Council

Jeffery Dotson, Council Member, started working for the Town of Wise in 1979 as a police officer, soon thereafter he moved to Wise and has lived here ever since. Jeff retired from the Wise Police Department on February 29, 2012 & was elected to the Wise Town Council on May 1, 2012 and elected to serve as Mayor from 2018-2020. He is a member of the Wise Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Wise Baptist Church. Jeff has been married to his wonderful wife Kathy since 1980, and has two children.

Teresa Adkins, Mayor, is a native of Hinton, West Virginia who moved to Wise in 1980.  She received a B.S. degree in 1972 in Elementary Education, and a M.A. in 1977 in Reading Supervision at West Virginia University.  Teresa did additional graduate work at both East Tennessee State University and Radford University.  Teresa is married to Bob Adkins, member of the Wise County Board of Supervisors.  Teresa was elected to the Town of Wise Council in 2006 and also serves on the Mountain Empire Community College Board of Directors, the Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, the American Association of University Women, the Town and Country Garden Club, and is a member of the Wise Baptist Church.  Teresa is the former director of the Upward Bound program at UVA-Wise and a member of the Black History Committee of UVA-Wise.

Caynor Smith, Jr., Council Member, was born in Wise, Va. and graduated from J.J. Kelly High School and attended Clinch Valley College for 2 years and transferred to Samford University in Birmingham, Al. where he received a Pharm D. degree in Pharmacy.  He returned to Wise and started working as a pharmacist.  Married Mary Dora Schreiner in 1982 and they have two children which both live in SouthWest Va.  Caynor first served his community by volunteering on the Town of Wise's Planning Commission for 3 years.  In 1988, he decided to run for town council which he is still involved with today.  Caynor has been Mayor and Vice Mayor throughout the years.  He also represents the Town of Wise on the (CNW) Coeburn-Norton-Wise Regional Authority where he has been Chairman since 1990.

Ben Conway, Vice - Mayor, is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia who moved to Wise in 1995 to attend Clinch Valley College. He received Eagle Scout in 1993 prior to moving to Wise.  He received a B.S. in business administration, in 1999, and started Conway Woodworking that same year.  He is married to Brooke Conway and together they have 2 children.  Ben is the owner of AndMac Properties and co-owner of Blue Mountain Agriculture.  Ben is a member of the Jericho Shriners Temple, the Wise County Shrine Club and the Masonic Hoge Lodge #8.

Robin Dotson, Council Member, is a native of Wise and graduate of both JJ Kelly High School and UVA-Wise.  He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Radford University.  He has worked for the Wise County School system since 1984.  He is currently serving as a business teacher at Central 8 High School were he is also the girls basketball coach.  Robin is a member of the VHSL Hall of Fame and has won State Championships in girls basketball.  He also coaches the women's golf team at UVA Wise.  Robin is married to Karen Dotson and they have two children, Matt and Sarah.