Two candidates for Wilmington City Council vowed Tuesday,
Oct. 20 to support legislation that will stop Titan America LLC from building a cement plant in Castle Hayne.

The candidates’ comments came during public hearings regarding Titan’s air permit at the Cape Fear Community College North Campus. Ben McCoy and Justin LaNasa used the forum as a stump to garner public support and express their opposition.

McCoy said his sister was born with autism due to mercury poisoning, underscoring beliefs that Titan’s plant will emit harmful levels of mercury into the atmosphere.

"I’ll never know what it’s like to truly know my sister," McCoy said. "She’s got a beautiful spirit, but she can’t communicate."

LaNasa highlighted a common view that Titan’s local presence will undercut the economy.

"I would hold you responsible and I would want you to pay out of your own pocket for the cleanup of this disaster when it occurs," LaNasa said, directing his words at the Department of Air Quality officials who conducted the hearings.

Three elected county officials also commented.

County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield related his experience in the real estate industry to the Titan issue by saying that certain materials used to build homes have led to class-action lawsuits in which people are later reimbursed for something that was harmful to begin with.

"I know we need jobs," he said. "But not all money is good money…you can put a drug dealer on every corner but that makes no more sense than allowing Titan to come here."

Others disagreed.

Commissioner Bill Caster reiterated his view that Titan will adhere to the same state and federal process as any industry, and that the company’s plant will need to meet regulatory standards put forth by state and federal agencies.

"If they cannot meet the requirements, so be it, but let the process continue on," Caster told the DAQ officials.

Commissioner Bobby Greer said, "I trust you folks to make the decisions, and when you do, I certainly encourage you to welcome Titan to our community. We need the jobs, we need the economic investment and we need the cement."