson said a friend told her to consider running for county commission.
“I thought about it for about three weeks, did a lot of research on what commissioners do in this county and then decided to throw my hat in the ring,” said Hudson. “The day I did, I got a call from chairman of the commission Mark Letson, and he said, ‘I think you’d be a good candidate.’ So, it was nice to get an endorsement from him. He’s helped me along the way a lot.”
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The current board is 4-1 Republican, but Hudson, running as a Democrat, says that political parties matter less on local boards like county commissions.
“It’s not about politics to me,” Hudson said. “It’s more about watching out for the future of an area of Western North Carolina. I think I’ll be good at it if I win.”
Hudson’s top priorities involve needed expansion for the school system, as well as access to healthcare. With a background in nursing, Hudson was particularly troubled to learn about the fentanyl problem in Jackson County’s jail, and in the county at large, while going through Leadership Cashiers two years ago. There have been at least six inmate deaths in the Jackson County Jail since 2014, some caused by drug overdose.
“I’d like to be part of any kind of task force that tries to work on that,” said Hudson.
If elected, Hudson would also prioritize public servants working for the county, as well as facilitate expansion and reconstruction happening with the N.C. 107 project, and around the county more generally.
“It’s not so much what it’s going to look like in the next five years, but in the next 10 to 50 years,” said Hudson. “When I’m dead, I would like for my grandchildren to benefit from everything.”
Like Hudson, her opponent, Republican Michael Jennings, is also concerned with future growth in the county.
Jennings is a general contractor who decided to run for Jackson County Commission to try and assist with “sensible growth for Jackson County.”
“Growth is inevitable, but growth in and of itself is not always progress,” said Jennings.
Jennings says his experience as a general contractor has provided him with problem-solving opportunities that he believes are necessary to ensure that projects get completed within an allotted budget.
“Over-budget county projects ultimately result in more money from taxpayers,” Jennings said.
Jennings’ top priorities, if elected to the board are to provide more oversight to county project costs in order to keep “wasteful spending” to a minimum; provide a voice for the entire county that tax money should be used to benefit “the sometimes forgotten and less populated aeras of the county” in addition to those more populated areas; and to support law enforcement.
“I want to try to evaluate some of our county school and fire departments current conditions and bring them back to the standard they should be,” said Jennings.
Jennings says he would support a revenue neutral tax rate after the upcoming tax revaluation set to take place in 2025.
“We all see and have felt the rising costs on everything over the past few years,” Jennings said. “The citizens of this county are struggling already. I don’t believe we should have to worry about losing our property due to tax rates on a higher evaluation.”
District Three
Jenny Lynn Hooper is a lifelong resident of Jackson County, graduating from Western Carolina University with degrees in mathematics and computer science. She is the Republican candidate for district three and has been a business owner for 38 years.
“I decided to run so I could give back to my community and be their voice,” said Hooper. “My roots run deep, and I am connected with the citizens of this county on a daily basis. I feel my values will reflect what a large portion of my constituents believe.”
Hooper is primarily concerned with economic development, specifically around the changing business landscape due to the N.C. 107 road project. But she also wants to see more opportunities for families.
“Our community is hungry for an Agriculture Center,” said Hooper. “This would be a place where families could gather and enjoy, hosting a variety of events, from 4H, antiques, jewelry and automobile shows, motorcycle events, the list goes on.”
On economic development, Hooper wants to work with TWSA to make startup costs for new businesses more affordable.
“I will work closely with the state to see that the N.C. 107 project in Sylva is completed as efficiently as possible so we can bring businesses and jobs back to the county,” Hudson said. “Also, having a transportation and housing policy that protects the rural nature of the county while bringing needed development will be important.”
Cody Lewis, Hooper’s Democratic opponent, is the CEO of Lewis Oil Company and TopCat Markets. He has been the chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Party since 2021 and previously served as an intern for State House Representative Adam Fetterman in Florida.
He is an FSU College of Business Board Member, Trustee of the FSU Valencia, Spain campus, little league baseball coach, and serves on the Fairview Elementary School PTA and the Jackson County Public Schools Education Foundation Founders Circle.
Lewis decided to run for county commission in order to serve his community.
“My grandfather set an example during my childhood of how a businessman in a small community should also be a public servant,” Lewis said. “Serving as a county commissioner seems the best way to leverage my experience and knowledge for the betterment of the community my family has called home for over 200 years.”
Lewis believes that his experiences as vice president of a commercial bank, managing a portfolio of over $60 million, chief financial officer of multiple businesses, and CEO of his retail business prepare him for the work of a county commissioner.
“The primary responsibilities of a county commissioner revolve around the budget process,” Lewis said. “I have served on numerous boards with financial responsibilities in multiple industries and countries. Over the last few months, I have met with several department heads within the county to get a better grasp of the current state of their respective agencies. I am prepared to get to work on day one finding efficient solutions to our county’s most pressing issues.”
His top priorities include creating a long-term fiscal and strategic plan for the county, repairing public schools and facilitating the N.C. 107 project.
“The Town of Sylva and Jackson County must work together to assemble as many resources as possible to assist in the relocation of existing businesses and recruitment of new businesses,” said Lewis.
Other challenges Lewis would like to address in the county include better starting pay for county employees in order to recruit and retain talent.
“The meetings I’ve had suggest that this can be achieved without any additional tax burden on the citizens of Jackson County,” said Lewis.
He would also like to see the county try and address affordable housing, an issue that continues to plague Western North Carolina.
“Expansion of TWSA services to buildable land better suited for higher concentrated building could be one tool to alleviate this issue,” Lewis said. “Having an impact on housing costs will take a combined team approach from many different agencies, partners, funding sources and the business community.”
Clarification: While Mark Letson told SMN he supports and encourages people to run for public office and serve their community in any way they can, he has not explicitly endorsed either candidate in the race to represent District 4 on the Jackson County Commission.
