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ELECTION 2016: White, Kusek, Barfield take New Hanover County board seats

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Draped in her signature purple, Patricia Kusek hugged everyone she could after learning that she had been elected to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. The results came after a see-saw night that saw candidates rise and drop as various districts came in, with Kusek mingling with supporters at the county Republican viewing party in between checking updates with commissioner Woody White, who won re-election along with Democratic commissioner Jonathan Barfield, Jr.

“Knowing how hard we worked and with the way the last couple of weeks unfolded, this is just unbelievable,” Kusek said.

While Kusek was fourth after early votes came in, she moved up late in the evening, securing the second-place finish by just 14 points over Barfield.

Repeat Republican candidate Derrick Hickey was at one point listed in second place before all 43 New Hanover County voting precincts reported, before dropping to fourth, with former Democratic commissioner Julia Boseman falling to fifth after holding third place for part of the evening.

With the Monday, Nov. 14 meeting being the last for current board chair Beth Dawson, White said he wanted to enjoy the victory before making any decisions about the board’s future leadership after being asked whether he would seek appointment as chair. White endorsed Kusek before the election, who along with commissioner Skip Watkins would make up a conservative majority on the commission, White said.

White also said that the “lame duck” board should postpone consideration of a new Special Use Permit industrial permit review process until after the new board is seated. A public hearing on the issue is schedule for the Monday meeting.

Republicans sweep school board race

In other elections, Republicans Lisa Estep, David Lee Wortman and Jeannette S. Nichols convincingly won seats on the New Hanover County Board of Education. Incumbent Estep led all candidates with 19.4 percent of the vote, with newcomer Worthman capturing 17.1 percent and incumbent Nichols grabbing 16.9 percent. Nichols won 2,650 more votes than Democrat Sandra Leigh, with Emma Saunders and Kevin Spears following behind.

Lee, Rouzer, Hamilton cruise to victory

Republican N.C. Sen. Michael Lee cruised to a dominating victory over first-time Democratic candidate Andrew Barnhill, winning 57 percent of the New Hanover County vote for the District 9 seat. U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C. 7th District, also won reelection, taking 55 percent of the New Hanover County votes and 61 percent of the votes throughout the district.

“I will continue to work on the issues important to the people of this district and remain a strong advocate for our national defense and a less intrusive and smaller federal government so that we can once again be prosperous at home and strong abroad,” Rouzer said.

Incumbent Democratic N.C. Rep. Susi Hamilton also easily won re-election, besting Republican challenger Gerald “Jerry” Benton by taking 61 percent of the vote.

Cooper leading McCrory in close contest

While North Carolina delivered a convincing victory for Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump, giving the President-elect a 176,973 vote margin, the state’s sitting Republican governor wasn’t able to ride the wave. N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper led Gov. Pat McCrory with all precincts reporting, holding a narrow 5,001 vote lead.

“This has been an extremely hard fought race, but the people of North Carolina have spoken and they have chosen a change in leadership,” Cooper said in a public statement early Wednesday morning. “We are confident once the results are certified we will confirm tonight’s victory.”

Harrell wins judicial seat, Wilmington approves park bond

A family attorney based out of Burgaw, Kent Harrell was elected Superior Court Judge 5B, winning the the position held for 25 years by W. Allen Cobb, Jr.. Harrell won by a convincing margin over District Court Judge Melinda Crouch and New Hanover County prosecutor Connie Jordan.

Wilmington voters overwhelmingly approved a $30 million bond to build and upgrade a series of city parks. The bond will help fund the construction of the proposed North Waterfront Park and a new soccer field complex and pay for upgrades to Olsen Park, the MLK Community Center and the municipal golf course.

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