Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen Election 2026

6 of 13

council seats up

6 contests

10 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Alderman Ward 1 · 1 seat

Afton Adams-SkidmorePresident of the Keep Walton Ferry Green nonprofit and a Girl Scout leader in Hendersonville.2sourced
Mark BurgdorfIncumbentWard 1 alderman since 2022 and director of operations for a property management company.9sourced

Alderman Ward 2 · 1 seat

Alderman Ward 3 · Unopposed

Bob GarzaIncumbent10sourced

Alderman Ward 4 · 1 seat

Alderman Ward 5 · Unopposed

Garrett KiddCandidate for Hendersonville Alderman, Ward 5, on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.1sourced

Alderman Ward 6 · 1 seat

Hendersonville voters choose one alderman for their own ward. The mayor is not on this ballot.

1 note on these statements

Bob Garza (Ward 3) and Garrett Kidd (Ward 5) are unopposed. Sumner County Election Commission minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 (approved Nov. 3, 2026 candidate list) · Sep 8, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jamie ClaryMayor; term 2024-20286sourced Rachel CollinsAlderman, Ward 5; term 2024-20286sourced Karen DixonAlderman, Ward 4; term 2024-20288sourced Mark EvansAlderman, Ward 6; term 2024-20286sourced Jeff SasseAlderman, Ward 3; term 2024-20289sourced Mark SkidmoreAlderman, Ward 1; term 2024-20286sourced Don WardAlderman, Ward 2; term 2024-20286sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesImpact fees on new development, High-density housing moratorium, Gas franchise fee and city revenue Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Impact fees on new development

Where it standsIn February 2026 the board approved impact fees on new homes only, at $6,000 per single-family home and $5,500 per multi-family unit; commercial development is not charged.

What's on the tableThe board elected this year can amend the fee schedule, which the ordinance says is revisited about every five years or when the board asks.

In January 2026 the board voted 4-9 against Ordinance 2025-23, which would have set impact fees on both residential and commercial development. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026
In February 2026 an amendment setting the fees at $6,000 for single-family and $5,500 for multi-family passed 8-5. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, Feb. 10, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026
Alderman Jeff Sasse said $6,000 and $5,500 were about 33% and 43% of the consultant's recommendations. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, Feb. 10, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026
City Attorney Lance Wray said higher residential-only fees without commercial fees could raise legal defensibility questions. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, Feb. 10, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026

High-density housing moratorium

Where it standsThe board passed a nine-month moratorium on high-density residential development in August 2025; it was set to expire in May 2026, and its sponsors were drafting an extension.

What's on the tableThe next board will decide how to treat new high-density residential projects, which the moratorium ordinance defined as more than eight units per acre.

The board passed Ordinance 2025-14, a nine-month moratorium on high-density residential development, 10-2 on Aug. 26, 2025. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, Aug. 26, 2025 · Aug 26, 2025
The ordinance defines high-density residential development as projects exceeding eight units per acre. Hendersonville Standard · Apr 30, 2026
Aldermen Michael Martin, Mark Burgdorf, Jeff Sasse, Bob Garza and Mark Skidmore co-sponsored the ordinance. Hendersonville Standard · Apr 30, 2026
Mayor Jamie Clary said the state requires justification for a moratorium and that he was apprehensive about an extension. Hendersonville Standard · Apr 30, 2026

Gas franchise fee and city revenue

Where it standsIn June 2025 the board set the Piedmont Natural Gas franchise fee at 2%, after a 5% fee was first proposed.

What's on the tableThe ordinance lets the city change the fee no more than once a year, subject to utility commission approval, so the next board can revisit it.

The amendment moving the fee from 0% to 2% passed 9-4. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen special called meeting minutes, June 16, 2025 · Jun 16, 2025
Mayor Clary said the 2% fee would yield an extra $75,000 needed for a SAFER grant for up to three additional firefighters. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen special called meeting minutes, June 16, 2025 · Jun 16, 2025
Piedmont's representative said the city sets the percentage and that 5% was the maximum. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen special called meeting minutes, June 16, 2025 · Jun 16, 2025

Public safety assistant chief pay

Where it standsThe board passed Ordinance 2026-08, on promotional pay for public safety assistant chiefs, on first reading 8-4 in June 2026 and on second reading 7-5 in July 2026.

What's on the tableThe next board will vote on future police and fire pay and on the budget amendments that fund it.

Alderman Terri Goodwin said the ordinance was meant to correct a rare compensation issue for employees who skipped ranks when promoted to assistant chief. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
Alderman Mark Evans said the assistant chiefs' actual increases were about 7.74% and 6.6% after education pay and other factors. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
Alderman Karen Dixon opposed approving a measure that would put the budget in deficit without identifying a funding source. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How high should Hendersonville's impact fee on new homes be?
2. Which kinds of new development should pay impact fees?
3. What should the city do about new high-density housing?
4. What franchise fee should the city charge Piedmont Natural Gas?
5. Should the city approve extra promotional pay for police and fire assistant chiefs beyond its adopted pay policy?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineSumner County Election CommissionOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsSumner County Election CommissionOct 14, 2026
Last day to request an absentee ballotSumner County Election CommissionOct 24, 2026
Early voting endsSumner County Election CommissionOct 29, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)Sumner County Election CommissionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

7 stay (not up this year): Jamie Clary, Rachel Collins, Karen Dixon, Mark Evans, Jeff Sasse, Mark Skidmore, Don Ward6 on this ballot

13 council seats. The council decides by a 7-vote majority.

Hendersonville has a mayor and 12 aldermen, two for each of its six wards. Sumner County Election Commission
The mayor votes on motions before the board, and recorded roll calls list him among the ayes and nays. Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026
The Nov. 3, 2026 ballot has one alderman seat in each of the six wards, each for a four-year term. Sumner County Election Commission
The six aldermen elected in 2024 hold their seats through 2028, and Mayor Jamie Clary's term also runs 2024-2028. Sumner County Election Commission
The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at City Hall. UT MTAS

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