As the Wilmington City election nears, local organizations Residents of Old Wilmington (ROW) and the Downtown Business Alliance (DBA) will hold a public forum to meet and greet candidates along with hearing the candidates’ views concerning city issues.
The ROW/DBA Candidates Forum will be held at the Hannah Block Historic USO, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, on Thursday, September 24 with WECT anchor Jon Evans serving as the event’s moderator. According to a release from ROW, there will be an opportunity to meet and greet the candidates at 6 p.m. and the program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
According to ROW President Sylvia Kochler, the forum is free and open to the public with the moderator asking questions of the candidates. A period will be set aside for questions from the audience.
“The purpose of the Forum is to afford voters the opportunity to ask questions about, and hear the candidates’ views on city issues, and especially those issues that directly affect downtown residents and businesses,” said Kochler.
Candidates running for Wilmington City Council include:
- Margaret Haynes (incumbent)
- Neil Anderson (incumbent)
- Paul Lawler
- John Presswood
- Frank J. Madonna
- Hollis B. Briggs Jr.
- Alvin Rogers
- Deb Hays
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo will run unopposed for another four-year term.
According to the organization’s website, ROW is a non-profit organization and neighborhood community of shared goals and responsibilities of people living in the Historic Districts covering the oldest parts of the City of Wilmington, North Carolina—the area between Red Cross and Queen Streets, from the Cape Fear River to Eighth Street.
According to DBA President Jim Bitto, “the Downtown Business Alliance of Wilmington is a non-profit organization whose mission is to unite, promote,& support the Downtown Wilmington community. We are a membership-based organization that, through civic activism, annual special events and corporate sponsorship, are able to help make downtown a viable and attractive community for residents, business owners and visitors.”
