Sara Wood

Last night the race among the 6 New Hanover County commission candidates was close. Voters elected two new commissioners and brought back a familiar face. Chairman Jonathan Barfield earned another term, while newcomer Republicans Woody White and Beth Dawson join the board. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports Dawson is the first woman elected to the commission since 2008.

Dawson captured the second highest percentage of votes, winning a seat with 18 percent. She says she plans to work hard to build consensus, even if the road ahead requires some patience.

After almost a year of negotiations and emotional debate, Wilmington’s 37-million dollar stadium referendum died last night. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports the referendum was defeated in every precinct in the City of Wilmington.

Seventy percent of voters within the City of Wilmington rejected the referendum. But both sides of the issue remained optimistic until the very end. Scott Harry with the Vote No Stadium Tax Committee says voters were heard loud and clear. And now he wants the New Hanover County Commissioners to hear their message, too.

The trip to the polls for millions of Americans is quick and easy. The hardest part may be enduring long lines. But for those who struggle with literacy, it can be hard to find the courage to stand in that line at all. New Hanover County resident James Tramble dropped out of school in the fourth grade. He learned to navigate the world without reading or writing. At 65 years old, Tramble’s never voted. But this year is different. WHQR's Sara Wood brings us his story, and what it means to vote for the first time.

While record numbers of North Carolina voters cast early ballots before One Stop Voting ends Saturday, the state board of elections is concerned with reports of inappropriate behavior at the polls. From fighting to voter misinformation, WHQR’s Sara Wood has more on the growing emotions of this election season.

As winds from Hurricane Sandy calm along the North Carolina coast, crews from the state department of transportation are beginning to assess the damage.

Today is the last day for New Hanover County residents to register to vote for the November 6 election. But if you haven’t made this happen yet, don’t fear. WHQR’s Sara Wood found some good advice for weathering voting season.

With less than a week before One Stop Voting, or early voting, begins, Elections Director Marvin McFadyen says the most important thing for voters to do is make sure registration is up to date and accurate.

Several issues were discussed during last night’s North Carolina Senate District 9 forum at the WHQR Gallery, but education continued to surface as one of the central debates. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports incumbent Republican Thom Goolsby and Democratic opponent Deb Butler argued the merits and failures of the state’s education system.

During last night’s North Carolina Senate District 9 Forum at the WHQR Gallery, panelist Jon Evans of WECT asked candidates if they would resurrect the voter ID bill vetoed last year by Governor Bev Perdue. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports incumbent Republican Thom Goolsby and Democratic candidate Deb Butler passionately disagreed while toeing the party lines.

The two candidates running for the House District 18 seat agreed on some issues last night at WHQR’s candidate forum. Refusing to sign a pledge against raising taxes was one part of the common ground. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports Republican challenger Louis Harmati and Democratic incumbent Susi Hamilton both agree to keep their names off this list.

Unlike some of his fellow Republican party members, Harmati says he won’t sign his name on that kind of promise.

Traffic woes in the Cape Fear Region were one of the topics at last night’s House District 18 Forum in the WHQR Gallery. WHQR’s Sara Wood reports Democratic incumbent Susi Hamilton and Republican challenger Louis Harmati were asked how they would solve the plight of motorists traveling between New Hanover and Brunswick Counties.