Four Democrat candidates for NHC Commissioner address variety of topics during forum

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Four Democratic candidates for New Hanover County Commissioner spoke about a wide range of topics during a public forum held at the MC Erny Gallery at WHQR on Wednesday evening.

Current New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple, Wilmington City Councilwoman Salette Andrews, New Hanover County Board of Education member Judy Justice, and Dr. LeShonda Wallace answered questions asked by WHQR and the public.

Several candidates were asked about taxes, including Andrews.

“I would work to set a tax rate that makes sense that we can provide the services that our people need,” Andrews said.

Meanwhile, Zapple spoke about the need for education funding.

“Our schools are underfunded and it starts at the state and their responsibility,” Zapple said. “They have not kept up, the state legislature with their responsibility, the amount per student.”

Wallace is the only candidate who is not currently serving as an elected official and said working improve access to healthcare is important to her.

“The county could do really good by our citizens, by building stronger relationship with our healthcare system,” Wallace said. “I think there’s some opportunity for some accountability in regards to acceptable healthcare.”

Andrews and Justice addressed criticism they’ve received from the county’s Democratic Party about possibly ending their current terms early to become a Commissioner.

“The things that I’ve been working on are the things that are really important to our community and they have been stymied by the actions of the current county commission, the current majority of the county commission. I have every confidence in the city council being able to continue without me and it’s a really good time that I take that fight to the county commission,” said Andrews.

“Over the summer, when the Republican controlled County Commissioners cut back $36 million and I saw the quality of life suffering, especially to people who are most vulnerable, and I realized I couldn’t just stay on the board of vindication when I knew that I could do a heck of a lot more as a county commissioner,” Justice said.

Wallace spoke about housing and density as the county continues to grow.

“We could strengthen some of our areas that are under-resourced, maybe like on the Northside, but not necessarily with gentrification, but to support the communities that already exist.”

But the one topic all four candidates were asked about was the New Hanover Community Endowment as the Board of Commissioners have the power to appoint 5 of the Endowment’s board members.

“Having a process that fully vets who we appoint there would be very helpful,” Zapple said. “To sit down and talk about the values that we think are important as a county and that’s why we’re there, 5 commissioners are representing the county, so that we have a better understanding with our appointees of how they will do it.”

“I believe that the appointment should reflect the pillars of the Endowment,” Wallace said. “So those pillars are community safety, education, economic development, health and social equity. I believe that the people who serve on that board should have some background or experience.”

“Try to get people on the Endowment board that reflect the community, the diversity of our community, the diversity of thought, the diversity of different backgrounds and demographics,” Andrews said.

“We can appoint people to that board that aren’t political cronies, I don’t know what else to say,” justice said. “This is, this is heartbreaking to see how this has developed.”

The four Democratic candidates will go against each other in the primary election next month.

The top two vote getters will then run against two Republicans, LeAnn Pierce and Richard Collier, and one Libertarian, Bob Drach, in the general election in November.