At the final Weaverville Town Council meeting of 2025, officials swore in the least experienced council in recent memory.
Three of the seven council members — Phil Burnett, Mark Endries and Jennifer Young — were first-time officeholders. Joining them was newly elected Mayor Dee Lawrence, who brought with him just a half-term of prior experience as a councilman. With only two returning council members remaining, the board quickly acknowledged the need for experience as it navigated a full and complex agenda.
That need shaped the council’s first major decision. Following Lawrence’s victory over former councilman Andrew Nagle in the mayoral race, Lawrence’s council seat became vacant. Five candidates applied to fill the position, but the board voted unanimously, 6–0, to appoint Nagle — a familiar face with prior council experience — to the open seat…