Thursday, April 24, 2025

City of Wilmington appoints interim city manager

City of Wilmington has appointed Tony Caudle as interim city manager. (Port City Daily photo/file)

WILMINGTON –– The Wilmington council has appointed Tony Caudle as interim city manager, the city announced Tuesday.

Caudle currently serves as deputy city manager of Wilmington. Effective June 1, she will step in for outgoing City Manager Sterling Cheatham, who is retiring after 18 years with Wilmington and a 45-year career in public administration.

Caudle joined the City of Wilmington in 2008. After launching his career as a city planner in Asheville, Caudle went on to serve as town manager in the North Carolina towns of Black Mountain, Wrightsville Beach, and Topsail Beach and city manager of Woodruff, S.C.

Caudle earned his master’s in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“For more than 12 years, Tony has played an instrumental role in guiding our city through natural disasters and meeting the challenges of a growing population,” Mayor Bill Saffo said in a statement. “Wilmington has benefited tremendously from his insight and professionalism and I am confident in his ability to lead our city administration.”

City council took the vote April 5 during its Monday morning agenda briefing.


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Alexandria Sands
Alexandria Sands
Alexandria Sands is a journalist covering New Hanover County and education. Before Port City Daily, she reported for the award-winning State Port Pilot in Southport. She graduated from UNC Charlotte and wrote for several Charlotte publications while there. When not writing, Williams is most likely in the gym, reading or spending time with her Golden Pyrenees. Reach her at alexandria@localdailymedia.com or on Twitter @alexsands_

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