Wilmington City councilmembers sworn in, as Rivenbark, Waddell, and Barnett step down

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — After running a successful campaign last month, three new members of the Wilmington City Council were sworn in Monday night.

However, before that, the three outgoing council members were honored for their service to the city and community.

The three members stepping down were Luke Waddell, Clifford Barnett, and Charlie Rivenbark.

Barnett and Waddell, who served 8 years and 4 years, respectively, on the council, thanked their families, colleagues, and city staff for their support.

Rivenbark, who spent 24 years on the council, the longest serving member in Wilmington history, said there are several decisions the council made during his time he is proud to have been a part of.

“This very building we’re standing in (the Skyline Center) is one of the crowning touches,” Rivenbark said. “It was probably one of the best buys that ever been in New Hanover County. The Live Oak Pavilion right to the right of us on the riverfront. The two annexations that we did that probably weren’t popular at the time, but we grew the city.”

Waddell gave a final piece of advice to the newest councilmembers, one Rivenbark had shared with him before he was sworn in.

“City council is by design non-partisan,” Waddell said. “And the intent, as I’ve always understood it, is that, is to cultivate a diversity of thought at this dais to make room for various different viewpoints, different experiences and different approaches to solving problems.”

Rivenbark received an additional honor as Mayor Bill Saffo, who was also sworn in for his 10th term, unveiled the naming of a room leading into the council chambers after Rivenbark, something Rivenbark said left him speechless.

Following that, a new era for the Wilmington City Council began, as JC Lyles, Cassidy Santaguida, and Chakema Clinton-Quintana were sworn in surrounded by family and friends.

The three women join Councilwoman Salette Andrews to create a female majority on the 7-person City Council, something Santaguida said she hopes inspires other women in the Port City.

“I think it’s really meaningful for other women in our community as well, particularly our girls, girls like my daughter who are going to grow up seeing women take on roles and be successful,” Santaguida said.

In addition, all 7 members of the council are now Democrats.

New Hanover County Democratic Party Chairwoman Jill Hopman said she can’t wait to see what the council accomplishes now.

“Having a diversity of women, of ages, of all spectrums in the ideological aisle for Democrats from moderates to progressives, is really important,” Hopman said. “I think it represents the majority of people in Wilmington.”

At nearly 12,000 votes, Lyles received the highest vote total for a Wilmington city council candidate ever, according to the New Hanover County Board of Elections.

She said it means a lot to have received so much support from the community.

“That’s really special, it’s really affirming to know so many people in Wilmington, regardless of their party affiliation or how long they’ve lived here, believe in the same things that I believe and share a vision for Wilmington’s future,” Lyles said.

For Lyles and Clinton-Quintana, this was their first time running for public office.

Clinton-Quintana said serving the community has always been important to her.

“Public service is always just been in my blood, I was raised that way so it’s nothing to get out and help serve the community,” Clinton-Quintana said.

Hopman said the women joining the council have big shoes to fill.

“I thank those men, I thank all 3 that are stepping down tonight served the city of Wilmington proudly and honorably and I wish them nothing but the best.”

Kevin Spears, who is now the longest serving councilmember at 7 years, was unanimously voted Mayor Pro-Tem, replacing Barnett.