NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The New Hanover County Democratic Party has voted Margie Gewirtzman, the fifth-place finisher in the New Hanover County Board of Education primary last month, be placed on the November general election ballot. Her nomination comes following the withdrawal of one of four Democratic candidates just days after the March 3 primary election.
Gewirtzman wrote in a statement Tuesday: “To the voters: your involvement keeps our democracy strong. Thank you for staying informed and engaged! Our focus now shifts to November. I look forward to seeing our party unite as we take the skills we’ve sharpened during this extended primary and turn them toward flipping this Board of Education!”
READ MORE: Dem Party expands vetting after Southerland scandal, replacement process detailed
On April 6, the County Executive Committee of the New Hanover County Democratic Party met and voted for Gewirtzman to take former candidate Rick Southerland’s spot. Because Southerland withdrew, and the school board race is partisan, the executive committee, by law, chose the replacement.
By one vote, Gewirtzman won out over Kristina Mercier, who also submitted an application for consideration but was not a candidate in the primary election.
The candidate vacancy occurred when Southerland withdrew on March 5, prompted by the public reveal that his roommate and campaign team member, James Osborne, is a registered sex offender.
Southerland stood by his association with Osborne, who in 2021 was convicted on one count of possessing child pornography, but apologized to the public for not disclosing Osborne’s past. Both Southerland and Osborne have called it a wrongful conviction, claiming Osborne obtained the images of child pornography when looking for video footage of his own abuse in 2020. Osborne has since been arrested on federal voter fraud charges after having voted while serving a criminal sentence (Osborne was on probation) in the 2024 general election and 2025 primary.
The New Hanover County Democratic Party has expanded its vetting process for candidates following Southerland’s exit.
Democratic Party Chair Jill Hopman told Port City Daily the party is “so excited” to nominate Gewirtzman, commending her role as a precinct officer with campaign infrastructure in place and three special needs children in New Hanover County Schools.
“She has passionately advocated for her own family over the past 18 years, just like she will advocate for our teachers and students across New Hanover County when she is elected in November,” Hopman wrote to Port City Daily.
Hopman added the one-vote separation between Gewirtzman and Mercier, activist and former educator, demonstrates the “critical importance” of every single vote in every single election.
“From now until November, the NHCDP will do everything we possibly can to support Margie, take back the school board after four years of MAGA extremism, and finally turn New Hanover County blue,” Hopman said.
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