Joe Breault, Mayor Pro Tem of the Town of Belville, is moving to Florida a little more than halfway through his second term as Commissioner.
According to U.S. Census data, Belville boasts a population of slightly more than two-thousand, and it claims less than two square miles which is surrounded by the Town of Leland. Despite the Town’s diminutive size, Joe Breault has seen fit to aggressively push a vision connecting the entire Cape Fear region through blueways and greenways – and the beginning of that vision – is coming to fruition on Belville’s riverfront. He was also part of a controversial move to transfer assets of a water utility serving Leland to the Town of Belville – in hopes of keeping plans on track for a reverse osmosis plant.
The first time Joe Breault ran for a seat on Belville’s Town Board -- he lost. In 2011, he ran again and won about 34% of the vote – first place. In Belville seven years ago, that translated to 169 votes. Running for a second term in 2015, he was one of two candidates on the ballot for one of two seats. Pat Bryant and Joe Breault received exactly the same number of votes – 89.
He’s with us today to talk his time as a public official in Belville, his contribution to the future of the Cape Fear region, and to pull back the curtain a bit on the life he’s lived up to now – and perhaps – some of the key lessons he’s learned. His resignation is effective after the July 16th meeting.
Guest:
Joe Breault, Belville Mayor Pro Tem, Town Commissioner