© 2024 254 North Front Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, NC 28401 | 910.343.1640
News Classical 91.3 Wilmington 92.7 Wilmington 96.7 Southport
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Keeps Incumbents, Adds Kusek

New Hanover County’s Board of Commissioners race was one of the more fiercely fought local races.  At the end of the night on Tuesday, it appeared as though the two incumbents, Republican Woody White and Democrat Jonathan Barfield, will keep their seats.

Patricia Kusek, who has served on the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Board, is the newcomer and the second-highest vote-getter.  White took the most votes, garnering more than 18%, with Kusek coming in at nearly 17% and Jonathan Barfield coming in just behind Kusek – by a margin of about 14 votes. 

Kusek says once she’s sworn in, she plans to roll up her sleeves.

"We have a lot of work to do because it’s not going to be long before the budget cycle comes up.  Then the special use permit and the zoning ordinances are all in the process of being re-worked right now.  And it’s all going to be about getting everybody who is elected on board.  It’s time for people to take the R and the D out from in front of their names and put an N for New Hanover County."

Three-time Republican candidate Derrick Hickey came in just behind Barfield -- with a difference of 443 votes as of early Wednesday morning. 

Former North Carolina State Senator Julia Boseman, a Democrat finished fifth -- but that meant a mere 12 votes behind Hickey. 

Democrat and political newcomer Nelson Beaulieu logged the fewest votes at 41,406.

The results are unofficial until the votes are canvassed Friday, November 18th

The Parks and Recreation Bond for the City of Wilmington passed by more than 14,500 votes. 

Rachel hosts and produces CoastLine, an award-winning hourlong conversation featuring artists, humanitarians, scholars, and innovators in North Carolina. The show airs Wednesdays at noon and Sundays at 4 pm on 91.3 FM WHQR Public Media. It's also available as a podcast; just search CoastLine WHQR. You can reach her at rachellh@whqr.org.