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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.

Wrightsville Beach Govt. Needs To Consider The Future, Says Mayoral Candidate Greg Buscemi

Greg Buscemi
Greg Buscemi is running for Wrightsville Beach Mayor.

Greg Buscemi is hoping to be the next Mayor of Wrightsville Beach.  He’s a practicing lawyer, loves the beach, and says the current Board of Aldermen is not doing enough to communicate with its citizens.  

He tells WHQR that while he’s new to politics, he would not make any significant policy changes without public input.  He also believes Wrightsville Beach needs to face the future.

Retreat.  It’s a radical strategy for coastal communities. It means pulling back from the current footprint to allow the ocean to do what it will do.  And Greg Buscemi thinks people in Wrightsville Beach should consider it – even though retreat isn’t popular in coastal towns. 

So why does he think he can get elected when he includes that issue in his platform?

"Well, the people I’m campaigning to are the voters.  And on the Island, not many voters are the ones that own the properties along the oceanfront.  There are a lot of those homes that are owned by corporations that are owned by individuals out of the town, out of the state, that are being used as for-profit assets pretty much benefitting from their spot on the shoreline… Sure, there’s the additional saving the beach, allowing tourists to come and having the room to do the activities, but most of that is to prevent the insurance claims from those homes on the oceanfront."

He has other ideas for shoreline management – a tiered approach to taxes – much like a municipal service district – with oceanfront property owners paying more. 

He also wants to replace the warning sign at the jetty, blown off in Hurricane Florence, so people won’t risk their lives walking on it. 

greg_buscemi_web.mp3
Listen to the extended interview here.

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.