Affordability takes center stage in New Hanover County legislative races
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Affordability is emerging as a key issue in two closely watched legislative races in New Hanover County, with candidates offering different approaches to the rising cost of living, taxes and local spending.
Hundreds of voters turned out at the Northeast Library on the final day of early voting, with several competitive races on the ballot.
In the race for North Carolina House District 20, Republican Dane Scalise is facing Democrat Tim Merrick.
Both candidates say affordability is a concern they frequently hear from voters.
According to the North Carolina Housing Coalition, about 55% of renters in New Hanover County are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. The figure is about 23% for homeowners.
Scalise, a current New Hanover County commissioner, said the high cost of living is a concern he hears about often.
“Life is so expensive right now, and we need the government to understand that folks need to keep more money in their own pockets,” Scalise said. “The solution to affordability is not to take more money from the people and give it to the government.”
Merrick, who serves on the New Hanover County Board of Education, said local and state leaders need to do more to address affordability. He also criticized Scalise’s approach to county spending and taxes.
“His idea of balancing the county budget was to borrow $13 million,” Merrick said. “Now, we’re going to have to pay that back with interest. That’s not going to make it any better.”
Another closely watched contest is the North Carolina Senate District 7 race, where Republican incumbent Michael Lee is facing Democrat Jessica Bichler.
The campaign has drawn attention for several controversies, including AI-generated attack ads targeting Bichler that portray her as “bonkers” and depict her in exaggerated yoga poses. Cardboard cutouts of Lee, which have him appear self-urinating, have also appeared around Wilmington. Bichler has said an outside group is responsible for the displays.
Beyond the campaign controversies, the cost of gas is another issue affecting drivers across the state.
North Carolina recently suspended its 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax, with the suspension scheduled to remain in place through Nov. 30.
Lee said the tax relief was important to help drivers and that lawmakers should reassess the suspension before it expires.
“The gas tax cut was really important to do,” Lee said. “We’ve reduced that, and hopefully, as time goes on, we’ll reassess that as we get to the point at which that has kind of an expiration date on it and see kind of where things are at that time.”
Bichler has also pointed to affordability as a growing concern, while raising issues involving public school funding and development.
In a previous interview with WWAY, she said schools are being drained of resources and that development is affecting the quality of local neighborhoods and the environment.
“And affordability is only getting more challenging,” Bichler said.
