On this edition of CoastLine, we meet two of the five candidates seeking a seat on the Board of Aldermen in Wrightsville Beach. We’ll also meet one person running for Southport’s Board of Aldermen in Ward 2. First, Southport: This 225-year-old city spanning less than four square miles near the confluence of the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean in Brunswick County was voted America’s Happiest Seaside Town by Coastal Living in 2015. Today, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that about 36

On this edition of the CoastLine Candidate Interviews, we meet the two people hoping to be the next mayor of the City of Southport. We also meet one candidate running for Southport’s Board of Aldermen in Ward 1; Karen Mosteller is also the only incumbent seeking re-election in that Ward. The other person with an expiring term, Mary Ellen Poole, is not running again. The small seaside city of Southport in Brunswick County, which calls itself the “Home of Salubrious Breezes”, is divided into two

On this edition of the CoastLine Candidate Interviews, we meet one candidate for Leland’s Town Council and one for Board of Commissioners of Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2GO. But first, we take a closer look at municipal elections with a political scientist. Segment 1: Aaron King , Assistant Professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Rachel Lewis Hilburn: Aaron King, welcome to CoastLine. Aaron King: Thank you, it's

On this edition of CoastLine, we meet two of three candidates seeking one of two open seats on Southport’s Board of Aldermen in Ward 1. This small seaside city in Brunswick County is divided into two wards – each represented by three people to make up a six-member board. The Mayor of the City of Southport serves a two-year term. Aldermen serve four-year terms which are staggered. Southport is a 225-year-old city that spans less than four square miles and sits near the confluence of the Cape Fear

The Town of Leland turned 28 years old in September. The current population, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, is just under 19,000 people. That’s growth of about 37% in just the last six years. Leland is part of the Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area despite its proximity to Wilmington. That was a change a major change for Brunswick County which took effect two years ago. Arguably, the biggest challenge facing Leland Town Council is dealing with the rapid growth and

The Town of Leland turned 28 years old this month. The current population, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, is just under 19,000 people. That’s growth of about 37% in just the last six years. Leland is part of the Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area – despite its proximity to Wilmington. That was a change a major change for Brunswick County which took effect two years ago. Arguably, the biggest challenge facing Leland Town Council is dealing with the rapid growth and

Despite the fact that presidential election years turn out the highest numbers of voters, municipal elections have the most direct impact on quality of life. This fact is pretty widely accepted. But even the most educated and engaged among us – most notably a political scientist at an esteemed local university – even they are unlikely to know the people who are running for Wilmington’s City Council.

In the nonpartisan race for Wilmington’s City Council, there are nine people competing for three open seats that carry four-year terms. Two incumbents are hoping for reelection; they are with us today. And one seat is wide open since Earl Sheridan decided not to run again. Despite the fact that presidential election years turn out the highest numbers of voters, municipal elections have the most direct impact on quality of life. This fact is pretty widely accepted. But even the most educated and

Wilmington is home to more than 117-thousand people. That’s growth of about 11,000 people since the last census in 2010. 73% of the population identifies as white, less than 20% is African-American, and 6% is Latino or Hispanic.

The City of Wilmington is home to more than 117-thousand people. That’s growth of about 11,000 people since the last census in 2010. 73% of the population identifies as white, less than 20% is African-American, and 6% is Latino or Hispanic.