NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A software product manager, Democratic candidate Cassidy Santaguida is vying for one of three open seats on the county board of commissioners in this year’s election.
READ MORE: What to expect when voting in NC during the 2024 election season
It is Santaguida’s’ first time running for public office, though she worked in the public sector for 14 years — as a high school science teacher and for University of Texas at Austin.
“I’m running for county commissioner because I want New Hanover County to be a place that my daughter, along with all children in our county, still want to call home 20 years from now,” Santaguida said.
The candidate cites the county’s increased growth and change not keeping apace with infrastructure and other needs. She wants to “build a cleaner and greener vision” for future residents.
“I’ve spent decades solving complex problems in the software industry, which is known for constant change,” Santaguida said. “I’ve helped scale a tech company from a startup to a publicly traded enterprise, an experience that makes me uniquely qualified to help steer the county’s next phase of growth.”
Santaguida’s Democratic candidates include incumbent Jonathan Barfield and Stephanie Walker, with Republican candidates including incumbents Dane Scalise and Bill Rivenbark, as well as John Hinnant.
| What Cassidy Santaguida is… • Listening to: Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx • Watching: I don’t watch a lot these days, but love “Abbott Elementary,” “The Last of Us,” “The Bear,” and when watching TV with my daughter, “The Babysitters Club” • Reading: “Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange | |
Absentee ballots are already being mailed and early voting opens mid-October. Locations include:
- Carolina Beach Town Hall, 1121 N. Lake Boulevard
- CFCC Downtown Campus, Health Sciences Building, 415 N. Second St.
- Future NHC Board of Elections, 226 Government Dr.
- Northeast Regional Library, David Poynter Room, 1241 Military Cutoff Rd.
- NHC Senior Resource Center, Multipurpose Room, 2222 S. College Rd.
Voters will be able to cast ballots at any of the above places and even register to vote beforehand on Oct. 17-18, Oct. 21-25, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27, noon – 5 p.m., and Nov. 2, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Election Day is Nov. 5, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m. All voters will have to go to their precinct to cast a ballot, as shown on their voter registry.
An ID must be presented to cast a ballot in the election. Acceptable forms of ID include NC drivers license or state ID, U.S. passport, college or student university ID, some state employee IDs and out-of-state drivers license or ID, as long as voter registration was done within 90 days of the election. IDs not in good standing can be expired by one year or less.
Port City Daily has compiled candidate questionnaires so voters can read up on contenders’ stances before heading to the polls this election season. All answers have been edited only for clarity; the candidates’ opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily.
The paywall is dropped on profiles to help voters make informed decisions ahead of the election.
Port City Daily: What are the top three items you’re campaigning on this season and why?
Cassidy Santaguida: Our community is incredibly fortunate to be growing, especially when many places are losing residents. However, we haven’t always kept pace with the infrastructure needs that come with rapid growth. It’s essential that we manage growth thoughtfully and preserve the unique character of the community we all cherish.
We need to:
1. Address housing costs and lack of sufficient housing for residents.
2. Focus on public transit and lagging infrastructure amid accelerated growth.
3. Protect our environment and green spaces.
PCD: Name an issue you struggle to find a solution for that affects your district and how have/would you go about determining a path forward? If you have a personal anecdote to share that has helped guide you in deciding how to move forward, please, share.
CS: I moved to New Hanover County in 2016 from Austin, TX, to pursue a career opportunity, but also to escape the soaring housing costs, seemingly endless traffic, and disappearing green spaces in Austin. I chose to make New Hanover County home so I could raise my family in a beautiful, affordable, and safe community.
Now, eight years later, New Hanover County is facing soaring housing costs, an increased traffic burden, and disappearing green spaces. The needs we have as a county to both address housing costs and preserve green spaces are often positioned as opposing needs, but I believe it’s the responsibility of elected leaders to establish a balanced and intentional strategy that meets all of our needs. I’ve already experienced what happens to a community when that balance is not met. I’m running because I have the experience and the commitment to help New Hanover County strike the right balance.
PCD: What changes, if any, would you make to county zoning ordinances, incentives, programs and/or policies to address affordable housing? Would you advocate for any new initiatives to promote affordability for residents?
CS: One-third of New Hanover County residents are housing cost burdened. Our challenge now is to find ways to grow responsibly while making meaningful progress in solving our county’s housing crisis.
Once elected I will collaborate with developers to reduce housing barriers and ensure that housing is accessible to all. I will advocate for local organizations that are already supporting the housing needs of our residents and work to ensure the Comprehensive Plan provides a strategic framework and guiding principles to address affordable housing needs while protecting our environment.
PCD: Some residents have stated local governments, including New Hanover County, are applying for New Hanover Community Endowment funds for items they should be responsible for funding. In NHC, examples include the Northside grocery store, which the county committed to funding in 2022, and New Hanover County Schools literacy coaches, though NHCS was employing these coaches prior to the award. In your view, how should the county decipher between endowment opportunities and its funding responsibilities?
CS: Ultimately, the county has legal obligations to provide certain services to taxpayers and a parallel obligation to spend taxpayer money wisely and as efficiently as possible. The Community Endowment has no such obligation and will disburse funds at the discretion of their board.
When the county saw the need to support the Northside Food Co-op, it was the right thing to do to step in and partner with a non-profit to meet the essential needs of residents. Was it also right for the endowment to award a grant to the Northside Food Co-op to help meet funding needs? Yes. Similarly, the county was right to fund literacy coaches, and the endowment was right to provide continued funding for those positions.
PCD: Do you believe the county is adequately funding public education? Explain. If so, do you believe it could be improved upon and how?
CS: I believe our public schools are the bedrock of our community’s future, our democracy, and our economy. Our children and our future must not be short-changed. I recognize that the county has increased its school budget allocation to fill the school budget gaps left by state funding cuts and loss of federal dollars. It wasn’t, however, adequate to avoid elimination of staff positions in New Hanover County Schools. A crucial responsibility of a county commissioner is to ask tough questions about the proposed budget and demand clear answers on behalf of taxpayers, parents, and citizens, and to do everything possible to ensure our schools are adequately funded.
PCD: The city and county just approved its joint homelessness strategy in September. Do you endorse it, which includes more staff, day centers and housing programs? What specifications would you like to see the county implement to align with the strategy?
CS: Addressing the spectrum of housing needs in our region is one of the most daunting challenges our community now faces, and the joint homelessness strategy approved by the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County is a great step.
In addition to providing more day centers, part of this strategy must include investing in programs and policies that increase the supply of shelter beds and permanent supportive housing for low-income individuals with physical or mental disabilities and/or substance use disorders. Furthermore, housing first policies — where the priority is placed on getting the individual into housing first, then providing wrap-around services for addiction and behavioral health problems, rather than requiring abstinence and medications prior to providing housing — have shown that providing stable housing is the most critical first step in addressing homelessness. All of these efforts will necessitate increased staffing and innovative strategies to assist our unhoused residents in finding safe, reliable housing.
PCD: Many communities in New Hanover County experienced increased flooding as a result of recent tropical storms and climate research shows storms will become more frequent and stronger, with sea levels expected to rise in the next few decades. What will you advocate for as commissioner to mitigate current flooding conditions and help prepare the county for future issues?
CS: Storm readiness is an integral part of sustainable development, requiring careful consideration in rezoning and new projects. While emergency response efforts in New Hanover County have been admirable, preparing for these disasters before they happen will protect both our residents and our first responders. I believe that by integrating storm readiness into our sustainable development framework, we can safeguard our communities and enhance resilience in the face of adversity.
As a county commissioner, I will advocate for the new sustainability manager in New Hanover County to spearhead environmental concerns associated with storm preparation, call for the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance to reflect current realities, and support policies that protect our most vulnerable populations, both before and during hurricanes, ensuring they have access to necessary resources.
PCD: Discussions about the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge continue with the NCDOT assessing three options: a 135-foot, a 100-foot or a 65-foot span. Also, a federal grant of $242 million has been received to cover part of the costs, with more grants having been applied for. However, the WMPO voted to consider all funding options, including a toll. Though nothing has been voted on or solidified, where do you stand on the bridge size and the funding of it, including a toll? Explain.
CS: I do not support a toll as an option for funding the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, regardless of the size of the bridge. Taxpayers already support NCDOT projects through the gas tax, and a toll would serve as a duplicative, regressive tax on the people in our region who use the bridge to commute to work, attend medical appointments, or travel to cultural and entertainment venues.
In terms of size, I have yet to see a legitimate need to build at 135-foot bridge — the Army Corp of Engineers does not intend to further dredge the Cape Fear River north of the bridge, and a 135-foot bridge would result in the displacement of residents from their homes and property on the eastern side of the bridge. Not only does a 100-foot bridge suit the needs of our community, it is also a more cost-effective option, and all but removes the need to consider a tolling option to fund its construction.
PCD: PFAS and 1,4-dioxane contamination in the region has been a major concern for residents in recent years. Would you advocate the county to lobby for any specific legislation or regulation on this issue, such as the Department of Environmental Quality’s proposals to enact surface and groundwater standards for eight PFAS compounds? Would you support efforts to expand local authority of environmental regulation, or advocate any other county action on this issue?
CS: I support legislation that will require corporate polluters to meet all local and state-level regulations for PFAS. As a former scientist, I understand the role research studies will play in our understanding of the impacts of PFAS contamination on our water supply a din our communities. And, as a New Hanover County resident and parent, I’m committed to taking appropriate action in response to research findings, including implementing appropriate medical protocols and holding corporate polluters accountable for their actions.
PCD: In light of a few historic building structures collapsing this year, the county is researching policy changes to allow for more annual commercial building inspections rather than only executing them when a new structure is built or when renovations are needed. Do you support this measure; why or why not?
CS: Yes, periodic safety inspections make sense to ensure the integrity of historic buildings and the safety of occupants.
PCD: Take us through your process to decide whether taxes should be increased on constituents; for instance, this fiscal year, commissioners did not increase property taxes, versus those who did in 2021.
CS: No one wants to raise taxes, and elected officials are no exception. But there will be times when it’s irresponsible to avoid the discussion. The county is growing and infrastructure is aging. There will be a need for new county schools in the coming years and current cost estimates for a new high school are in the $200 million range. Bonds will need to be issued and bonds will need to be repaid. Spending tax dollars wisely, avoiding waste, and focusing on fiscal responsibility should be a guiding principle of all elected officials. But, at the end of the day, the government has the ultimate responsibility to provide the services that residents need, and it is up to elected officials to ensure tax revenue is sufficient to meet those needs.
PCD: Name something about yourself that readers would be surprised to learn.
CS: I’ve studied improv and comedy and have performed in multiple comedy festivals.
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