With only 10 percent of New Hanover County voters making it to the polls on Tuesday, the two incumbents running for re-election will retain their seats on the Wilmington City Council, while the open third seat was decided by less than 100 votes. Meanwhile, Kure Beach’s mayor lost his bid for r-eelection by a convincing margin.
Wilmington Mayor Pro-Tem Margaret Haynes led all candidates with 4,081 votes, capturing 22.3 percent of the electorate, while council member Neil Anderson will retain his seat by garnering 16.8 percent of the vote.
They will be joined by Paul Lawler, who received 2,960 votes defeating Deb Hays by a mere 88 vote margin, pre canvas. Lawler, a retired certified public accountant who served on the city’s steering committee for the land-use plan known as the Comprehensive Plan, will take the place of council member Laura Padgett, who chose not to seek re-election. Hays serves on the city’s planning committee.
In Kure Beach, Emilie Swearingen defeated sitting mayor Dean Lambert by capturing 54.4 percent of the 510 votes cast.
Wrightsville Beach Mayor Bill Blair, who was unchallenged, captured 241 votes, with 12 voters writing in other names. Aldermen Darryl Mills and Elizabeth Brown King also won re-election in unchallenged races, with 24 write-in votes cast.
With steady rain throughout the region, only 9,427 voters out of New Hanover County’s 90,604 registered voters turned out.
“I think the turnout was historically low,” said Haynes, who said she spent most of the day at the Bradley Creek voting location.
Haynes, who wants to see more mixed-use development, said the city council will have to work to implement several projects, including the Cross City Trail, a convention center hotel, a 7-acre park on the Cape Fear River and new parking in the city’s north end.
“There are lots of great things happening in Wilmington,” Haynes said.
Anderson said he brings a different perspective to the council because he’s working and raising a family, where several other members are retired.
Anderson said one of the priorities for the council will be figuring out how to handle the city’s anticipated revenue growth. Another will be implementing the city’s comprehensive growth plan.
“That’s going to be a lot to swallow,” Anderson said. “It will take two years to write the code and ordinances to reflect it. It’s going to be all of our priority, like it or not.”
Lawler agreed with the other council members that economic development and long-term land-use planning would be early priorities.
“The growth is coming, so we’ve got to figure that out,” Lawler said. “The Comprehensive Plan is a good start.”
Lawler also said public safety was something that the council should continue to address.
“We have to look at proactive strategies,” said Lawler, adding that little things like more street lights, better sidewalks and more activities for the city’s youth could help alleviate some crime problems.
The election comes as one former New Hanover County Commissioner announced he would not seek re-election. North Carolina state Representative Rick Catlin, R-New Hanover County, said this week that he would continue to serve through next year’s short session up to Dec. 31, 2016, but then would have to return focus to his environmental consulting business, Catlin Engineers and Scientists.
“During this last year all of my loyal Catlin Engineers and Scientists employees have worked very hard to help me during the long legislative session. Out of respect for my professional employees and their families, I have resumed my business responsibilities, Catlin stated in a press release. “I will work both jobs through the short session next year to continue to keep our planet safe and be fair to all citizens.”
Catlin’s district includes Landfall and Figure Eight Island.
Election results will not be final until the canvass is complete on Nov. 10, when the provisional votes are added into the totals.
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