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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

Election 2017: Leland Town Council, Part 1

L to R: Pat Batleman, Sandra Ford

The Leland Town Council has four members that serve staggered four-year terms. Arguably, the biggest challenge facing Leland Town Council is dealing with the rapid growth and accompanying infrastructure needs. There are four candidates on the ballot for the two open seats. 

Pat Batleman, an incumbent, has lived in Leland since 2005. She retired after 40 years spent primarily in Washington DC. Sandra Ford is a newcomer and an environmental advocate with BEAT – Brunswick Environmental Action Team. 

Pat Batleman is aiming for a third term on the Leland Town Council.

“What we want to accomplish is managed growth. And at the same time we want to be able to focus in on the things that we are going to have to have under control, to manage this growth such as the infrastructure situation, traffic, affordable housing.”

And she adds, economic development.

Sandra Ford is running in Leland for the first time.

“Leland I feel like is at a crossroads right now, it’s developed for the last 10 years, 20 years. And it’s big enough now that I think it’s time for Leland to decide what it really wants to be. I would like to see Leland be a strong advocate in Brunswick County for clean water, clean air, a good place for retirees to move to but also for families.”

Election Day is November 7. Early voting is underway. 

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.