Council

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.  

Laura A. Taylor, Vice-Mayor, is a native of Wise and graduated from J.J. Kelly High School.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from UVA-Wise, and her Master of Business Administration degree from King University.  Laura holds the designation of Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) with the Association of Government Accountants and is currently employed as Executive Director for a regional government authority.  Laura has previously served on the Town of Wise Planning Commission and Wise Town Council.  

Caynor Smith, Jr., Mayor, 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.

Teresa Adkins. Council Member, 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.

Sammie “Duane” Phillips, Council Member, was born in Detroit MI. and moved to Wise with my family in 1970. He attended school in Wise and graduated from JJ Kelly High School in 1984. He attended Mountain Empire Community College and graduated from their Professional Leadership Academy. He joined the Wise Vol. Fire Department in 1982 as a junior member and is currently a lifetime member. He has held numerous positions in the Department and was elected as Chief in 2016, since then he has stepped down from position. He is a Certified Adjunct Instructor for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs since 1993. He pursued a career in Law Enforcement and has been a full-time employee of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office since 2001 and is presently serving as a Lt in the Criminal Investigation Division. He has served on the Town of Wise Planning Commission since 2018.