Leland is a hub of growth and development in Brunswick County, the fastest growing county in the state. The election for mayor next month could go a long way to shaping the town's future.
For challengers Bob Boynton and Frank Bullara, the race for Leland mayor is about the future.
"I think a lot of people want to be more progressive and get things done,” Boynton said.
Each man is a native New Yorker. Boynton moved to Leland last year after ten years in New Hanover County and many years in Florida before that.
Bullara came to Leland four years ago after falling in love with the town during a vacation at Magnolia Greens. He and his wife opened Bugsy's Cigars last year and, he says, got active in the community. "The golf tournament for the police department, the Cape Fear Italian Festival to benefit the community; to bring people into the community."
Bullara says a big issue facing Leland is a battle over control of the town's water. He says the solution is better communication. "Let's sit down at the table and come up with a common thread that we can move forward with that benefits Leland."
Boynton wants to improve the town's infrastructure, connecting communities along Highway 133 to US 17 with help from the Cape Fear skyway project. "It's 10 years off, but we want to move ahead with it, and the anticipation of the skyway in place will help the neighborhoods, help the construction of the roads."
Bullara and Boynton are challenging incumbent Mayor Walter Futch, who declined an interview for this story, saying, 'I don't really need it, and I have other things going on.'
That has his two opponents questioning his commitment to the election and the job.
"He's either not interested in staying mayor, or he thinks this is a done deal, and he's got it in the bag and it's a done deal and he don't even have to go," Bullara said.
Boyton added, "One thing he said at the VFW was his best qualification for being mayor was that he was the mayor, and I couldn't really see where that said anything."
Voters will say everything when they head to the polls November third. But you don't have to wait until November third; early voting continues through Saturday at the County Board of Elections Office.
we do things differently
we do things differently around here... we are polite and help our neighbors, WE MIND OUR OWN BUSINESS, we sin and ask for forgiveness, we love unconditionally, and we DONT LIKE RUDE OLD YANKEES! GO HOME and leave our paradise as it is!!!!!!!!
Love unconditionally?
How can you possibly say "we love unconditionally" when you have such hatred for "rude old yankees" - I guess that unconditional love is only for southerners - what a hypocrite - at least up north when someone is going to stab you in the back you see the knife coming - how about getting to know a person before judging someone and making stupid comments - and in response to another comment I don't vote for Liberals
???
Who's being rude and unforgiving now??
Rude
Don't mind them -- that's just a southerner being polite, bless their heart.
Wow, it's hard to believe
Wow, it's hard to believe that it is 2009 and not 1859 listening to some of these comments. I thought the civil war was over some time ago. These bigoted assaults only hurt the town and all its citizens. Why not show up at town council meetings and voice your opinions where it can do some good instead of the childish name calling.As for me, I will do my research on my candidates and vote for the one that shares my ideas, not for the one who happens to come from the same town as me. Who will benefit the town most? I will also post my name to this....guess that makes me "stupid" as well.
You said it, I didn't.....
...and the sad part is, you're correct.
Is that the "Southern
Is that the "Southern Hospitality we keep hearing about
There goes the neighborhood!
It has never ceased to amaze me. They fall in love with the place because of the low crime, the low taxes, the quiet lifestyle.....and ten minutes after they move here, they want to change it all and recreate the hell-hole they left up North.
They want everything to be "more progressive." They vote for liberals. They vote for any idiotic bond referendum that rolls down the pike. Then, when the taxes start rising, they wonder, "Hey, whadhappen heah? Dis place yoosta be so nice."
I moved to North Carolina in 1973 and found paradise. I never wanted to change anything. Had I known that five million of you Slip Mahoney sound-alikes were going to follow me here, I'd have kept moving South and would likely be in Tierra del Fuego by now.
My apologies to the native Southerners. I must have talked too much when I was up there visiting the in-laws.
Good, really good.
So, you're the one!!!!
current mayor needs to go
I'd rather vote for one of these 2 guys from NY, then the current backwards thinking mayor
we currently have.
For Mr Futch to be against the Skyway project, because he doesn't want to cut his town in half, is absurd. But then again, he probably doesn't have to spend 5 days a week, sitting in
morning traffic every week. Stuck in traffic, watching cars cross over the THICK white line (thanks for that solution, DOT), because obviously the sign "stay in your lane" doesn't apply to them, is not a whole lot of fun.
It's amazing how gov't leaders will allow development, without considering the consequences of traffic over load, until it is too late.
How exactly do they think those new 10000 cars prediced for Brunswick Forest are going to get around? Magic flying cars? No, they are going to make the already horrible morning traffic 10K times worse.
It's time to put people in government who have the foresight to plan for the future, not live in the past.
Someone, anyone, PLEASE
Someone, anyone, PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME!!! Why wouldn't I change lanes, if an oil tanker truck is in front of me and oncoming traffic needs to merge? What sense does this make? Anyone? To think that staying in one lane while traffic is trying to merge onto a busy highway is idiocy.
We change lanes because A. It is safer, and B. BECAUSE THATS HOW THE REST OF THE ROADS IN AMERICA WORK! Drive safe and drive smart, even if it means crossing the dreaded 'thick white line'.
Come on people, it's not
Come on people, it's not that hard to understand. They aren't saying "don't merge." They are saying, "move over to the left BEFORE you get to the interchange." All those people going at different speeds, changing lanes, merging, etc WITHIN in the interchange is dangerous. You know you are going to need to get over. Think ahead and do it early when it is safer! This isn't rocket science. If used correctly, it works.
new yorkers please stay out
new yorkers please stay out of our politics.
NEW YORKERS WANT TO BECOME
NEW YORKERS WANT TO BECOME MAYOR OF LELAND,WHAT IS THE SOUTH COMING TO.ITS BAD ENOUGH HAVING TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK ABOUT HOW MUCH BETTER THINGS ARE THERE, NOW THEY WANT TO TURN LELAND INTO YANKEEVILLE.ITALIAN FESTIVAL,CHOWDER FESTIVAL,CIGAR LOUNGES,GATED COMMUNITIES,HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS,AND WHO KNOWS WAT ELSE IF THE NEW YORKERS GET IN OFFICE.BRING BACK THE OLD LELAND.
"OLD LELAND"
Having been here for 47 years to witness the "old Leland", I am thankful for the "northerners" and everyone else coming here! Leland is much better off now. Home values are up, Leland taxes are low, life is good in Leland. Leland is the largest town in Brunswick county, and we would not be where we are today without the influx of "everyone" that has decided to call Leland home.
Your comments do nothing but validate what so many people think about Leland. But, everyone is entitled to their opinion! This happens to be mine!
At least I have the guts to sign my name when posting!
Mike Leggett
Any bets on....
...your taxes STAYING low if the Northeastern flu continues to run rampant?
This is my opinion of your post.....
...the action of providing your name isn't to be referred to as "guts", it's called "stupidity"!
Is this the southern
Is this the southern hospitality we keep hearing about
You Mean...
You mean the "Old Leland" full of redneck hicks, bootleggers, drug dealers, and plain old white trash. Not to mention sherrifs deputies and police officer town officals who are on the take. The town is growing so why would you ever want to go backwards, unless you were one of the ones lining their pockets with bribe money. The "Good ole Boy Days" are gone for good so get over it.
The "old" Leland?
I guess if you long for the days of unpaved streets lined on both sides by mobile homes, that would be "old" Leland.
Your attitude towards anyone not born here is what perpetuates the long-held belief that Leland is filled with nothing more than mullet-wearing rednecks.
Hey Taxpayer... You got it
Hey Taxpayer...
You got it all wrong :)
What the "old guard" wants is simple... Bring your money, spend it, create an economy, make them rich and shut up...
Stinkin' Yankees - go home.
We are fine without their meddling.
I myself do not appreciate the arrogance and culture they bring to NC.
two clowns
look at these two new yawkers they think the stand a chance .ha aha ha ....go home yankees and dont come back now ya hear