- Title
- Chair, Henderson County Board of Commissioners (District 3) · Republican
- In this role since
- first elected 2014; chair by colleagues’ vote, most recently 2024
- Current term ends
- December 2026
- Next voter decision
- none: not seeking re-election; his open seat drew a Republican primary of Mills River Mayor Shanon Gonce, former county manager Steve Wyatt, and homebuilder Rudd Orr (Hendersonville Lightning · chair stepping down)
Surveillance record
The county’s plate readers have never had a commission vote, and Lapsley has signaled they may never get one. His position, on the record: “My position is until we hear of some abuse or something radical happening, I don’t see a problem.” On results: “We’ve solved probably five or six cases, because of those. So [Griffin] said he’s in support of continuing it.” On misuse: “I’m not aware of anything even close to that.” (Hendersonville Lightning) He raised the subject with Sheriff Lowell Griffin himself in spring 2026, before the petition, and left it there.
“Until we hear of some abuse” describes a system whose abuse is discovered by audit logs the county has never asked for (Camera network misuse, documented cases). The board holds the only lever the law gives it, the budget, and has declined to touch it (What the Law Lets the County Do).
September 8, 2026, closing informal public comment after fourteen of seventeen speakers opposed the cameras: “First, appreciate everyone’s attendance tonight. Appreciate your comments and information. The board certainly hears you, and we will be discussing it amongst ourselves to see how we as a board want to proceed, discuss it. I know we’ll certainly be public with our discussions on the matter.” No date, item, or position followed in the meeting (county recording, 0:51:58).
The question for him
He leaves office having never put the cameras to a vote. Will he schedule one before December, or hand a 2,048-agency sharing network to a successor none of the three Republican candidates has been asked about? (Henderson County)