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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.

Reverse Osmosis Plant Supporters Win Majority On H2G0 Board

https://www.h2goonline.com/home

H2G0 could be back on track for its own reverse osmosis water treatment plant.  Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2G0, the utility that serves just over eleven-thousand people in Brunswick County, is embroiled in a legal battle over its assets and direction.  

This election is another twist in the multi-year battle over reverse osmosis. 

Also known as RO, it’s themost effective process, say scientists, to remove a range of potentially toxic chemical compounds from the drinking water supply.  And the three entities battling for control of H2G0 – Leland, Belville, and H2G0 itself -- have yet to reach an agreement. 

But Steve Hosmer and Barry Laub, who campaigned on a promise to complete the RO plant, both won seats on the Board.  This means the H2G0 Board now holds a majority of plant supporters.

Steve Hosmer:

"We felt that the best interests of the customers were served by having the cheapest water possible, and the healthiest and the cleanest water possible, and the only way to do that is with an aquifer-sourced reverse osmosis system."

Jeff Gerken, the incumbent who prefers to let Brunswick County build an RO plant for a larger pool of customers, lost his bid for re-election – as did his running mate John Bradley.  When the new board is seated, there will only be one member, Bill Beer, who opposes building the plant.

EDITOR'S NOTE:  

This story has been corrected to reflect the fact reverse osmosis is not the only way to remove potentially toxic chemical compounds from water.  The original version of this incorrectly referred to RO as the "only" method.

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.