White threatens response to State of the County if Barfield doesn’t address issues

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The State of the Union gets an opposition response each year, but the State of the County? It could happen next week in New Hanover County.

Commission Chair Jonathan Barfield, a Democrat, is scheduled to give the annual State of the County address Monday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m.

Republican Woody White has been raising concerns about the county’s travel policy, commissioner spending, debt containment and fiscal constraint. White says if Barfield does not address those issue in his speech, White will offer his own response, perhaps through a video release.

When reached by phone this evening, Barfield told WWAY “it’s a non-starter.” He said he’s not planning to address the issues in the speech.

“I’ll be presenting the state of the county,” Barfield said.