Wrightsville Beach incumbent Ed Miastkowski has missed more board meetings since 2005 than all the other aldermen combined.
In 2008, Miastkowski was absent for 11 of 36 meetings. That is more absences in one year than all the other aldermen combined since 2005.
In 2007, he missed seven of 26 meetings; and in 2005 and 2006, he was absent for three meetings each year.
When the tallies were provided at the end of July, he had been absent for four of 22 meetings so far in 2009.
The attendance information was provided by town manager Bob Simpson in response to queries by other aldermen candidates.
Miastkowski has been marked absent a total 28 times out of 135 meetings.
Bill Blair earned second place for absenteeism. He has missed five of 58 meetings in his two years on the board.
Alderman Lisa Weeks was absent for three of 36 meetings in 2008, but had missed none in 2009 as of July.
Mayor and incumbent Stephen Whalen missed one meeting and mayoral candidate and Alderman David Cignotti hasn't missed any since his arrival on the board in 2005.
Miastkowski has served the Board of Aldermen since 1993, longer than any other current member.
—Brian Freskos
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Mayoral candidates discuss campaign, or not
Wrightsville Beach mayoral candidate David Cignotti has given himself a $4,000 donation, money he is allocating for a person-by-person type of small-town campaign geared toward reaching voters and hearing them out individually, the candidate said.
“Our town’s a small town where I think nothing is more important than calling people on the phone and talking to them face to face and letting them know that you want to hear what they have to say about the issues that are of concern to them,” Cignotti said during a telephone interview last week.
“Our campaigns are very personal,” he added, referring to Wrightsville Beach. “One of the neat things about it is you get to meet people and talk to them face to face.”
Cignotti said he will be working diligently to get his name out to voters by using small-town campaign methods like mailing flyers, but he continued to stress the importance of meeting voters in person and talking to them individually.
A candidate does not have to disclose campaign donations or expenditures unless they break the $3,000 threshold, and as of Monday, Aug. 24, incumbent Mayor Stephen K. Whalen still hadn’t filed over that mark, said officials with the New Hanover County (NHC) Board of Elections.
When he filed for reelection, Whalen decided to remain under the threshold. He can still surpass the mark and file an amendment, which will state that he’s exceeded the threshold and is now subject to disclosure, said Bonnie Williams, director of the NHC Board of Elections.
Whalen said last week he will likely file that amendment, but staunchly refused to discuss his method of campaigning.
“I fully believe that I’ll probably exceed that,” he said regarding the threshold. “I had to make a statement with regard to something and that’s what I did at this point.”
“I haven’t formulated my plan and I’m certainly not going to share it with the Lumina (News),” he continued. “I just don’t think that’s appropriate. If the other candidates want to say how they’re … you know, that’s entirely their prerogative, but I just don’t think at this point, two and a half months away from an election, I’m just not going to share my game plan with anybody.”
“I can’t even believe that you guys would ask that,” he added.
After he was told about Cignotti’s previous comments about campaigning, Whalen said: “That’s his prerogative and like I said, at this point in time, going through this process, I mean there’s all these forms and everything you have to fill out, and I just got done with all my questionnaires from the Realtors and everybody else, you know you really don’t even have time to breath.”
“And so it was just, I don’t know if you would call it strategic or what, I fully believe that I will exceed that $3,000, but I haven’t at this point and I did it more from a simplistic point of view than anything else. It was just the easiest thing to do at this point so that’s what I did.”
Brian Freskos
“Our town’s a small town where I think nothing is more important than calling people on the phone and talking to them face to face and letting them know that you want to hear what they have to say about the issues that are of concern to them,” Cignotti said during a telephone interview last week.
“Our campaigns are very personal,” he added, referring to Wrightsville Beach. “One of the neat things about it is you get to meet people and talk to them face to face.”
Cignotti said he will be working diligently to get his name out to voters by using small-town campaign methods like mailing flyers, but he continued to stress the importance of meeting voters in person and talking to them individually.
A candidate does not have to disclose campaign donations or expenditures unless they break the $3,000 threshold, and as of Monday, Aug. 24, incumbent Mayor Stephen K. Whalen still hadn’t filed over that mark, said officials with the New Hanover County (NHC) Board of Elections.
When he filed for reelection, Whalen decided to remain under the threshold. He can still surpass the mark and file an amendment, which will state that he’s exceeded the threshold and is now subject to disclosure, said Bonnie Williams, director of the NHC Board of Elections.
Whalen said last week he will likely file that amendment, but staunchly refused to discuss his method of campaigning.
“I fully believe that I’ll probably exceed that,” he said regarding the threshold. “I had to make a statement with regard to something and that’s what I did at this point.”
“I haven’t formulated my plan and I’m certainly not going to share it with the Lumina (News),” he continued. “I just don’t think that’s appropriate. If the other candidates want to say how they’re … you know, that’s entirely their prerogative, but I just don’t think at this point, two and a half months away from an election, I’m just not going to share my game plan with anybody.”
“I can’t even believe that you guys would ask that,” he added.
After he was told about Cignotti’s previous comments about campaigning, Whalen said: “That’s his prerogative and like I said, at this point in time, going through this process, I mean there’s all these forms and everything you have to fill out, and I just got done with all my questionnaires from the Realtors and everybody else, you know you really don’t even have time to breath.”
“And so it was just, I don’t know if you would call it strategic or what, I fully believe that I will exceed that $3,000, but I haven’t at this point and I did it more from a simplistic point of view than anything else. It was just the easiest thing to do at this point so that’s what I did.”
Brian Freskos
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Yard signs a candidate no-no
Political yard signs are popping up across the county—but in Wrightsville Beach, they’re a no-no.
A town ordinance prohibits candidates to display yard signs until the middle of October, 17 days prior to Election Day.
And for Aldermen candidate Walter De Vries, that is a violation of the right to free speech and a hindrance on the candidates’ ability to build name recognition.
So now the Board of Aldermen (BOA) will address that ordinance and consider a change, but it will require a public hearing and approval from the planning board before any action can be made, said town manager Bob Simpson.
By the time all of the necessary processes have been completed, will candidates have any additional time to put up their signs?
“Yes,” Simpson said. The BOA can hold its hearing on Sep. 10 and make a decision afterwards.
“The day of the public hearing they (the BOA) can change it, so on Sep. 11 (the candidates) can run out and put their signs up,” Simpson said. “That’ll give them a full month.”
A change is critical, De Vries said in a letter to Simpson dated Aug. 12, because in small jurisdictions, “yard signs build identity and that becomes critical for challengers and incumbents in any election.”
“There will probably be a discussion about whether or not the town really has the ability to control how long the signs are out,” said alderman and mayoral candidate David Cignotti.
“I’m not a big yard sign advocate,” he said. “I know it sort of gets the candidate’s names out there but I’d like to hear from the public too on how long they actually want those signs out because it gets to be pretty cluttered and to me it can sort of be like yard pollution after a while.”
In a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 18, Cignotti acknowledged another one of De Vries’ concerns: since so many people vote before the Nov. 3 Election Day, by the time candidates have put their signs out, most of the votes have already been cast.
During the 2008 election, an estimated 60 percent of votes were cast before the traditional Election Day in November, said Michelle Mrozkowski, election system specialist with the New Hanover County Board of Elections.
“I’d like to hear what the rest of the board has to say about that,” Cignotti said. “I’m definitely open to whatever they decide. I guess yard signs are one of those necessary evils of a campaign.”
Building name identity shouldn’t be any problem for incumbent Ed Miastkowski, who has spent more than a decade as an alderman.
“The incumbent always has an advantage because he or she has recognition,” said Lee Johnston, a professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. “If I don’t know anything else, I know the candidate’s name,” he said.
But the question arises: will Miastkowski vote to change the ordinance knowing it could help launch a contender?
Brian Freskos
A town ordinance prohibits candidates to display yard signs until the middle of October, 17 days prior to Election Day.
And for Aldermen candidate Walter De Vries, that is a violation of the right to free speech and a hindrance on the candidates’ ability to build name recognition.
So now the Board of Aldermen (BOA) will address that ordinance and consider a change, but it will require a public hearing and approval from the planning board before any action can be made, said town manager Bob Simpson.
By the time all of the necessary processes have been completed, will candidates have any additional time to put up their signs?
“Yes,” Simpson said. The BOA can hold its hearing on Sep. 10 and make a decision afterwards.
“The day of the public hearing they (the BOA) can change it, so on Sep. 11 (the candidates) can run out and put their signs up,” Simpson said. “That’ll give them a full month.”
A change is critical, De Vries said in a letter to Simpson dated Aug. 12, because in small jurisdictions, “yard signs build identity and that becomes critical for challengers and incumbents in any election.”
“There will probably be a discussion about whether or not the town really has the ability to control how long the signs are out,” said alderman and mayoral candidate David Cignotti.
“I’m not a big yard sign advocate,” he said. “I know it sort of gets the candidate’s names out there but I’d like to hear from the public too on how long they actually want those signs out because it gets to be pretty cluttered and to me it can sort of be like yard pollution after a while.”
In a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 18, Cignotti acknowledged another one of De Vries’ concerns: since so many people vote before the Nov. 3 Election Day, by the time candidates have put their signs out, most of the votes have already been cast.
During the 2008 election, an estimated 60 percent of votes were cast before the traditional Election Day in November, said Michelle Mrozkowski, election system specialist with the New Hanover County Board of Elections.
“I’d like to hear what the rest of the board has to say about that,” Cignotti said. “I’m definitely open to whatever they decide. I guess yard signs are one of those necessary evils of a campaign.”
Building name identity shouldn’t be any problem for incumbent Ed Miastkowski, who has spent more than a decade as an alderman.
“The incumbent always has an advantage because he or she has recognition,” said Lee Johnston, a professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. “If I don’t know anything else, I know the candidate’s name,” he said.
But the question arises: will Miastkowski vote to change the ordinance knowing it could help launch a contender?
Brian Freskos
Thursday, August 13, 2009
What issues are important to you this election year?
Wrightsville Beach voters who enter the polls in November will come face to face with a diverse list of candidates.
Five contenders have announced their bids for the pair of available seats on the Board of Aldermen (BOA), meaning that a majority of those bidders — James Smith, Walter DeVries, Susan Collins, Bill Sisson and incumbent Ed Miastkowski — will be going home empty handed.
In recent interviews and statements, almost every candidate highlighted different issues that encompass their pitch to voters.
Smith, 52, said he wants to develop a strategic plan to bring together the town’s wide array of organizations.
"I’d really like to see us work together," he said. "We’ve got so many great groups out there doing so many different things, but it doesn’t seem like there’s any coordination."
He cited the current economic situation, and said that if a comprehensive strategic plan was developed, the town would qualify for a multitude of government grants.
Smith also made reference to his commitment to raising town income by cutting costs.
His specific comments landed in favor of raising parking fees and increasing parking spaces. He also wants the town to consider cutting trash collection to once a week, and charge extra for those properties that require twice a week pickup.
DeVries, 79, asserted that his campaign platform will focus on government openness and quality-of-life issues. He emphasized the importance of televising all BOA and planning board meetings as well as other town activities.
"This is fundamental to American democracy," he said, "that the people are entitled to know what their government is doing, no matter the level ... I believe that elected officials have the responsibility to provide this openness and access."
DeVries has an extensive background in the field of politics and campaigning. He is the author of at least three books on politics and was the president of a campaign consulting firm.
He was also an assistant to the speaker of the Michigan House, served as the executive assistant to former Michigan Governor George Romney and held several other government-related positions.
Collins, 59, who is serving a second term on the planning board, is the one who, along with her sister, donated the family’s beach cottage to the Chamber of Commerce to house the Wrightsville Beach Visitors Center, she said.
In a statement, Collins vowed to work diligently to ensure wise government spending.
As a resident of Banks Channel, Collins cited her support of recent legislation that, if approved, will create a countywide no discharge zone.
Clean waterways and beaches, as well as beach renourishment and public safety will be her campaign focal points, Collins said.
Sisson, 61, a former New Hanover County Commissioner, made recent claims regarding what he called the BOA’s inability to work as a cohesive group.
"People on the board need to learn how to work together," he said.
"I think that is not serving the citizens well and it’s certainly not serving the town well either," he added, referring to what he said was the BOA’s habit of bickering.
Sisson also stressed the need for increased citizen involvement.
"We have an awful lot of very bright people who live in our town and not to avail ourselves of their expertise and their ideas just seems to be missing something very important," he said.
Sisson said he wants to restore the citizens’ faith in their government, be proactive in planning for the future, work to improve the residents’ quality of life and strive to make Wrightsville Beach a safer place.
Miastkowski, 68, could not be reached for comment.
Five contenders have announced their bids for the pair of available seats on the Board of Aldermen (BOA), meaning that a majority of those bidders — James Smith, Walter DeVries, Susan Collins, Bill Sisson and incumbent Ed Miastkowski — will be going home empty handed.
In recent interviews and statements, almost every candidate highlighted different issues that encompass their pitch to voters.
Smith, 52, said he wants to develop a strategic plan to bring together the town’s wide array of organizations.
"I’d really like to see us work together," he said. "We’ve got so many great groups out there doing so many different things, but it doesn’t seem like there’s any coordination."
He cited the current economic situation, and said that if a comprehensive strategic plan was developed, the town would qualify for a multitude of government grants.
Smith also made reference to his commitment to raising town income by cutting costs.
His specific comments landed in favor of raising parking fees and increasing parking spaces. He also wants the town to consider cutting trash collection to once a week, and charge extra for those properties that require twice a week pickup.
DeVries, 79, asserted that his campaign platform will focus on government openness and quality-of-life issues. He emphasized the importance of televising all BOA and planning board meetings as well as other town activities.
"This is fundamental to American democracy," he said, "that the people are entitled to know what their government is doing, no matter the level ... I believe that elected officials have the responsibility to provide this openness and access."
DeVries has an extensive background in the field of politics and campaigning. He is the author of at least three books on politics and was the president of a campaign consulting firm.
He was also an assistant to the speaker of the Michigan House, served as the executive assistant to former Michigan Governor George Romney and held several other government-related positions.
Collins, 59, who is serving a second term on the planning board, is the one who, along with her sister, donated the family’s beach cottage to the Chamber of Commerce to house the Wrightsville Beach Visitors Center, she said.
In a statement, Collins vowed to work diligently to ensure wise government spending.
As a resident of Banks Channel, Collins cited her support of recent legislation that, if approved, will create a countywide no discharge zone.
Clean waterways and beaches, as well as beach renourishment and public safety will be her campaign focal points, Collins said.
Sisson, 61, a former New Hanover County Commissioner, made recent claims regarding what he called the BOA’s inability to work as a cohesive group.
"People on the board need to learn how to work together," he said.
"I think that is not serving the citizens well and it’s certainly not serving the town well either," he added, referring to what he said was the BOA’s habit of bickering.
Sisson also stressed the need for increased citizen involvement.
"We have an awful lot of very bright people who live in our town and not to avail ourselves of their expertise and their ideas just seems to be missing something very important," he said.
Sisson said he wants to restore the citizens’ faith in their government, be proactive in planning for the future, work to improve the residents’ quality of life and strive to make Wrightsville Beach a safer place.
Miastkowski, 68, could not be reached for comment.
2009 Election Candidates
Wrightsville Beach Mayor
David Cignotti
Stephen K. Whalen (I)
Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen
Walter DeVries
Susan Howell Collins
Ed Miastkowski (I)
Bill Sisson
James Smith
Wilmington Mayor
Bill Saffo (I)
Paul Knight
Wilmington City Council
Margaret Haynes (I)
Michael DeHart
Ben McCoy
Kevin O’Grady
Jim Quinn (I)
Charlie Rivenbark
Earl Sheridan (I)
Justin LaNasa
Dana Page
Susan E. Clarke
Ricky Meeks
Carolina Beach Mayor
Joel Macon (I)
Carolina Beach Town Council
Robert (Bob) Lewis
Alicia L. Lachance
Alan Gilbert (I)
Lonnie Lashley
Michael Kopitopoulos
Kure Beach Mayor
Dean Lambeth
Jim Vatrt
Kure Beach Town Council
Craig Scott Galbraith
Chuck Keener
Tim Fuller
I = Incumbent
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