Smithfield’s Town Council on Jan. 7 unanimously elected Mike Smith as the town’s next mayor.

He succeeds Steve Bowman, who’d held the role since 2023. Bowman, who was elected to a four-year term in a five-way race for four council seats in 2022, will continue as one of seven council members.

Bowman himself nominated Smith for the role. Smith, who’s entering his fourth consecutive four-year term, is the longest-serving of the seven council members.

Smith had been the one to nominate Bowman for mayor in January 2023.

In Smithfield, the mayor is not elected directly by voters but by a majority vote of the sitting council members every two years.

Smith received the second-highest number of votes in the five-way November race for three seats that saw him and first-time candidates Mary Ellen Bebermeyer and Darren Cutler oust incumbents Jim Collins and Raynard Gibbs. Bill Harris, another first-time candidate, ran unopposed in a separate special election for the two-year remainder of the term ex-Councilman Wayne Hall vacated in 2023.

Smith and the three newcomers each campaigned on reining in growth and development and were endorsed as a slate by Citizens for Responsible Leadership, a Smithfield-based political action committee that formed with the stated goal of “ensuring that development is managed properly.” Smith had cast dissenting votes in 2021 on the town’s rezoning approval of the 812-home Mallory Pointe development off Battery Park Road and in 2023 for the 267-home Grange at 10Main mixed-use development at the western edge of the town’s historic district.

“I want to thank everyone who’s come out tonight and it’s not just tonight that you came out. You’ve come out many nights. … I know how hard people worked for the group that endorsed us, CRL group, and hats off to them,” Smith said. “We couldn’t have done that without them. It was the first time that I’ve ever seen anything executed like that in the town of Smithfield. It brought the citizens together just as you’ve come out tonight to be together with us, and it shows that we have a new direction for town involvement and citizen involvement and we’re looking forward to working with all of you.”

The council then voted, also unanimously, to elect Harris as vice mayor.

Harris has been a frequent speaker during the public comment periods at council and Planning Commission meetings over the past two years.

“Bill is no stranger to this town or in the proceedings of our council and Planning Commission. I’m looking forward to his vision and experience,” said Councilman Jeff Brooks, who nominated Harris. “Bill was previously recommended to be appointed to this council, which did not pass, and now the voters have spoken by electing him to this council and I support him as well. I fully endorse him as our newest vice mayor.”

Isle of Wight County Clerk of Circuit Court Laura Smith, at the start of the meeting, swore in Smith, Bebermeyer and Cutler. Smith had previously sworn in Harris in November.

“I want to thank the previous council for the honor of allowing me to serve as vice mayor for the town of Smithfield these past two years and it’s been a privilege to work alongside council, staff, as well as the community, focusing on moving Smithfield forward,” said Councilwoman Valerie Butler, who preceded Harris as vice mayor. “I look forward to serving my last two years on Town Council and hope together we can build a stronger and more vibrant and inclusive community for all.”

Smith, as mayor, is tasked with presiding over council meetings and appointing committee members. Using that authority, he named Cutler as the council’s new liaison to the town’s Planning Commission.

Cutler succeeds former Councilman Randy Pack in the role. Pack, whose council term ended Dec. 31, chose not to run for reelection in 2024.