Councilwoman to represent Wilmington in federal committee

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Councilwoman Salette Andrews will represent Wilmington with the National League of Cities’ 2024 Energy Environment and Natural Resources Federal Advocacy Committee.   

The committee includes 51 city council members from across the country with the goal of advocating for municipalities at the federal level.  

Andrews—who is now in her fourth month in office—said one of her top priorities, both at home, and with the committee is the environment.   

“That was an important part of my campaign when I ran for office, it’s been an important part of what I’ve been doing on the city council, so it’s been very exciting to find out that I’m going to be a part of this,” Andrews said. 

Andrews notes that new EPA guidelines for PFAS pollution that were announced on Wednesday are a step in the right direction; but she said much more still needs to be done. 

“It’s exciting, but it’s also important to know that there are many many other chemicals in this class that are not going to be regulated, and so we need to keep fighting to keep the pollution out of the water to begin with,” she said. 

Now that she will represent Wilmington at a federal level, Andrews hopes to continue her campaign promise of cleaner air and water in the Cape Fear.  

“It’s really important for somebody from Wilmington because we are in such and ecologically important area of the country, and of course for the people that are living here, this is their home,” she said. “Everything that comes down through the Cape Fear, that comes into our air, ends up in our bodies and our children’s bodies so we want to make sure that we have the strongest protections that we can.”