LELAND — Bob Campbell is seeking another term on Leland Town Council. A retired professional, Campbell currently serves as mayor pro tem.
He is running unopposed. Veronica Carter is also seeking reelection but there are two open seats on council.
PCD asked candidates to address issues pertinent to their districts, in this case regarding Leland’s growth, infrastructure and the possibility of a baseball stadium coming to town. Campbell’s answers are included in full; responses are edited only for grammar, spelling and clarity.
The paywall has been dropped on candidate questionnaires to help voters make informed decisions ahead of Election Day.
To prepare, here are a few dates for readers to keep in mind:
- Absentee ballots can be requested through Oct. 31 and must be returned Nov. 7 (or post-marked as such).
- Registration to vote will be open until Oct. 13; afterward, according to the state board of elections, same-day registration will be available only during one-stop early voting.
- Early voting begins Oct. 19 and remains open through Nov. 4 (3 p.m.).
- Election Day polls open Nov. 7, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
In Brunswick County, voters can cast ballots early at the Brunswick County Cooperative Extension (in lieu of the Board of Elections) at 25 Referendum Drive, Building N, in Bolivia.
Once early voting closes, voters will need to go to the location listed on their registration cards, verified here.
To see a sample ballot for the upcoming election, fill in voter registration info here.
A photo ID is required to cast a ballot in 2023; more information can be found on the state board of elections website.
The candidate’s opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily.
Port City Daily (PCD): Why rerun for council now?
Bob Campbell (BC): I am running at this time because of the many requests I have received to continue and to work toward completing the projects that were started during my current term.
PCD: Name three issues you think are most affecting the town currently and describe how you would work toward tackling them?
BC: Rapid growth: We cannot legally prohibit migration to our town. We need to
monitor our expansion to ensure proper infrastructures are in place.
Affordable housing: Developers will build homes that will sell. We should encourage these developers to provide mixed developments that would include housing that is
affordable to the work force.
Public Safety: As we continue to grow the need for fire and police protection grows too. I want to make sure that our budgets include the correct amount of funding to provide what our responders need.
PCD: What are your views on expanding the town’s corporate limits? Do you think the town should advocate for the state-sanctioned annexation moratorium on the town to be removed?
BC: I am not enthused with the moratorium our senator has put in to place. I believe that if a property owner wishes to be annexed, they should be allowed to do so as long as the town can supply the necessary infrastructures needed to support any development. There will be a point in which the number of viable annexations will control itself when we cannot support it.
PCD: Do you support the buildout of a mixed-use baseball stadium project in Leland? Why or why not? How do you think the project should be financed?
BC: I am keeping an open mind and at this point remaining neutral regarding this entertainment project.
PCD: The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is reaching its end-of-life and funding has yet to be allocated toward its replacement. What have officials gotten wrong and right in expediting the process? What would you do that is different? Also, do you support a toll and any of the options on the table for its replacement? Explain.
BC: Officials have delayed for too long in seeking proper funding for this project. I am not sure what if anything that has been done right except seeking input from residents. I do not support a toll facility. I have never seen any road project paid for through tolling. I have seen several suggestions for a bridge design. Some appear to be better than others. At this time, it is still about the money.
PCD: Do you support the recent ordinance change to allow RV parks in special flood hazard zones? Why or why not? Are there regulations that should be changed within the town to protect vulnerable properties?
BC: I voted to support allowing these RV parks after much discussion and expressing my concerns. Our regulations for structures in special flood hazard zones are working and are always under review and revision.
PCD: Leland ranks as one of the fastest growing municipalities statewide; how should the council approach future development, balancing economics with quality of life?
BC: We should continue to review future development through our technical review board to include traffic impact studies and through our planning board. We need to encourage the growth of jobs that will provide a quality of life acceptable to those coming here who are still of working age.
Tips or comments? Email info@localdailymedia.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our morning newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
