CANDIDATE PROFILE: Paul Lawler wants to focus on job creation and growth

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Retirement isn’t keeping Wilmington City Council Candidate Paul Lawler from leaving his mark on his community. Lawler is looking to make some improvements in Wilmington if he is elected to the city council.

He explains some major points of his campaign that he says will change the landscape of the Port City.

The North Carolina native and retired accountant says he is going to give back to his community by finding solutions to what he believes are Wilmington’s biggest issues which include crime prevention, economic development, and growth.

“I’ve been very active in the community and I think this is another way to give back,” said Lawler.

Lawler wants to focus on ways to keep crime down.

“It’s great to know the police will arrest someone but I rather not be the victim of a crime,” said Lawler.

He says more community programs and neighborhood watch groups top his list of things that he wants to implement to prevent crimes. He says keeping people out of trouble with the law means putting them to work. Lawler wants to help bring more jobs and better jobs to the Port City.

“The economy’s vibrancy is so important, whether you’re looking for a job; you’re looking for a new job or just for the money that’s in the community for all of us,” said Lawler.

Lawler says a healthy economy with a number of employment opportunities is important, especially since the Wilmington community is growing.

“Wilmington is expected to add about 50,000 people to its about 114,000 people in the next couple of decades, that’s huge, all the area around us is expected to add similar numbers,” said Lawler. “We have to figure out how we handle those people to make sure our quality of life is maintained, our neighborhoods are safe, and so we can accommodate them with places to live and with jobs.”

With his background in finance and economic development Lawler says he has what it takes to be a member of Wilmington’s city council.

“My skills and what I perceive that Wilmington needs line up very nicely,” said Lawler.

Early voting begins on October 22 and Election Day is November 3.

Click here to learn more about candidates running in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.