Local elected officials on route to Raleigh

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Elected officials as far north as New Bern and as far south as Boiling Spring Lakes are joining forces to address critical issues since Hurricane Florence to state and local leaders in Raleigh, Wednesday.

Wilmington’s Mayor Bill Saffo and Pender County Commission Chairman George Brown co-chaired a meeting with over 20 southeastern North Carolina government leaders a few weeks ago. At this meeting, leaders came up with five key priorities to be unveiled at Wednesday’s meeting.

From infrastructure to affordable housing, the Eastern North Carolina Recovery and Resiliency Alliance wants to better prepare for the future.

“Here in Wilmington and in the surrounding communities, we were literally cut off, during Hurricane Florence, due to the damage to I-40 so, that’s going to be an item that they are taking to the legislature,” said Tony McEwen, City Manager Assistant for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. “There needs to be a way to expedite funds to some of these critical transportation infrastructure projects that have impacts on literally life and death.”

About a dozen elected officials will be in attendance Wednesday including the Whiteville Mayor, Onslow County Commissioner, Boiling Springs Lake Mayor, Belville Mayor, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce CEO, Wallace Mayor, Chair of Pender County Commissioner and Wilmington’s Mayor.