WILMINGTON — Having served in the city’s top leading position for 20 years, Wilmington’s mayor is hoping to add another term to his resume.
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Bill Saffo officially launched his 2025 mayoral bid on his campaign website Thursday. A video announcement walks through his time spent in the elected role, boasting the modernization of Wilmington’s local economy, transforming downtown into a live, work and play destination, and overseeing storm recovery with resilient infrastructure.
“With growth comes change and new challenges,” Saffo said in the announcement. “I’m running for re-election for Wilmington’s mayor to face those challenges head-on.”
He points to growing the tree canopy, providing more green space, and improving water quality, among housing affordability and safety as issues he also ranks of high importance. Saffo said Wilmington achieved the highest rating in fire safety and has brought down crime thanks to its law enforcement: “We must invest in the men and women who protect us.”
According to his campaign website, he pinpoints investing funds in cutting-edge technology and increasing police presence in high-crime areas. Saffo also mentions coordinating a Unified Gang Task Force with law enforcement at local, state and federal levels and working with the state legislature on a gang injunction legislation.
In affordable housing, Saffo touts the $5.2-million appropriation in the current budget and says the city must continue to work with the private sector and nonprofits, the county and other stakeholders to create more opportunities.
“Wilmington is leading the region with innovative solutions to create new housing options for our residents,” Saffo said in the video.
When it comes to environmental concerns, under Saffo’s rein the Clean Energy Task Force was founded to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city 100% by 2050 and the city’s reliance on fossil fuel in fleets. The Wilmington Tree Initiative also started to repopulate the tree canopy, which Saffo said should continue with more partnerships with area nonprofits and organizations.
A lifelong Wilmingtonian, whose Greek family immigrated to the Port City, Saffo attended public school and went to UNCW, majoring in political science. He works as a broker for Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty.
Saffo joined Wilmington City Council in 2003 and was appointed to mayor upon Spence Broadhurst’s exit in 2006. He has won every election since and is considered the longest-running mayor in Wilmington history.
This election year Saffo will face off against another Democratic candidate, Jonathan Barfield Jr., who lost his 16-year commissioner seat in 2024’s New Hanover County government election.
Though the city government is nonpartisan, it’s unclear at this time if the two Democrats will face a Republican challenger.
Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025.
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