Thursday, March 28, 2024

Elections 2017: Barnett wins seat on Wilmington City Council, three incumbents return

WILMINGTON — The votes have been cast and counted in New Hanover County for the 2017 elections. In Wilmington, incumbent Mayor Bill Saffo will serve another two years after defeating newcomer Todd Zola by a significant margin Tuesday – but there will be a new face serving on City Council.

Newcomer Clifford Barnett has won a seat on Wilmingtons City Council. (Port City Daily photo /COURTESY OF NHC)
Newcomer Clifford Barnett has won a seat on Wilmingtons City Council. (Port City Daily photo /COURTESY OF NHC)

Clifford Barnett was elected to serve a four-year term on the City Council Tuesday evening with a total of 4,412 votes. He beat out his nearest opponent, Planning Commission member Deb Hays, by 95 votes.

Barnett is a newcomer to City Council and Wilmington government. He previously worked with at-risk youth through his role as a pastor, on the J.C. Virgo Prep Academy Board of Advisors, as vice-president of the New Hanover County Smart Start, and as a member of the Bridges to Success and the Southeastern Dropout Prevention Coalition (Check out his Facebook page).

Incumbents Kevin O’Grady and Charlie Rivenbark will both serve another four-year term, having maintained their place on the City Council. O’Grady was first elected in 2009. Rivenbark served on City Council from 1993 to 2001, and again from 2009 until now.

Other candidates and their vote totals were: Caylan McKay, 3,502; Hollis Briggs Jr., 3,242; Philip White, 1,430; James Ray, 1,355; and Perry Fisher, 1,350.

This is the first time since 2011 Saffo had competition in the race for mayor when Justin LaNasa ran against him. In 2015, Saffo won the election gaining 94.66 percent of the votes.

You can find all of the election results here.

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