New Hanover County voters will choose three out of six candidates to represent them on the Board of Commissioners for the next four years. Woody White is completing his first term, but he says he undertook some soul-searching before deciding to run again.
Woody White says he doesn’t expect public service to bring with it atta-boys and pats on the back – but the negativity can take a toll. Upon reflection, though, it was the need for steady leadership, says White, that trumped any doubts. Case in point: the Special Use Permit – which White once pledged to do away with. But that’s changed.
"I would not support a repeal of it. I would unequivocally support looking at it and trying to make it better -- which is what we tried to do a couple of years ago. What troubles me right now is that we’re having political pressure brought by some of our commissioners onto the Planning Board to try to do this right now, right now, right now, in the midst of an election season."
With one commissioner that White calls a lame duck, the SUP negotiation is best put off, says White, until after the November election. He says a healthy balance among business sectors is key -- as well as balance between air and water quality and business growth.