By Michelle Bliss
10-27-10 – This week, WHQR is asking candidates in the 18th District House race to discuss some of the top issues for New Hanover County.
In this year's midterm elections, Republican candidate Beth Dawson and Democratic candidate Susi Hamilton are both vying for a house seat.
The City of Wilmington recently released a priority list of 10 outlying areas, including Kings Grant and parts of Ogden, that are prime communities for annexation in the next several years.
House representatives are not involved with setting boundaries for annexation, but they can change laws and Republican candidate Beth Dawson says change is in order.
"The current annexation laws do not allow those being annexed to have a say in the matter, and often the municipality will not be providing any new services."
Dawson says North Carolina's annexation laws were established back when the state was primarily agricultural and cities needed help with the cost of extending services like water and sewer. Democratic candidate Susi Hamilton agrees that the laws need to be changed.
"People who are moving into areas that have been identified as possible areas for annexation ought to be aware of that before they make the decision to invest."
Both Hamilton and Dawson are running for office for the first time this election cycle.