The mayor of Lexington, North Carolina is Jason Hayes, who took office in December 2022.1Lexington, NC. Mayor Community Update: March 2025 He presides over the city council and serves as the city’s official head, but Lexington runs on a council-manager system, so the day-to-day operation of city government is handled by a professional city manager rather than by the mayor.2City of Lexington, NC. City Administration
Who Jason Hayes Is
Hayes won the mayoral seat in 2022 and was sworn in that December, bringing a background in local business and community involvement to the office. He campaigned on economic development and infrastructure improvements. He remained in the role into 2025, continuing to issue community updates through the city’s official channels.1Lexington, NC. Mayor Community Update: March 2025
What the Mayor Actually Does
Presides Over Council Meetings
North Carolina law makes the mayor the presiding officer at every council meeting.3North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 160A-69 – Mayor to Preside Over Council That means running the meeting, recognizing speakers, and keeping proceedings orderly. The mayor is not counted among the eight voting council members.4Lexington, NC. Mayor and Council
Breaks Tie Votes
Because Lexington’s mayor is elected directly by voters rather than chosen from among council members, the mayor votes only when the council deadlocks.3North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 160A-69 – Mayor to Preside Over Council With eight council members, ties are a real possibility, and that tie-breaking vote is where the mayor’s legislative influence lives.
Represents the City Officially
State law recognizes the mayor as the official head of the city for ceremonial purposes and for receiving legal documents such as civil process.5North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 160A-67 – General Powers of Mayor and Council The mayor signs ordinances and official contracts, speaks for Lexington at public events and state functions, and serves as the community’s most visible elected leader. The council can also delegate additional duties to the mayor by action consistent with state law.
Can Hold Emergency Authority
North Carolina’s Emergency Management Act lets a city’s governing body declare a local state of emergency and delegate that declaration power to the mayor by ordinance.6North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 166A Article 1A – North Carolina Emergency Management Act Once activated, the declaration can impose restrictions like curfews, limits on alcohol or firearms sales, and movement controls within the emergency area. The area generally cannot extend past the city’s jurisdictional boundaries without the consent of the county or neighboring municipalities.
What the Mayor Does Not Do
Under Lexington’s council-manager form of government, the mayor does not manage city employees, approve purchases, run departments, or appoint department heads. Those responsibilities belong to the city manager, who is hired by the council to carry out the policies the council sets.2City of Lexington, NC. City Administration Residents who contact the mayor’s office expecting direct action on an operational problem are usually routed to the manager’s side of the organization.
Mayor Pro Tempore
At its organizational meeting, the council elects one of its own members as mayor pro tempore.7North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code 160A-70 – Mayor Pro Tempore That person keeps full voting rights as a council member and counts toward quorum. When the mayor is absent, the council can grant the pro tem any of the mayor’s powers so city business keeps moving.
Term Length and How the Mayor Is Elected
The mayor is elected at-large, so every registered voter in Lexington casts a ballot for the office regardless of ward. The term is two years, and regular municipal elections take place in odd-numbered years.4Lexington, NC. Mayor and Council That is a shorter cycle than the four-year mayoral terms used in some larger North Carolina cities, which means Lexington voters weigh in on the office more often.
Municipal elections in Lexington are nonpartisan, so candidates appear on the ballot without party labels.8North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code Chapter 163 Article 24 – Nonpartisan Municipal Elections The winner is sworn in that December and takes an oath to uphold the state and federal constitutions before beginning the term.