Hendersonville City Council makes choice for Roundtree's replacement

The Hendersonville City Council has made its choice for the replacement for Debbie Roundtree, who announced on April 22 she was resigning.

Roundtree's final day as a city council member was May 1, and the follow day at the council's regular meeting on May 2, members unanimously voted to appoint Melinda Lowrance as Roundtree's replacement.

“I would like to thank the city council and all the citizens of Hendersonville who entrusted me with this duty,” Lowrance said during the meeting. “I will perform to the best of my ability and expect great things out of this city council now that I’m on board.”

How long Lowrance will serve still remains up in the air, according to City of Hendersonville spokesperson Allison Justus.

"The duration of the term has not been finalized. Debbie Roundtree’s full term would have expired in December 2026, which would be the preferred term duration by city council," Justus said. "The city manager has made contact with Senator Tim Moffitt to file a bill to set the election for November 2026. The other option is that the county board of elections could list a filing period in July to coincide with the November 2024 election."

According to a news release, Lowrance has strong ties to the community and extensive board experience in Hendersonville and Henderson County. She served on the Hendersonville Board of Adjustment since 1998 and was one of the initial members appointed to the City’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee.

She currently serves as the vice chair of the Henderson County Social Services Board, and she's also 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, the release said.

Lowrance, a life member of the Star Lite Chapter No. 510 Order of the Eastern Star, has owned and operated Mop Head Cleaning Service for 35 years. She is 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, the release said.

More: Hendersonville City Council member Roundtree announces resignation

More: Lowrance gives heartfelt speech during Landina Guest House historical marker unveiling

Roundtree, who has served on city council since 2021, has yet to give a reason for her resignation but told the Times-News on May 2 that she'd be making a statement in the near future.

This marks the second time in six months that city council had to find a replacement for a council member. Jeff Miller, who served on city council for two terms from 2013-21, was sworn in again on Nov. 2, 2023, to replace the vacant seat formerly held by Jerry Smith.

Smith resigned in October 2023. In previous Times-News reporting , Miller said he has no plans to serve more than the one year left on Smith's term.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Hendersonville City Council makes choice for Roundtree's replacement