City of Mount Holly

The City of Mount Holly has a Council-Manager form of government with a Mayor and six Council Members. The Mayor is elected every four years in November, and the Council Members, elected at-large, serve four-year staggered terms. The City Council appoints a professional City Manager to run the day-to-day operations.

Together the Mayor and City Council members are responsible for establishing the general policies under which the City operates including the following:

• Appointing the City Manager, City Attorney, and members of various boards and committees.
• Enacting ordinances, resolutions, and orders.
• Reviewing & approving the annual budget and setting the tax rate.
• Authorizing contracts and approving formal bids on behalf of the City.
  
  

The City Council meets at 7:00 PM on the 2nd Monday of every month. Work sessions are held at 6:30 PM on the 4th Monday of every month. Meetings are open to the public and are held at the Municipal Complex located at 400 East Central Avenue, Mount Holly, NC 28120. 

To view meeting agendas, meetings, and our live feed, click here. 

The current Mount Holly City Council Includes the following members:

Councilwoman Lauren Shoemaker - lauren.shoemaker@mtholly.us
Lauren moved to North Carolina in 2003 after completing degrees in Microbiology and Molecular Biology from Penn State University.  She began work for the United States Department of Agriculture National Science Laboratory in Gastonia.  Her career has evolved from lab technician to Molecular Biologist to laboratory auditor to Biology Section Supervisor over that time.  Lauren has lived in Mount Holly since 2006 when she and her husband Jason bought their first house. 
She has been a member and board member of the Mount Holly Community Development Foundation, the Gaston County Jaycees, the North Carolina Jaycees, and the Mount Holly Community Garden.   Prior to being elected to City Council, she served on the Mount Holly Economic Development Committee, the Mayor's Greenway Taskforce, and the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Jason and Lauren have two children and attend Holy Comforter Lutheran Church.  
Current Position(s): BOOMA (Business Owners on Main Association) liaison

Councilwoman Christina Pawlish - christina.pawlish@mtholly.us
Christina was born in Germany and grew up moving around while her father served and retired from the Army. After graduating high school, she joined the Navy and served six years on active duty. She is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University with an Associates's and Bachelor's degree in Nursing. Shortly after, she attended Lenoir-Rhyne University to obtain a Master's degree in Nursing, and she is currently enrolled in their Doctor of Nursing Practice and Family Nurse Practitioner program. She and her husband Keith have nine children. Councilwoman Pawlish is a Gaston County School Nurse and owner of Accentuate Med Spa.
Current Position(s): Council of Governments (COG)

Councilwoman Phyllis Harris - Mayor Pro Tem phyllis.harris@mtholly.us
Phyllis grew up in Mount Holly and graduated from Mount Holly High School in 1972.  She married another Mount Holly native, Ronnie Harris.  Their son, Garren grew up in Mount Holly and graduated from East Gaston High School. She and her family are glad that they were raised in such a warm and caring environment and feel grateful that their son could experience growing up here as well. Councilwoman Harris served on the Mount Holly City Council from 1991 to 2007, serving twice as Mayor Pro Tem. She has been very active in many county, state, and national associations including the Transportation Advisory Committee from 1996 to 2007, the North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors in Raleigh from 1996 to 1998, and the Urban Open Leadership Institute in Charlotte.
Current Position(s): North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors

Councilman David Moore - david.moore@mtholly.us
David is a lifelong resident of Mount Holly and a local Main Street business owner for 41 years.  He has two children, Aaron and Madeline.  He is an active member of Crossroads Wesleyan Church of which he has attended for 53 years and sits on various committees.  Additionally, he serves as Vice-Chair of the Local Board of Administration. 
Councilman Moore has been a member of the Mount Holly City Council since 2003, where he has served on numerous boards and committees including the Recreation Commission, ABC Board, Economic Development Committee, Beautification Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee, CROP Walk, Habitat for Humanity, Miss Mount Holly Scholarship Pageant, MS Society and Chair of the Community Dinner.  Over the years David has been an active coach and parent in the Mount Holly Recreation Department, coaching and/or participating in every available sport over the past 3 years. 
Current Position(s): Beautification Committee, Mount Holly Community Development liaison

Councilman Jeff Meadows -  jeff.meadows@mtholly.us
Jeff is married to his wife Hope Meadows and has two children Sophia and Bo. His qualifications include a Master of Public Administration degree, City Planning Certification (AICP), Development Finance Certification (HDFP), more than 28 years of public service experience, 7 years on the Mount Holly Planning Commission, and a coach for many years. He is a retired Real Estate Developer who specialized in Senior and Mixed-Income Housing. 
Current Position(s): Stowe YMCA Board

Councilman Ivory Craig, Jr. - ivory.craig@mtholly.us
Ivory grew up in Mount Holly where he attended Ida Rankin Elementary, Mount Holly Middle and Graduated from East Gaston High School in 2006. He was a Police Officer here at the City of Mount Holly from 2015-2018 where he held the positions of Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer and Detective. Currently, he runs “Ivory Craig Real Estate powered by Premier South” as a Real Estate Broker. Ivory is a former board member of the Mount Holly Community Development Foundation and continues to stay active in the community. He’s married to Jennifer Craig who’s also a Mount Holly native and they have two children together. 

Current Position(s): Mount Holly Historical Society liaison

Bryan Hough grew up in Mount Holly and attended Ida Rankin Elementary, Mount Holly Junior High, and graduated from East Gaston High School in 1986.  He attended UNC-CH and was a 4-year letterman on the Tarheel football team.  Bryan married Gina Helton Hough in 1991, and in 1995, Gina and Bryan moved back to Mount Holly.  Bryan has more than 25 years of experience in Employee Benefits and Insurance Brokerage services.  He was elected to the Mount Holly City Council in 1998 where he served until 2003 when he was elected to his first term as Mayor. After taking four years away from the city, he was elected as Mayor in 2009 and is currently serving his 5th term.  Bryan and Gina have two children, Jack and Mattie.

Mount Holly Highlights:

• 1997 – Founding member of Heart of Mount Holly – Downtown Redevelopment Committee

• 1997 – 2006 – Mount Holly Springfest Committee and Springfest Golf Classic director (2002 – 2006)

• Coached basketball and baseball  2003 – 2013

• Former Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame Committee Member

• East Gaston Touchdown Club President,  2001 – 2003

• Stuart Cramer Athletic Booster Club President, 2012 - 2016

• 5-Term Mayor – 2003-04 and 2009 – present

• Ordained deacon at Tuckaseege and Grace Baptist Church – served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Grace Baptist and currently attends First Baptist Church in Mount Holly

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To email the Mayor/City Council or request a Proclamation, contact our City Clerk Amy Miller at amy.miller@mtholly.us.