Six candidates vying for three open seats on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners outlined their priorities Thursday morning during the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s Power Breakfast Election: 2024. 

Topics discussed during the forum covered the county’s ongoing growth and development, storm resiliency and appointments to the New Hanover Community Endowment. The candidates will face off on the ballot on Nov. 7 with early voting starting Oct. 17.

Current Board of Commissioners chair Bill Rivenbark and Commissioner Dane Scalise, both Republicans, are running for re-election along with long-time Democratic Commissioner Jonathan Barfield. Republican candidate John Hinnant is also running for a seat along with Democratic candidates Cassidy Santaguida and Stephanie Walker, a current New Hanover County School Board member.

Following candidate introductions, the forum kicked off with a question about how local leaders should address flooding issues in New Hanover County. 

Barfield pointed to the county’s efforts following Hurricane Florence to create a department dedicated to cleaning out ditches and streams to ensure floodwater flows and drains properly. He said the county needs to continue these efforts to limit flooding in residential areas.

Santaguida said the storm that dropped 20 inches of rain on parts of the county earlier this week is a good reminder that while local leaders can’t control the weather, they can control how they plan for and respond to storms.

Rivenbark advocated working specifically with the leaders of Carolina Beach to address the town’s flooding issues.

“We have got to fix Carolina Beach,” he said. “They've got a bad problem. They're just like New Orleans – it rains, the streets flood. (It) doesn't have to be a bad storm.”

When it comes to growth and development, most of the candidates agreed that New Hanover County needs to take an approach that balances the need for housing with the preservation of green spaces and quality of life for existing residents.

Hinnant, a commercial real estate broker, said it’s important to understand the region’s supply and demand dynamics. He pointed to a need to construct more housing for college graduates landing jobs at Wilmington-area companies.

“We need all types of housing,” he said, “but our most important focus is workforce housing.” 

Rivenbark pointed to the county’s commitment in 2022 to investing $15 million in affordable housing over five years. While Santaguida said she’s impressed with the county’s investment, she believes that investment will need to grow as the region continues to develop. Walker said it’s important to evaluate development with a “smart growth mindset.” 

The candidates also fielded a question about how they would choose appointees to the New Hanover Community Endowment Board. The more than $1 billion endowment was created with funds from the county’s sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health. The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners is charged with appointing five of the endowment board’s 13 members.

The appointments need to be a conversation between all board members, according to Barfield. He said he didn’t weigh in on recent appointment decisions and would like to see that change.

“To me, it needs to be a comprehensive conversation with all five commissioners,” he said, “and we all weigh in on what's important as we move forward with endowment.”

Walker said she believes it’s important to appoint people who can identify community issues and use the endowment’s funds to address them.

“I would try and find people that really want to objectively look at the issues that we are facing here,” she said, “and tackle those problems with the mindset of life-changing, generational change.”

In response to a question about concerns over the quality of care at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following its sale to Novant Health, many of the candidates said while they see room for change, they believe improvements are being made.

In closing, each candidate offered a reason for residents to vote for them in the upcoming election.

Barfield said his “proven and trusted leadership” should earn the public’s vote.

“One thing about me, my yes is always a yes, and my no is always a no,” he said. “You know where I stand.”

Hinnant said he’s running because he can offer effective leadership and a new perspective on the board of commissioners. Rivenbark said he has several initiatives he wants to continue working on in another term.

Santaguida said, as a single mother and a leader in the tech sector, she would bring a “fresh perspective” to the board of commissioners. Walker touted her range of experience while serving on the New Hanover County School Board and her connection to the community. 

Scalise kept his reasoning short and direct: “You should vote for me because I get things done,” he said.

To watch the full Board of Commissioners forum click here: