Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Wilmington municipal election forum hosted by media consortium

The public is welcome to attend the 2024 municipal election forum for Wilmington City Council and Mayor on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m. (Port City Daily)

WILMINGTON — Three media companies are coming together to host a forum with Wilmington municipal candidates on Wednesday.

Port City Daily, WECT and WHQR will welcome seven council candidates and three mayoral candidates to WHQR Gallery on Oct. 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The city council candidates — all of whom are vying for three seats — will be asked questions at 6 p.m., followed by mayoral candidates at 7 p.m.

The forum is moderated by WECT anchor Jon Evans, with reporters Brenna Flanagan (Port City Daily), Kelly Kenoyer (WHQR) and Delaney Tarpley (WECT) also asking questions, devised both by the media outlets and procured from the community-at-large. Anyone who wishes to ask a question can click this form to enter inquiries for consideration.

The studios of WHQR are located at 254 Front St. and the forum is open to the public. Candidates include incumbents Clifford Barnett and Luke Waddell, as well as Chakema Clinton-Quintana, Richard Collier, J.C. Lyle, Kelly Roberts, and Cassidy Santaguida.

(Sean Guerrero pulled his candidacy last month due to personal reasons though his name will appear on the ballot.)

Mayoral candidates include incumbent Bill Saffo, facing off against Billy Craig and Jonathan Barfield.

The forums will be streamed live on the WECT website, app, and YouTube channel, and will be shared on Facebook via livestream by all outlets.

Here are dates to consider to cast a ballot this election season:

  • Absentee voting opens Oct. 3 and can be requested here to be mailed; however, requests must be made by Oct. 21, 5 p.m., and the absentee ballot must be returned by the time polls close on Election Day.
  • One-stop early voting will begin on Thursday, Oct. 16, and runs until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. To check early voting locations, dates and times, click here.
  • Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Port City Daily is also running candidate Q&As ahead of Election Day here, with the paywall dropped on the profiles.


Have tips or comments? Email info@portcitydaily.com

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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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