Thirty-six apply for Wilmington City Council seat

WILMINGTON — The list of applicants for Wilmington’s open city council seat is final. The deadline to apply for Jason Thompson’s spot was 5 p.m. Monday and as of that time, 36 people applied. Thompson is leaving the council at the end of the month after being elected to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.

The applicants will each have three minutes to speak to and answer questions from current council members at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Council members will not pick Thompson’s replacement Tuesday, but select their top four applicants. They will make a final selection in December based on the shortened list.

Council member Ron Sparks said he is looking for someone who truly wants to work for the citizens and doesn’t have a hidden agenda. “My concern is in making sure we get somebody who understands the amount of real work that goes into being a city councilman. I don’t think people really realize the amount of work is involved before they try to take on city council,” Sparks said.

The following 36 people applied for the spot:

Kevin O’Grady
Peter DeVita
Ricky Meeks
Margaret Haynes
Philip Stine
Dana Page
Jim Felds
Jeff Hovis
Clark Hipp
Buddy Green
Michael DeHart
Andy Koeppel
Jeremy Wilkins
Jan Brewington
Daniel Cronin
Alvin Rogers
Kevin Delahunty
Rob Zapple
John Melia
Joseph Bowman
Joy Allen
Greg Page
Theresa Andrews
Albert Corbett
Scott Henson
Steve Bilzi
Alan Rusher
Robby Collins
Carolyn Robertson
Vera Wilson
Mark Saulnier
Ashley Walton
Frank Smith
James Harris
Marc Biddison
Deb Quaranta