Voters pick two new faces for Forest Hills, sort of
The mountain village of Forest Hills continues to balance small-town quiet with mounting growth pressure from surrounding Jackson County.
Forest Hills photo
Forest Hills residents faced a defining choice this election, selecting leaders who will decide how the small Jackson County village balances development pressure, rising costs and the preservation of its valley character.
With the mayor’s office and two council seats on the ballot, voters weighed continuity against fresh perspectives in a race that drew broad attention for such a small town.
Incumbent Mayor Marcia Almond campaigned on infrastructure investment and regional cooperation, pointing to her push for a $25 million sewer project to protect Cox Creek. Challenger Ron Mau questioned the scale of that plan and called for stronger financial planning before pursuing major debt.
Mau, a finance professor and former county commissioner emphasizing transparency and budget discipline, defeated Almond soundly, 56 to 36. Mau was formerly on the village commission from 2012 to 2016. In 2023, Almond ran unopposed, garnering 48 votes.
Two council candidates that year each earned about the same number of votes — 48 and 47 — for two seats.
On the council side, incumbent Daniel Shields and challengers Amy Bollinger and James Hartley each promised to safeguard Forest Hills’ quiet appeal while managing growth responsibly. All three supported fiscal restraint after Jackson County’s property revaluation and tax hike, which hit homeowners across the region.
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Bollinger, a Western Carolina University marketing professional and planning board member advocating land protection and housing balance, led the ticket with 69 votes. Shields earned 56, enough to retain his seat, over Hartley’s 45.
The future of the Fontana Regional Library system remained a major point of unity. Every candidate backed Forest Hills’ resolution opposing the county’s withdrawal, underscoring growing frustration over county representation. Concerns about law enforcement coverage and infrastructure financing also surfaced, revealing the difficulty small municipalities face when relying on county agencies for essential services.
Results are considered unofficial until county boards of elections certify them on Nov. 14, 2025.
