Cross, Munro vie for Norris Council seat

July 8, 2026 by G. Chambers Williams III

The Norris City Council plans to choose a replacement on Monday (July 13) for former Councilwoman Loretta Painter, who resigned in May.

That person would fill the remainder of Painter’s term, which ends in early December following the biennial City Council election on Nov. 3.

Two potential candidates have expressed interest in the short-term appointment – residents Zach Cross and Alex Munro.

And in a surprise announcement last week, nine-term Mayor Chris Mitchell said he would not be standing for re-election in November for another two years on the council, but that he would serve out his current term.

“I will not be entering into City Council Election process this cycle,” he said in an email to city officials, including council members. “I will be serving out my current term, and assisting in the transition process as requested.

“[I’m] excited about starting some new great adventures,” he added, without further comment.

Mitchell is in his 18th year on the City Council, and has also been mayor during the entire time. In Norris, the mayor is chosen by the newly elected council during its first meeting following the city election.

Painter, the only woman on the five-member council, was first elected in 2014, and was in her sixth two-year term.

The other three members of the current council are Bill Grieve, who joined the council when Painter did in 2014; Vice Mayor Charles P. “Chuck” Nicholson, first elected to the council in 2022; and Travis Honeycutt, who was appointed last December to replace Councilman Will Grinder, who resigned in October.

So far, only Nicholson has filed to run in this year’s council election, but the filing deadline is not until noon on Aug. 20, according to the Anderson County Election Commission website.

Grieve told The Courier News in May that he does plan to seek re-election this year.

For more information on the two people who are seeking appointment to the council next week, see:

• Zach Cross: www.cityofnorris.com/uploads/1/4/3/7/143740943/cross_council_interest_june_2026.pdf.

• Alex Munro: www.cityofnorris.com/uploads/1/4/3/7/143740943/munro_council_interest_june_2026.pdf.