Two candidates are counting the days until the Wrightsville Beach mayoral election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Lumina News posed three individual questions to both candidates, incumbent Mayor Stephen Whalen and his opponent, Alderman David Cignotti.
Mayor Whalen was invited to clarify his position on the televising of town meetings.
LN: You have publicly stated that you are not in favor of televising town meetings. If money was no object, would you change your opinion?
SW: I don’t accept your premise. I don’t oppose the concept. To televise our meetings would reduce the seating capacity by about 20-25 percent in our council chambers due to the space needed for the camera equipment. More importantly I don’t think it is realistic to suggest "If money were no object." During these difficult economic times money and cost ($30-35,000 a year) are always an object and need study and consideration. I think in general the town does an excellent job in all aspects of communicating.
Alderman David Cignotti has publicly stated that he might be in favor of expanding the town’s use of surveillance cameras.
LN: Please clarify your position on the use of surveillance cameras in public places. Why might you favor the expansion of that program; and, if money was no object, where would you suggest those cameras be placed and why?
DC: I supported the placement of cameras in the downtown /Trolley Stop area. I also support cameras in the Johnnie Mercer’s area. Most studies show that surveillance cameras result in small reductions in criminal activity, though the video is often used to assist police in solving crimes. If money is no object, I support more police officers over more cameras. As for license-recognition systems, there are legitimate privacy concerns and there have been high error rates with some systems. While I realize our mayor favors placing a license recognition system on the Heide Trask Bridge, I believe it is crucial that we hear from citizens first.
Mayor Whalen and other candidates identified water quality as a key issue during the recent candidates’ forum hosted by the Wrightsville Beach Merchants Association (WBMA) on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
LN: You, along with other candidates indentified water quality as one of the key issues facing the town, yet the town voted not to continue to partner with the University of North Carolina Wilmington this fiscal year to continue water testing to determine the cause of high bacteria levels in Banks Channel. The anticipated passage of the No Discharge Zone is a step in the right direction. How do you foresee enforcing that regulation and when will the town be ready to re-fund its research with the university?
SW: To my knowledge UNCW has not made a formal contract renewal request, and with budget constraints the board chose not to place it in the new budget. To date we have expended $50,000 to UNCW and they have yet to provide any definitive evidence of the cause of our water contamination. We may want to consider alternative sources (a second opinion) for our water quality testing going forward.
Implementation of the No Discharge Zone will require a cooperative effort of local, state and federal agencies. Since we are the first in North Carolina it will present some interesting challenges but I feel certain we can work through its implementation for the benefit of all concerned.
Alderman Cignotti was among the candidates during the WBMA forum that supported the concept of a trolley service to Wrightsville Beach from the mainland.
LN: You have publicly stated that you support the concept of a trolley service between Mayfaire and Wrightsville Beach. In that context you mentioned that town-owned property adjacent to Military Cutoff might make an appropriate staging area for such a service. That land is currently in the first phase of a feasibility study that would ultimately lead to its clean up. What other uses might you see on the horizon for this "brown field?"
DC: The results of the feasibility study will dictate the use of this land. The land could be a valuable tool; a piece of the puzzle in working out a public/private partnership that might one day remedy our parking problems by offering a staging area to trolley people to and from the beach and would make the beach more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. It could benefit businesses on and off the island. We might choose to sell the land to strengthen the town’s general fund balance or fund needed projects. Whatever we decide to do, moving slowly and not being short sighted will ensure a wise decision.
First Mayor Whalen, then Alderman Cignotti were asked to identify what uniquely qualified them to serve the town as mayor.
LN: Aside from the accomplishments of the town over the last two years, what qualities do you personally feel you have brought to the role of mayor? If you are not re-elected, your term will expire in December. If that is the case, how will you continue to serve the town?
SW: Leadership: I am proud to have the support of every member of the Board of Aldermen over the last four years other than my opponent. Ability to negotiate and reach compromise to bring consensus on difficult issues: My business background has allowed me to reduce our budgets by $1.5 million in 2008-09 and $1.2 million in 2009-10 with the board’s concurrence. I can creatively solve problems. Having said that, the mayor’s job is difficult and I might have made some mistakes but hopefully my heart and intentions were in the right place and in the best interests of Wrightsville Beach.
LN: Five out of seven candidates have served on the planning board, including you. What else uniquely qualifies you to lead the town of Wrightsville Beach as its mayor? If you are not elected, your term as alderman will expire in December. If that is the case, how will you continue to serve the town?
DC: My experiences as the chairman of the planning board, as an alderman and as a public school administrator, uniquely qualify me to lead our town. Most importantly, the 10 years that I have served the citizens of Wrightsville Beach speak volumes about what I will do as mayor. My past actions give credence to the fact that I really do believe in honest, open government. If not elected, I will take a hiatus and eventually return to volunteer for environmental and historic preservation causes.
