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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT
WHQR will host and broadcast four candidate forums as part of the 2012 Election Season in the MC Erny Gallery, 254 N. Front Street, #300.Each forum will feature two local journalists asking prepared questions during the first half of the event. The second portion will be dedicated to questions from voters. A live studio audience will be invited to ask questions during this segment. We'll also use questions sent in from listeners.If you have a question for the candidates, please email us (newsdirector@whqr.org) or submit via Twitter with the #whqrforums hash tag and tell us which slate of candidates you'd like to address. We reserve the right to edit the questions for clarity, brevity, and objectivity. Each question must be addressed to all candidates in a particular race. If you can't attend the live event, Tweet along while you tune in or listen or watch the webcast online at 7 PM each night to hear the candidates! (WWAY will also broadcast the forums live on Time Warner Cable. RTV is channel 106, on ATMC, channel 903, on Charter Cable, channel 145 and over-the-air at 3.2.)Tuesday, Oct. 2, 7 PM- New Hanover County CommissionersJonathan Barfield (Current Vice Chairman)Beth DawsonRobert MurrayDr. Derrick HickeyWoody WhiteRob Zapple Thursday, Oct. 4, 7 PM- NC House District 18Representative Susi Hamilton (D)Louis Harmati (R) Monday, Oct. 8, 7 PM - NC Senate District 9Senator Thom Goolsby (R)Deb Butler (D) Thursday, Oct. 18, 7 PM - NC House District 19 & NC House District 20 NC House District 19Ted Davis, Jr. (Current NHC Commission Chair)Emilie Swearingen (Current Kure Beach Councilwoman)NC House District 20Rick Catlin (Current NHC Commissioner) (R)Tom Gale (D)

NHCo. candidates talk business and regulation

How to grow the region’s economy in an effective and sustainable manner is a question that comes up frequently in discussions with government leaders.  It was the second question put to candidates running for a seat on the New Hanover County Commission during last night’s Forum at WHQR.  And as WHQR’s Rachel Lewis Hilburn reports, it was a push for clarity after a forum last week that yielded little in the way of specifics. 

Last night, WHQR Reporter Sara Wood asked candidates what they would do to lure big industry – and what they see as current examples of extraneous red tape. 

“The rules and regulations that we’ve all been discussing primarily should be efficient and effective and first and foremost they should be transparent and predictable.  As a county governing board, we should not impose any unnecessary roadblocks to make it more difficult to do business.” 

Republican candidate Beth Dawson says whether that means building infrastructure or making careful zoning decisions – it comes down to having a pro-business commission. 

Democratic Candidate Rob Zapple says he would listen to business leaders and hear about their needs first. 

“Before jumping forth with any kind of offer of anything, I would then go and point to our strengths – point to the beauty of our unique environmental setting that we have here.  And I also would take them for a tour of our downtown area – our arts and cultural community here which often sells our city and sells corporations just on that alone.” 

Fellow Democrat Robert Murray says uncovering the regulatory red tape can only happen on a case-by-case basis. 

“We’d have to sit down with each individual business that comes in here to see where they feel that they’re being burdened.  Talk to me.  Talk to us.  Let’s sit down and look at it.  Give me point for point.  In other words, why would you not bring it 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.