Brunswick Today Newsletter: Exciting elections and a childhood dream

Jamey Cross, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·2 min read

Hello, and welcome to the Brunswick Today newsletter brought to you by me, StarNews reporter Jamey Cross.

It's the rhetoric that circulates every fourth fall when the presidential election rolls around: "Use your voice!" "Let your voice be heard!" "Your vote counts!" I love elections -- big and small -- and I'm a firm believer that every vote counts.

It's hard to see that truth in a presidential or gubernatorial election, when the outcome may be decided by a margin of thousands of votes. But, in local elections, that margin can be much tighter, and one vote can decide a winner -- quite literally.

One Brunswick County town witnessed that scenario in the municipal election last month. The Southport mayoral race was, at one point, separated by just one vote. After a recount finalized the results, the race was decided by just two votes.

Southport will have a new mayor in Alderman Rich Alt, who received just two more votes than the incumbent Mayor Joe Pat Hatem. Here's how the recount went and how two other tied races in the county were decided.

So, the next time that rhetoric begins circulating across social media or campaign signs staked in the ground at popular intersections, remember that one vote can make a difference.

Here we grow again

Traffic moves down N.C. 133 in Leland as construction continues on a new lane along the roadway Wednesday Nov. 1, 2023.
Traffic moves down N.C. 133 in Leland as construction continues on a new lane along the roadway Wednesday Nov. 1, 2023.

The story of population growth in Brunswick County isn't a new one. While we see the impacts of that growth in increasing traffic or new developments, the migration to the county is impacting the regional economy in a big way. Regional economist and professor Mouhcine Guettabi recently broke down the impacts of that growth -- here's the story.

Speaking of growth, the Brunswick County Planning Board recently approved a single-family-home development near Supply. Here's what to know.

Getting to know Holland Watkins

Holland Watkins, a 2012 South Brunswick High School graduate, has earned accolades for acting in independent films and has a part in the recently-released Disney film 'Wish.'
Holland Watkins, a 2012 South Brunswick High School graduate, has earned accolades for acting in independent films and has a part in the recently-released Disney film 'Wish.'

After landing a role as a voice actor in a Disney production, South Brunswick High School graduate Holland Watkins is living her childhood dream. Reporter Renee Spencer has the story and details behind the production, which release in theaters recently.

Go | See | Do

Whether you're already in the holiday spirit of you're having trouble getting there, you're in luck. There's no shortage of holiday fun in Brunswick County this week, including the Southport Flotilla, scheduled for Dec. 9. Reporter Cheryl Whitaker has the details here, plus more fun in Brunswick County this week.

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Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter/X @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick Today Newsletter