Retired Surgical Nurse/Mayor of Sylva, has spent 26 years in elected office, the last 15 years as Mayor.

Education: Diploma of Nursing, University of Tennessee School of Nursing, Knoxville.

Family: Married to Paul Holt; children Lora Rector, Francis Oliver, Gary Oliver, Bobby Oliver, Jayne Woodyard and Mandy Oliver; two stepsons, Flip Holt and Drew Holt; eight grandchildren.

We Asked:
1: How did you become interested in your profession and what brought you to your current job?
2: What do you like most about your job?
3: What do you like least about your job?
4: What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
5: What is your favorite leisure time activity?
6: What is the last book you’ve read/movie you’ve seen/music you’ve heard that inspired you?
7: Tell us about a person or organization in Jackson County whose work you admire?
8: What keeps you living in Jackson County?
9: Where is your favorite place in Jackson County?
10: What is your hope for the future of Jackson County?

1: We were victims of flash flooding and sustained considerable damage to our property. The flooding was the result of erosion from road construction. I attempted to get assistance and compensation from multiple agencies and I was given the brush off and told it was just “an act of God.” I became angry and decided we needed more responsive people running our government, so I ran for office. I was defeated by a small margin, less than five votes, but I did not give up. I credit the League of Women Voters for giving me a background in looking at issues from different perspectives. I was a better-informed candidate when I ran the next time. In 1981 I was first woman elected to the Sylva Town Board.

2: I like interacting with people and I like to think I have made a difference in the quality of life for all of the citizens of Sylva. I have been fortunate to be on the National League of Cities Board of Directors and now serve on the National League of Cities Board of Directors. This has given me the opportunity to meet many people who are collectively working for better government in all cities in America. My favorite thing to do is go into the elementary schools and talk to the children about what I do as mayor. They are so uninhibited and ask such wonderful questions.

3: The thing I like least is making hard decisions that are going to negatively impact some people even though they may positively impact the majority of the citizens.

4: Always listen with empathy. Another one loosely translated, “Don’t get into an ‘exchange’ with a skunk.”

5: Hiking and photography are my favorite leisure time activities.

6: The Long Emergency, it talks about the peak oil crisis, global warming, and sustainable living.

7: There are so many great organizations involved in worthwhile causes that I would have a hard time coming up with just one. The service organizations we have such as The Community Table, Habitat for Humanity, The Good Samaritan Clinic, Health Link, Mountain Projects and United Christian Ministries are all geared to helping our people in need and I admire those who volunteer to keep these organizations viable.

8: The strong sense of place I feel in Sylva keeps me here. I can’t help but feel a sense of pride when I come down Main Street and see people walking, laughing and enjoying our place in the world. I can’t think of anywhere else I had rather be.

9: Sylva and the Pinnacle are my favorite places in Jackson County.

10: My hope is to see orderly growth so the quality of life is maintained. This will require a lot of planning and visioning. I want to see every culture represented in Jackson County accepted without prejudice. I want to see our youth have the choice of staying here for employment opportunities instead of having to go elsewhere to find suitable jobs. My hope is for present and future generations to create and utilize solutions for a more sustainable environment so they can enjoy the beauty of Jackson County for years to come.