Elections turn the tide across New Hanover County

Nov. 5, 2009

An anti-incumbent sentiment swept across New Hanover and Brunswick counties during Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as a swath of elected officials either relinquished their seats or were pushed out by the electorate.

Approximately 77 percent of incumbents in New Hanover County were upset by newcomers, meaning that two-out-of-three positions up for grabs on city and town councils will be filled with fresh faces and new ideas beginning with swearing-in ceremonies this December.

In Brunswick County, 69 officials were up for re-election, but only 39—or 57 percent—held onto their seats.

Pender County figures were less surprising. About 66 percent of officials up for re-election will keep their positions. A few of the races in Pender were uncontested and a contingent of officials voluntarily relinquished their positions.

Election officials and observers racked their brains as the results poured into the Board of Elections headquarters off Racine Drive around 8:30 p.m. on Election Day.

"Incumbents tend to get punished in economic downturns," Roger Lowery, chair of the public and international affairs department at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, said after the election. "We certainly have a record economic downturn in the state and nation. The fact that we see this pattern in this election is certainly no surprise."

Lowery argued that Wilmington voters had been turned-off to incumbents by perceived mismanagement of government affairs, specifically citing the continuing controversy milling around the new hotel and convention center.

For other incumbents on the ballot in 2010, their political future will likely depend on the future of the economy and whether it has regained momentum, Lowery said.

"The crystal ball is cloudy," he added.

Voter turnout across New Hanover County hovered around 20 percent, with an average turnout of 18 percent in Wilmington.

Kure Beach, where the race was hotly contested, received an impressive turnout of 43 percent.

A slightly higher than average turnout—35 percent—in Wrightsville Beach likely boosted mayor-elect David Cignotti (438 votes), who beat-out incumbent Stephen Whalen (372), ushering in a contemporary era of leadership that signals a transformation of the status quo.

Whalen sharply refused Wednesday to comment on the outcome.

Bonnie Williams, director of the New Hanover County Board of Elections, said four provisional ballots were cast for Wrightsville offices—not enough to cover the Cignotti-Whalen spread.

Cignotti acknowledged in an interview Wednesday that he gathered overwhelming support from middle-aged and young voters, a subsection that proved itself as an influential base.

Voter turnout was of fundamental importance to the Cignotti camp, which formed an open government ticket with the candidacies of Bill Sisson (373) and Walter DeVries (263).

Foreshadowing the strength of high voter-turnout, DeVries conducted numerous get-out-vote drives, targeting specific subsections of the population and employing innovative campaign methods to pass his message, rallying support for his running mates but failing to garner the support he needed to win a seat for himself.

Susan Howell Collins earned 459 votes, learning from her defeat two years ago to campaign like the native daughter of Wrightsville Beach that she is, knocking on every door and personally placing more than 700 phone calls to her prospective constituents.

The defeat of incumbent Ed Miastkowski (312), after 16 years on the board of aldermen—one of the longest serving in Wrightsville’s history—will upset many of his faithful supporters.

New-kid-on-the-block James Smith (134) arrived in fifth, despite conspicuous attendance at public meetings and aggressive aims at building name recognition.

On Wednesday, Cignotti said he would start his tenure by forming a strong relationship between board members, a task he deemed a top priority.

There was also a surprising turn of events in Wilmington. City council was shaken by the return of former city council member Charlie Rivenbark (5,221), council’s top vote-getter; and fresh face Kevin O’Grady (4,399), who managed to pull ahead of incumbent Margaret Haynes (4,311).

Tuesday night, election officials estimated that there were roughly 56 provisional ballots to be considered, meaning it will be almost impossible for Haynes to climb ahead of O’Grady, who won by 88 votes.

It was unclear Wednesday whether Haynes would have qualified for a runoff had city council not voted—at her behest—to do away with runoff elections beginning in 2009.

Mayor Bill Saffo (8,368) was reelected over Paul Knight (5,329).

City councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Quinn (3,489) finished with an upsetting 9 percent of the vote and will have to give up his seat in December.

City councilman Earl Sheridan (5,170) was also reelected, coming in a close second behind Rivenbark.

Official results will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Brian Freskos