NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A residential and commercial real estate broker, Republican John Hinnant is looking to secure a commissioner his seat on the board in this year’s elections.
READ MORE: What to expect when voting in NC during the 2024 election season
Hinnant ran against Deb Butler in the 2022 North Carolina House of Representatives race for the county district seat but lost. Though he hasn’t been in the political sphere, Hinnant said his “entire professional career” has been in service to the public.
He operated a restaurant in downtown Wilmington in the late ’90s before going on to become the CEO of Wilmington Downtown, Inc. (WDI) for more than six years, where he managed a 35-member board and hundreds of volunteers. He also has served on numerous committees and boards, including New Hanover County Parks and Gardens and the Non-County Outside Agency Funding Committee.
“I’ve been a small business owner so I know the challenge of operating in the local economy,” Hinnant said. “I’ve been an economic developer that helped over 50 companies that created over 500 jobs and while assisting three hotels in site selection. In the private sector, I’ve been part of delivering workforce housing units through adaptive reuse of nuisance hotels along Market Street with zero public dollars. I’m a problem-solver, I ask a lot of common-sense questions, and I support more government transparency.”
The candidate cites government accountability, school funding to address overcrowding, and public safety as his top areas of concern. Hinnant faces off against Republican incumbents Bill Rivenbark and Dane Scalise, as well as Democratic candidates Cassidy Santaguida, incumbent Jonathan Barfield and Stephanie Walker.
| What John Hinnant is… • Listening to: The Message, Bob Marley, Classic Vinyl & Classic Rewind on Sirius • Podcasts: Ruthless, The Newsroom, Men in the Arena, BEMA, Do Politics Better, Art of Manliness, Chatter BNC, Whiskey & Wisdom, Truth over Tribe, Hear Spurgeon, Modern Wisdom, The Way I Heard it w/ Mike Rowe, The Tony Robbins Podcast and Success of the Athletic Minded Man • Watching: Any soccer game regardless of skill level, some football, occasionally the “Tucker Carlson Show” and “The Joe Rogan Show” • Reading: “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell • Name something about yourself that readers would be surprised to learn: I enjoy long walks and when I am able, long runs. I once ran 43 miles over a 36-hour period, over seven legs as part of the Blue Ridge Relay (208 miles). In 2021, I completed four endurance events, a half marathon and a Spartan race. It was part of a process where I’ve lost 50 pounds since I worked for WDI. I laugh that stupid fitness efforts were my midlife crisis. |
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Absentee ballots are already being mailed and early voting opens mid-October. Locations include:
- Carolina Beach Town Hall, 1121 N. Lake Boulevard
- CFCC Downtown Campus, Health Sciences Building, 415 N. Second St.
- Future NHC Board of Elections, 226 Government Dr.
- Northeast Regional Library, David Poynter Room, 1241 Military Cutoff Rd.
- NHC Senior Resource Center, Multipurpose Room, 2222 S. College Rd.
Voters will be able to cast ballots at any of the above places and even register to vote beforehand on Oct. 17-18, Oct. 21-25, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27, noon – 5 p.m., and Nov. 2, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Election Day is Nov. 5, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 7:30 p.m. All voters will have to go to their precinct to cast a ballot, as shown on their voter registry.
An ID must be presented to cast a ballot in the election. Acceptable forms of ID include NC drivers license or state ID, U.S. passport, college or student university ID, some state employee IDs and out-of-state drivers license or ID, as long as voter registration was done within 90 days of the election. IDs not in good standing can be expired by one year or less.
Port City Daily has compiled candidate questionnaires so voters can read up on contenders’ stances before heading to the polls this election season. All answers have been edited only for clarity; the candidates’ opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily.
The paywall is dropped on profiles to help voters make informed decisions ahead of the election.
Port City Daily: What are the top three items you’re campaigning on this season and why?
John Hinnant: A. Government accountability — wasteful government spending has cost New Hanover County millions of dollars and treasured good reputation as one of the largest employers in southeastern North Carolina.
B. Funding to address school overcrowding — Most of our public schools are overcrowded and it can’t be solved with redistricting; and
C. Public safety — Our sheriff and fire departments remain understaffed and overworked.
PCD: Name an issue you struggle to find a solution for that affects your district and how have/would you go about determining a path forward? If you have a personal anecdote to share that has helped guide you in deciding how to move forward, please, share.
JH: Homelessness: There are so many service providers, it seems like there is little coordination. I like the city/county combined approach. I’d prefer to see the city/county efforts focus on three- and five-year strategies among nonprofits with measurable benchmarks and goals with a clawback provision. If an organization is not hitting its benchmarks, then the future payments would be reallocated to nonprofits hitting their marks.
PCD: What changes, if any, would you make to county zoning ordinances, incentives, programs and/or policies to address affordable housing? Would you advocate for any new initiatives to promote affordability for residents?
JH: The city’s strategy of increased density in exchange for affordable and workforce housing seems to be working. Particularly the workforce housing (residents earning between 80-120% AMI) part as it does not require public investment.
Affordable housing requires so much more than land to build on: walkability, access to retail services within one mile, easy access to transit. However, large tracts of undeveloped land in the unincorporated part of New Hanover County do not offer those services, so the county’s emphasis should be on workforce housing — those that make between 80-120% of the Area Median Income, such as first responders, teachers, nurses, construction workers, hospitality workers, etc. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 95,000 “Primary Jobs” in New Hanover County. Half of them live outside of New Hanover County and commute in. That is much of our traffic congestion.
PCD: Some residents have stated local governments, including New Hanover County, are applying for New Hanover Community Endowment funds for items they should be responsible for funding. In NHC, examples include the Northside grocery store, which the county committed to funding in 2022, and New Hanover County Schools literacy coaches, though NHCS was employing these coaches prior to the award. In your view, how should the county decipher between endowment opportunities and its funding responsibilities?
JH: I believe it was intended to be a source of funds for the county and other local governments in New Hanover County. It was publicly stated by advocates during the creation of the endowment that we could see capital projects funded without the county taxpayers taking on debt service to fund the capital project. The Endowment needs to develop an annual budget guideline similar to a summary below:
- $2-$5 Million (negotiable) for small nonprofit programs up from $50,000-$250,000 (negotiable) each
- Balance to large projects that will address big needs (nursing, affordable housing, capital projects [schools, etc], etc).
- Operating expenses of public institutions should be avoided, when possible, unless it is an innovative pilot program with no existing examples or track record yet.
PCD: Do you believe the county is adequately funding public education? Explain. If so, do you believe it could be improved upon and how?
JH: $101,000,000 is a lot of money. I believe we need to address overcrowding and hold our legislative delegation’s feet to the fire on teacher pay.
I would encourage the Board of Education to continue looking at the administrative budget. The recent 17% cut was a good start, but teachers have told me that assistant principals are not typically seen unless there’s a staff meeting. Everyone employed by the schools has the responsibility of insuring school safety. People in positions of authority should prioritize being in the hallway during class change to help project safety.
I would support an application to the Endowment to address school overcrowding. It was stated during the creation of the Endowment that it should be used for capital projects to avoid using taxpayer debt to pay for those projects.
If that fails, I would support a bond referendum as long as it has bipartisan support and does not raise taxes.
PCD: The city and county just approved its joint homelessness strategy in September. Do you endorse it, which includes more staff, day centers and housing programs? What specifications would you like to see the county implement to align with the strategy?
JH: I think it’s a good first step in working together. I feel the funding requests should be made in three- to five-year increments. This way on an annual basis, we consider funding other nonprofits and protect the funding for homeless programs and this way the other agencies are not competing against homeless organizations. These organizations should be working themselves out of a job … that should be the measure of success.
PCD: Many communities in New Hanover County experienced increased flooding as a result of recent tropical storms and climate research shows storms will become more frequent and stronger, with sea levels expected to rise in the next few decades. What will you advocate for as commissioner to mitigate current flooding conditions and help prepare the county for future issues?
JH: The county’s infrastructure work with the stormwater authority needs to better communicate its work on the watershed to mitigate flooding. Several neighborhoods suffered massive damage in Hurricane Florence yet their watersheds are not yet prioritized — Northchase and West Bay Estates off of Torchwood Drive, as well as other areas.
PCD: Discussions about the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge continue with the NCDOT assessing three options: a 135-foot, a 100-foot or a 65-foot span. Also, a federal grant of $242 million has been received to cover part of the costs, with more grants having been applied for. However, the WMPO voted to consider all funding options, including a toll. Though nothing has been voted on or solidified, where do you stand on the bridge size and the funding of it, including a toll? Explain.
JH: We need to remain focused on balancing community needs, environmental impacts, and long-term economic viability.
Presently, I favor a 135-foot span for the new bridge. This height allows for increased navigational clearance for larger vessels, promoting economic development in the region while also addressing future growth. A taller bridge can help accommodate both current and anticipated maritime traffic, ensuring that our infrastructure aligns with evolving needs. If the economic development partners assure us that it is not needed, a compromise on a 100-foot bridge is a good idea.
Regarding funding, I believe it’s crucial to explore all available options, including the federal grant and any additional funding sources that may arise. However, I have reservations about implementing a toll. The 60,000-plus cars a day represent much of our daily workforce in New Hanover County and free, alternative paths exist. A toll would merely relocate those commuters to other arterial roadways and shift additional congestion to other areas. I would advocate for a multi-faceted funding strategy that emphasizes federal and state funding.
Transparency and community involvement are vital in this process. I would encourage open forums and discussions with residents to gather their input and address concerns about funding, especially regarding the potential impact of tolls.
Ultimately, my goal would be to ensure that the new bridge is not only functional and efficient but also supportive of our community’s growth. By prioritizing a suitable bridge height and advocating for diverse funding sources without placing an undue burden on residents, we can create a solution for New Hanover County that survives more generations than the Cape Fear Memorial has served.
PCD: PFAS and 1,4-dioxane contamination in the region has been a major concern for residents in recent years. Would you advocate the county to lobby for any specific legislation or regulation on this issue, such as the Department of Environmental Quality’s proposals to enact surface and groundwater standards for eight PFAS compounds?
JH: Yes
PCD: Would you support efforts to expand local authority of environmental regulation, or advocate any other county action on this issue?
JH: This is a statewide issue. Since the pollution comes from outside of New Hanover County, our water source (Cape Fear River) flows through the state with headwaters starting around Greensboro, NC. Statesville and Pittsboro, NC, where industrial customers to discharge PFAS-contaminated wastewater into the municipal sewer systems. Those systems discharge effluent into the Cape Fear River that is contaminated with PFAS. I would support a legislative agenda that would require stronger regulations on chemical companies and how they discharge industrial wastewater into the watershed. Homebuilders are required to control stormwater; industrial businesses must treat their own wastewater. Further, I would support lobbying efforts of the state to do broad testing of New Hanover Couty citizen blood samples, including household pets.
PCD: In light of a few historic building structures collapsing this year, the county is researching policy changes to allow for more annual commercial building inspections rather than only executing them when a new structure is built or when renovations are needed. Do you support this measure; why or why not?
JH: Yes, typically, an inspection is triggered by a permit application, complaint or change of use. I would support an interlocal agreement with county inspections and the City of Wilmington Fire Department who already completes annual inspections — if they see something, they should say something.
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