Former commissioner candidate now running for city council | Port ...

Cassidy is originally from Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Wilmington with her daughter.

Cassidy previously ran for New Hanover County Commissioner in 2024, but did not win. Her campaign for Wilmington City Council in 2025 is her second run for public office.

Cassidy currently works as a software product manager at the N2 Company. She previously worked at the financial technology firm nCino and at the University of Texas. Before transitioning into the tech industry, she was a high school science teacher.



Supports strengthening the local economy through workforce development.

Believes fiscal responsibility requires avoiding waste but acknowledges tax increases may be necessary to fund schools and infrastructure.

- Supports strengthening the local economy through workforce development.
- Believes fiscal responsibility requires avoiding waste but acknowledges tax increases may be necessary to fund schools and infrastructure.

Economy

As of September 4, 2025, Cassidy Santaguida did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Supports incorporating housing and development projects that vary in densities, uses, and price points while protecting Wilmington’s tree canopy and natural environment.

Wants to address the county’s housing crisis by reducing barriers and ensuring accessibility, while protecting green spaces.

Supports the city and county’s joint homelessness strategy, including day centers, shelter beds, and permanent supportive housing.

- Supports incorporating housing and development projects that vary in densities, uses, and price points while protecting Wilmington’s tree canopy and natural environment.
- Wants to address the county’s housing crisis by reducing barriers and ensuring accessibility, while protecting green spaces.
- Supports the city and county’s joint homelessness strategy, including day centers, shelter beds, and permanent supportive housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports legislation to hold corporate polluters accountable for PFAS contamination and believes research should guide future responses.

- Supports legislation to hold corporate polluters accountable for PFAS contamination and believes research should guide future responses.

Public Safety

Plans to alleviate traffic issues and improve safety by updating transportation networks and investing in public transit.

Applauds efforts to improve infrastructure, citing the inclusion of bike lanes on the Fifth Avenue project as a positive example.

Opposes toll funding for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement. Supports a 100-foot bridge as the most cost-effective option that avoids displacement of residents.

Supports integrating storm readiness into development planning to protect residents and first responders.

- Plans to alleviate traffic issues and improve safety by updating transportation networks and investing in public transit.
- Applauds efforts to improve infrastructure, citing the inclusion of bike lanes on the Fifth Avenue project as a positive example.
- Opposes toll funding for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement. Supports a 100-foot bridge as the most cost-effective option that avoids displacement of residents.
- Supports integrating storm readiness into development planning to protect residents and first responders.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Believes public schools are essential to the community’s future and must be adequately funded.

- Believes public schools are essential to the community’s future and must be adequately funded.

Education

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Cassidy Santaguida

Walter Ley

Chakema Clinton-Quintana has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Strayer University. She is a mother of four and a grandmother of four.

Chakema is the current director of channel at Live Oak Bank, where she previously served as vice president of compliance and community reinvestment. Prior to that she held positions at RBC and HomEq.

Chakema Clinton-Quintana (Wilmington City Council, North ...

Chakema's campaign for Wilmington City Council Member is her first entry into politics. 

Supports investing in small businesses by providing education and resources to help entrepreneurs thrive.

- Supports investing in small businesses by providing education and resources to help entrepreneurs thrive.

Supports stronger digital safety measures to protect young people online.

- Supports stronger digital safety measures to protect young people online.

Supports affordable housing for all, including the unhoused and essential workers like teachers, nurses, and first responders.

Supports creating diverse housing by partnering with public agencies, non-profits, and private developers.

- Supports affordable housing for all, including the unhoused and essential workers like teachers, nurses, and first responders.
- Supports creating diverse housing by partnering with public agencies, non-profits, and private developers.

Supports addressing traffic bottlenecks, expanding safe walking and biking routes, and strengthening public transit to improve city transportation.

- Supports addressing traffic bottlenecks, expanding safe walking and biking routes, and strengthening public transit to improve city transportation.

As of September 4, 2025, Chakema Clinton-Quintana’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Chakema Clinton-Quintana

Chakema Clinton-Quintana has a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. She is a mother of four and a grandmother of four.

Chakema is the director of Channel, a small business center powered by Live Oak Bank, where she leads initiatives that support and elevate minority entrepreneurs in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. She has a background in banking and regulatory compliance.

Believes Wilmington's infrastructure must keep pace with growth to improve daily life and safety.

REV. DR. CLIFFORD D. BARNETT, SR. - Thalian Association ...

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Clifford Barnett is from Rockville, Maryland. He has a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Livingstone College, a master of divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married and has three children.

Clifford has pastored churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He has also worked as a public school physical education teacher and coach.

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Clifford D. Barnett (Wilmington City Council, North Carolina ...

Clifford D. Barnett is currently a member of the Wilmington City Council. He was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021 and 2023. He is currently serving his third term and is the Mayor Pro-Tem.

As of September 4, 2025, Clifford D. Barnett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Advocates for affordable and workforce housing, and comprehensive strategies to address homelessness.

Supports enhancing effective housing programs, partnering with others, updating land development codes, and offering incentives to improve housing.

- Advocates for affordable and workforce housing, and comprehensive strategies to address homelessness.
- Supports enhancing effective housing programs, partnering with others, updating land development codes, and offering incentives to improve housing.

Believes public safety requires coordination across city services and community resources.

- Believes public safety requires coordination across city services and community resources.

Founded Bridges to Success, a program that assists students and families who have been suspended from middle or high school in New Hanover County.

- Founded Bridges to Success, a program that assists students and families who have been suspended from middle or high school in New Hanover County.

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Clifford D. Barnett

Clifford Barnett is from Rockville, Maryland. He has a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Livingstone College, a master of divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Waltrina White and they have three children.

As of September 4, 2025, Clifford D. Barnett did not have a website or any information online.

Supports affordable housing, protecting green spaces, and responsible growth.

JC Lyle is originally from Virginia. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Mary Washington College, a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She lives with her husband and her 2 stepchildren in Wilmington.

JC previously served as chair of the Wilmington Planning Commission. She served from 2018 to 2024. Her campaign for City Council Member in Wilmington is her first run for elected office.

JC Lyle announces candidacy for city council, discusses campaign ...

JC currently works as the senior regional director for Wesley Community Development. She previously worked as the executive director and chief executive officer for Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, Inc., as a senior land designer for McKim & Creed, Inc., and as a site plan designer for Zimmer Development Company. 



As of September 4, 2025, JC Lyle’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to use her experience in housing, disaster response, and economic development to “help those who fall between the cracks.”

Said she will ensure resources are allocated to expand the tree inventory beyond budget-limited areas and leverage private resources and partnerships.

Wants the City Council to invest in the 2022 Urban Forestry Master Plan and provide resources to expand tree preservation programs.

- Plans to use her experience in housing, disaster response, and economic development to “help those who fall between the cracks.”
- Said she will ensure resources are allocated to expand the tree inventory beyond budget-limited areas and leverage private resources and partnerships.
- Wants the City Council to invest in the 2022 Urban Forestry Master Plan and provide resources to expand tree preservation programs.

Opposes House Bill (HB) 765, which restricts municipal authority over development, and supports Wilmington’s resolution against it.

Believes going vertical with taller buildings is necessary to balance housing demand, green space preservation, and transportation.

Said homeownership is “the primary way out of poverty” and emphasized preserving low-income families’ housing stock.

Said that retrofitting existing buildings for housing helps integrate people into neighborhoods and “goes a long way in developing the culture of the city.”

Supports increasing housing supply as “absolutely the top issue,” including approving “missing middle” housing types like townhouses and duplexes.

Advocated for incentives and fewer barriers to affordable housing development through the Land Development Code rewrite.

- Opposes House Bill (HB) 765, which restricts municipal authority over development, and supports Wilmington’s resolution against it.
- Believes going vertical with taller buildings is necessary to balance housing demand, green space preservation, and transportation.
- Said homeownership is “the primary way out of poverty” and emphasized preserving low-income families’ housing stock.
- Said that retrofitting existing buildings for housing helps integrate people into neighborhoods and “goes a long way in developing the culture of the city.”
- Supports increasing housing supply as “absolutely the top issue,” including approving “missing middle” housing types like townhouses and duplexes.
- Advocated for incentives and fewer barriers to affordable housing development through the Land Development Code rewrite.

Plans to preserve trees and green space for stormwater management, recreation, and public health.

- Plans to preserve trees and green space for stormwater management, recreation, and public health.

JC Lyle

Kelly J. Roberts Jr. (Wilmington City Council, North Carolina ...

Kelly Roberts, Jr.'s campaign for city council in Wilmington is his first run for public office.

As of September 4, 2025, Kelly J. Roberts, Jr. did not have a website or any information online.

Kelly J. Roberts, Jr.

Luke Waddell, Sr - Wilmington, NC

Luke Waddell holds a bachelor's degree in political science from The Citadel. He lives in Wilmington with his wife and their son.

Luke is the CEO, founder, and principal broker of Cadence Realty Corp.

Luke Waddell announces re-election bid for city council | Port City ...

Luke is currently a member of the Wilmington City Council. He was elected in 2021 and is currently serving his first term.

As of September 4, 2025, Luke Waddell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As city council member, supported the establishment of social districts, which allow people to carry alcoholic beverages outside of restaurants and bars.

Advocates for better pay and support for police and fire departments.

- As city council member, supported the establishment of social districts, which allow people to carry alcoholic beverages outside of restaurants and bars.
- Advocates for better pay and support for police and fire departments.

Opposed continuing the red light camera program, citing its cost of $300,000 annually without evidence of effectiveness.

- Opposed continuing the red light camera program, citing its cost of $300,000 annually without evidence of effectiveness.

Luke Waddell

Luke Waddell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Citadel. He lives in a historic home in Wilmington, North Carolina, with his wife, Amanda, and their son.

Luke is the CEO, founder, and principal broker of Cadence Realty Corp. He has led and managed the company while providing exceptional service to clients. 

As of September 4, 2025, Luke Waddell did not have a website or any information online.

Richard grew up in eastern North Carolina. He lives in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Richard M. Collier (Wilmington City Council, North Carolina ...

Richard M. Collier’s campaign for Wilmington City Council in North Carolina is his first run for public office.



Richard currently works as a civil engineer.

As of September 4, 2025, Richard M. Collier’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to prioritize smart planning that respects the environment and protects Wilmington’s coast, waterways, and green spaces.

- Plans to prioritize smart planning that respects the environment and protects Wilmington’s coast, waterways, and green spaces.

Supports implementing smart planning and reliable systems to improve public safety.

- Supports implementing smart planning and reliable systems to improve public safety.

Plans to ensure zoning, stormwater, and road policies set Wilmington up for future success.

Supports developing infrastructure solutions that are practical, efficient, and durable.

- Plans to ensure zoning, stormwater, and road policies set Wilmington up for future success.
- Supports developing infrastructure solutions that are practical, efficient, and durable.

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Richard M. Collier

Sean Guerrero is originally from Long Beach, California. He earned an associate degree in physics from Cape Fear Community College and a bachelor’s degree in strategic leadership from North Carolina State University. He lives in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Sean Guerrero (Wilmington City Council, North Carolina, candidate ...

Sean's campaign for City Council Member in Wilmington is his first run for public office.

Sean currently works as a customer account manager for Disruptive Technology Associates, Ltd. He previously held roles in intelligence, logistics, and procurement with PPD, DynCorp International, Triple Canopy, Fluor Corporation, and Kellogg Brown and Root. He also worked as a flight coordinator for ASA Delta Connection and as a marketing business manager for DS-Max.

As of September 4, 2025, Sean Guerrero did not have a website or any information online.

Sean Guerrero

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 