Get to Know Councilman Jeff Wilbur

Councilman Jeff Wilbur represents residents in Ward 5. Though he's not originally from here (he hails from Babylon, New York, and his neighbor was Captain Kangaroo!), he has lived in Cherokee County for more than 40 years and has spent the last 17 years as a citizen of Holly Springs. He made a career in telecom at Bellsouth, then pursued a post-retirement career in insurance.

If you haven't caught him on the dais during a Council meeting, you've probably seen him around Cherokee County volunteering his time with the Friends of Holly Springs Police Foundation, Cherokee DUI/Drug Treatment Court - Friends of Recovery Foundation, or The Children's Haven.

Councilman Wilbur was first sworn into office on September 28, 2020, after being appointed by City Council to fill the unexpired term of former Councilman Jeremy Smith who resigned from office on August 29, 2020. Councilman Wilbur then ran for the Ward 5 seat during the 2020 election. His current term ends December 31, 2024.

Councilman Wilber answered a few questions to help his constituents get to know him and his desires for Holly Springs:

What's something that people would be surprised to find out about you?
At a younger age, I was challenged to jump off a bridge that was 80 feet above a waterway. With little hesitation, I took the challenge and jumped into the water below. I have yet to meet anyone else who has jumped from the bridge I conquered.

What has been your biggest challenge as an elected official?
It's difficult to accept that you cannot please all the people all the time. I find it disheartening at times that there is disagreement surrounding one thing that may be seen as a positive for one group and seen as a negative by others.

What are the biggest issues you see facing Holly Springs over the next decade?
Growth, growth, growth. Most of the residents, if not native residents, came here for tranquility, a quiet lifestyle, and safety all nestled in the beauty of a smaller community. When a good thing exists, as Holly Springs is, you cannot turn it on and off and tell folks not to come anymore. People will continue to come. They will come for many different reasons. However, the peace, tranquility, and safety, I would hope, will remain embedded in our community for decades to come. It will require a balancing of the positive aspects of proper growth along with meeting the wishes and needs of current and future residents of our community.

What do you want people to know about Holly Springs?

Holly Springs is not a speed trap. Drivers must grossly exceed the posted speed limit before being presented with a "Driving Award."