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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT
00000177-efb4-dee4-afff-efbec5710000Click here for voting information on polling places, voter registration, and more. To meet the people who want to represent you, click on the “live” links below for one-on-one interviews with candidates and our HQR news staff. Posted interviews are longer versions--averaging 10 minutes--of our on-air election coverage. New interviews are posted weekly and all candidate interviews will be posted by October 22nd. For CoastLIne interviews, click on “live” links below, subscribe to our CoastLine podcast on iTunes, or Search WHQR-FM: CoastLine to hear our most recent shows.Altogether, our continuing coverage will include almost 60 interviews and over 10 hours of conversation.HQR News 91.3 FM...For complete Election 2019 News and Coverage.Municipal Election Results:Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo Holds Onto Seat by 4 Points Against Devon Scott ChallengeLeAnn Pierce Makes History In Carolina Beach Mayor RaceVeronica Carter Scores Most Votes In Leland Town Council RaceNewcomer Kevin Spears Wins Wilmington City Council SeatBrunswick County 2019 Municipal Election Results Include Incumbent UpsetsLeland Mayor Brenda Bozeman Trounces ChallengerWrightsville Beach Sees Mayor Pro Tem Nab Mayoral Seat; No Contests in Kure BeachReverse Osmosis Plan Supporters Win Majority On H2GO Board2019 Pender County Election ResultsMunicipal Election Day Turnout Appears Strong, Despite Rainy AfternoonOne-on-one Candidate Interviews:Wilmington City Council (3 open seats)Neil AndersonMack CoyleMargaret HaynesPaul LawlerAlexandria Monroe, not actively pursuing candidacyScott MonroeHarry Smith, Jr.Kimberly SpaderKevin SpearsMatt ThriftTown of Carolina Beach Council (2 open seats)Lynn BarbeeDebi DiNataleJay HealyShell Serracin-Macon, not actively pursuing candidacySteve ShuttleworthTown of Leland Council (2 open seats)Bob CampbellVeronica A. CarterLouis HarmatiRick PaxtonTown of Surf City MayorDoug MedlinJeremy ShugartsTown of Surf City Council (3 open seats)William J. (Buddy) FowlerDavid GilbrideDonald HelmsKathleen G. SumnerDwight TorresRichard B. VessovTown of Wrightsville Beach - MayorGreg BuscemiDarryl MillsTown of Oak Island Council (3 open seats)Sheila Mansfield BellCharlie BlalockNiki CutlerMichael (Mike) DefeoDara RoyalJeff WinecoffCity of Southport Board of Alderman Ward 1 (1 open seat)Tom LombardiDavid MillerRobert Tucker, not actively pursuing candidacyCity of Southport Board of Alderman Ward 2 (2 open seats)Nelson E. AdamsJohn AllenLowe DavisEric KingJim PowellRick PukenasCoastLine Coverage:City of Wilmington - Mayor Bill SaffoDevon ScottTown of Carolina Beach - MayorTom ElicsonLeAnn Pierce T.D. ScaringiDorrene StanleyTown of Leland - MayorBrenda BozemanShirley A. Lawler, After filing to run for Mayor, she initially told us she’d participate in the CoastLine Candidate Interviews. But multiple attempts by WHQR to confirm her interview have gone unanswered.Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2GO Commissioner (2 open seats)John BradleyJeff GerkenSteve HosmerBarry Laub City of Southport - MayorJerry DoveJoe Pat HatemOther Election Coverage:New Hanover County Early Voting Numbers Up 51% from 2017CoastLine Elections 2019: Reporter Round Table with Port City DailyNC 9th District Race Highlights Challenges for Republicans In 2020*Editor's Note: We have invited all candidates to attend the CoastLine Candidate and reporter interviews. Any additional inquiries of Election 2019 can be sent to rkeith@whqr.org.

Harry Smith Jr. Wants To Bring Accountability To Wilmington City Council

Harry Smith Jr.

Harry Smith Jr. is running for the first time for Wilmington City Council. After watching this year’s short-term rental housing debate, he decided to get involved.  He’s not a fan of how the city gets things done.

Military veteran Harry Smith Jr. builds TV and movie sets for Filmwerks – a production company - in Rocky Point.

He has quite a few questions when it comes to local government. What does Wilmington want to be? He asks, should it be a retirement community or a medical hub? And when it comes to spending, he wants more accountability.

“River Place, I don't understand why we're so far over budget. Northside Park, how are we $2 million over budget before we come out of the ground? Galleria, how are we $3.8 million in and the developers start to think about backing out unless we give him more. We always say it's costing the city. It's not costing the city. It's costing the taxpayers of the city because the city has no money till we give them the money. So that's my concern.”

Smith is also pushing for more parks and green space to match demand as the population continues to grow. Vince Winkel, WHQR News.

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Listen to the extended interview here