Meet the candidates: Ocean Isle Beach Mayor

Renee Spencer, Wilmington StarNews
·3 min read

There are two candidates running for mayor in Ocean Isle Beach.

Robert Bullard is challenging longtime mayor Debbie Sloane Smith.

Voters in Brunswick County have three options to cast their ballots this year. Residents may vote absentee-by-mail with ballots postmarked by Nov. 7, or during one-stop early voting beginning Thursday, Oct. 19 and ending Saturday, Nov. 4, or in-person on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Candidate responses have been edited for style, grammar and length.

Robert Bullard

Robert Bullard
Robert Bullard

  • Age: 71

  • Occupation: Retired

  • Family: Married, three daughters

  • Education: BS Chemistry, North Carolina State University; Master of Business Administration, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

  • Political affiliation: Republican

Debbie Sloane Smith

Debbie Sloane Smith
Debbie Sloane Smith

  • Age: Declined to answer

  • Occupation: Real estate and hospitality

  • Family: Two children, four grandchildren

  • Education: Attended University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

  • Political affiliation: Republican

What should the town do about beach nourishment?

Bullard: Continue it. The benefits of beach renourishment far outweigh the costs. Replenishing sand lost to erosion while protecting turtle nests creates safer marine life habitats, mitigates hazards and leads to greater beach sustainability. For FY 2022-2023 $2.4 million was budgeted. In FY 2023-2024, the budget was reduced by a third to $1.6 million in spite of an imposed 10% tax increase. As I was not involved in the budgeting process, I cannot comment on the wisdom or advisability of the reduction. In addition, as mayor, I would provide incentives for placing sand fencing along beachfront properties to build secondary dunes.

Sloane Smith: Since 1989, when Hurricane Hugo destroyed much of our frontal dune system, Ocean Isle has been pro-active on beach nourishment. After years of work, we have a 50-year plan with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for periodic nourishment of 3.2 miles of Ocean Isle. This began in 2001. We constructed a terminal groin at our east end to prevent chronic erosion. This is performing as designed and saving infrastructure, tax base, and property.  I am fortunate to have assisted with both major projects. I am a proponent of beach nourishment for storm protection and recreation.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for the town?

Bullard: During the summer tourist season, stressed infrastructure. The most obvious manifestation of this is traffic congestion and overstressed parking. A solution to this will require significant study, public and safety services input with coordination from the State Department of Transportation. Traffic congestion has made emergency access to the island tenuous at best due to the one two lane causeway and routine travel for the permanent residents’ time consuming. Public input and adoption of policies that will enhance the day-to-day livability for our permanent residents is paramount.

Sloane Smith: Area growth is certainly impacting our island. Both growth within the Town limits and in the area. I will work hard to prepare for and manage what we can to maintain Ocean Isle Beach as a premier beach in NC and to maintain our family atmosphere.

Why are you the best candidate to serve as the town’s mayor?

Bullard: I bring 40 years of executive experience in diverse roles including finance, operations, sales, service, and management of an organization with 500 employees and revenue in excess of $1 billion annually. I have negotiated multi-million-dollar acquisitions with global government officials including the US, Japan, and Kuwait. Now that I am retired, I will leverage my decades of experience to shepherd our community to the future that our permanent residents want. I have no outside businesses that create conflicts of interest, or distractions from a full-time mayoral position to represent the needs of this great community.

Sloane Smith: Having lived on Ocean Isle all my life, I have a perspective not many can share. Having served this community for decades has given me experience in working with agencies to get projects completed, including beach nourishment, coastal regulations, NCDOT for road improvements, working with State Legislators for law changes, etc. I am committed to protecting our culture and lifestyle that brought many wonderful neighbors to our town.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Candidates for Ocean Isle Beach mayor election 2023