The Town of Madison will soon need to replace its mayor.
After months of contention, mayor Jennifer Campbell resigned last week. The resignation came after a closed session that lasted more than an hour. Campbell said the conversation during the closed session was productive and reasonable progress had been made, but due to the contentious, hostile environment, she felt she could no longer accomplish any of the projects residents had elected her to do. The resignation was effective that night at midnight.
Vice mayor Charles Carter is expected to fulfill the duties of mayor until the position can be filled.
Meeting minutes from the past several months reveal a series of issues. In January, councilor Kimberly Pumphrey made a motion approving a private reprimand of an unnamed council member. It was approved unanimously by Pumphrey, Carter, Deborah Byram and Nancy Knighting. The Madison Mayor only votes in the case of a tie. In February, councilors unanimously approved the resolution of the private censure of a town council member.
In March, Campbell read a statement that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was not being followed stating agendas were not available at least three working days in advance of a meeting. In April, she expressed concerns about how meeting minutes were written and suggested several changes. She also stated she was recording the meetings, something town administrator Cheryl Yowell cautioned against as closed session discussions could be included jeopardizing the town’s compliance with statutory confidentiality requirements. Yowell also formally rebutted previous remarks regarding the FOIA. Attorney Maynard Sipe agreed. Campbell noted that she had been incorrect about the compliance issue.
In June, council members again proposed a public censure, this time naming Campbell. The following month, a town resident spoke during closed session, stating the council had given Campbell an ultimatum to either resign or face a court petition for her removal from office. Knighting responded that council members had worked hard to build a positive relationship with the mayor. However, a petition had been filed in June seeking to remove Campbell. It was signed by three council members, the planning commission members and board of zoning appeals members along with their spouses and family members. At the August meeting, a resolution of public censure against Campbell was approved 3-0 with Pumphrey absent. A resolution of support for the petition was also approved 3-0. During the same meeting, council members approved motions amending the public comment policy and setting a 90-minute time limit for meetings. The September meeting was cancelled.
Campbell was elected to office in 2024, beating opponent Dustyn Hickman with 60 votes, 57.14%. She took office in January 2025. According to the State Board of Elections, there are 160 registered voters in the town. She was the first new mayor in more than two decades with former mayor Willie Lamar serving from 2000 through 2024.
In addition to selecting a new mayor, the town council may also be seeking a new administrator. During the Oct. 1 Orange County Planning Commission meeting, Yowell was announced as the county’s new planning technician and zoning officer. Madison Town Council members have not yet accepted her resignation. Sipe said the council had opted not to do so and Yowell was still putting in “her hours.” Yowell previously left the town in 2022 to work in the Madison County Planning and Zoning Department. She returned to the town position months later.
