Contact City Council Members

Mayor Barbara Volk

Barbara has served on the City Council since 1989. She is originally from Chicago and moved to Hendersonville in 1975. She attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana and earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics. She also received a degree as a medical record administrator from the allied health school at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem. She is a professional registered parliamentarian and before retirement was self-employed providing computer services for small businesses and nonprofits. She and her late husband, Dr. James Volk, decided to relocate to Hendersonville after Dr. Volk received a job opportunity. They wanted to live in a town that is small and family friendly. She is the first female mayor serving the City and has served as Mayor since December 2009.

Mayor Pro Tempore Dr. Jennifer Hensley

Originally from Ohio, Dr. Jennifer Hensley completed undergraduate studies there, and moved on to Davenport, Iowa to obtain her Doctorate of Chiropractic. Upon graduation in 2003, she moved to Hendersonville to start a practice. She is married to Kevin, who is from Asheville, and together they are raising their beautiful children, Shelby and Enzo. They live in historic downtown Hendersonville. Dr. Hensley is the Chair of Henderson County Social Services Board, Child Fatality and Protection Board, and represents seven counties in Western North Carolina on the State Board of Social Services Boards. She was also the Past Vice-Chair of the Parks and Recreation Board. She is passionate about greenways in our community and was part of the Henderson County Greenway Expansion Committee. Dr. Hensley is a successful businesswoman in the community, and has owned and operated her clinic for 16 years. She was named Best of Blue Ridge's Chiropractor in 2018. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, and is an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She enjoys running half marathons and cooking with her children.

Dr. Hensley is proud to serve all the residents of Hendersonville. She was elected to the City Council in November 2019 and re-elected in 2024.

Council Member Gina Baxter

Gina was elected to the City Council in 2024. She has lived in Henderson County since she was twelve and is proud to call Hendersonville home. She attended Blue Ridge Community College and University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a focus in Early Education. She works in family services in the nonprofit sector. She and her husband, Dylan, spend as much of their free time outdoors as possible and they are grateful to live in what they consider the most beautiful place in the world. Gina Baxter was sworn in on December 5, 2024, to serve the remaining 2-year term on the City Council seat vacated by Jerry Smith. 

Council Member Melinda Lowrance

Council Member Lowrance has strong ties to the community and extensive board experience in Hendersonville and Henderson County. She has faithfully served on the Hendersonville Board of Adjustment since 1998. She was one of the initial members appointed to the City’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee and serves as the Vice-Chair of the Henderson County Social Services Board. Council Member Lowrance is the President of the Henderson County chapter of the NAACP. Under her leadership, the NAACP partnered with the Henderson County Education Foundation’s ‘Grow Our Own Educators’ scholarship program aimed at increasing opportunities for students of color to pursue teaching careers in their own community.

Melinda Lowrance has owned and operated Mop Head Cleaning Service for 35 years and is a Life Member of the Star Lite Chapter #510 Order of the Eastern Star. She is the Pastor Steward and Chairwoman of the Trustee Board for St. Paul Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church. On behalf of the church, she is the President of the Hendersonville District Lay Council and First Vice President of the Blue Ridge Conference Lay Council. She also serves as a member of the Rotary E-Club of Global Trekkers and the League of Women Voters.

On May 2, 2024, Melinda Lowrance was appointed by City Council to fill the seat vacated by Council Member Debbie Roundtree. 

Council Member Lyndsey Simpson

Lyndsey was born and raised in Titusville, Florida, near Kennedy Space Center, and moved to Hendersonville in the summer of 2016 with her husband of 10 years, Tony, and son, Cole.

Lyndsey earned her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida and now owns local graphic studio LS Creative, which specializes in branding and print design. Almost immediately after moving here, Lyndsey became involved with the community in a variety of ways. She is the former Board President for Hands On! Children's Museum, a member of the Kiwanis Service First Committee, a member of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, a Henderson County Public Schools Volunteer and a graduate of both the Henderson County VISION Program and the United Way's Rising Leaders Program.

Lyndsey feels very fortunate to live in Hendersonville and is honored to be able to serve her community in the capacity of City Council after being elected in 2019. She was selected as Mayor Pro Tempore by her fellow Council members in December 2021 and re-elected to City Council in 2024.

City Council Contact Information:

 Written correspondence to the Mayor and Council Members may also be sent to: City Hall, 160 Sixth Avenue East, Hendersonville, NC 28792-4328.