Bill Saffo has been a life long resident of Wilmington North Carolina, graduating from both Hoggard High School and UNCW. He is a member of the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church.

Bill is a broker with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty.

Candidates begin officially filing for Wilmington mayor, city council ...

Bill Saffo, Wilmington's Mayor for Life

Bill is currently the mayor of Wilmington. He has served in this role since December 2006 and is the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. Before becoming mayor, he served one term on the Wilmington City Council. 

Economy

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

Public Services

As mayor, allocated $5.2 million for affordable housing.

- As mayor, allocated $5.2 million for affordable housing.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports the creation of a Unified Gang Task Force through coordination with federal, state, and city law enforcement.

Plans to increase police presence in high-crime areas.

Supports funding the police department to ensure they have "all the tools necessary to protect our community."

- Supports the creation of a Unified Gang Task Force through coordination with federal, state, and city law enforcement.
- Plans to increase police presence in high-crime areas.
- Supports funding the police department to ensure they have "all the tools necessary to protect our community."

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

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Bill Saffo

Bill Saffo has been a life long resident of Wilmington North Carolina, graduating from both Hoggard High School and UNCW. Bill is a Broker with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty and a member of the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church. Bill Saffo is one of the longest serving mayors in North Carolina State history. He has served the Wilmington community for many years and looks forward to continuing to do so.

Supports increasing property taxes by 7% to address capital needs.

Supports increasing property taxes by 7 percent to address various capital needs.

Plans to work with the state legislature on gang injunction legislation.

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

Walter Ley

Billy Craig is originally from Wilmington, North Carolina. He attended Hoggard High School and earned a degree in criminal justice from Cape Fear Community College, where he also completed Basic Law Enforcement Training. He lives in Wilmington with his family.

Billy’s campaign for Mayor of Wilmington is his first run for public office.

Billy currently works as a private investigator, adjunct professor at Cape Fear Community College, and residential real estate broker with Keller Williams. He previously served as a law enforcement officer with the Wilmington Police Department.

Supports better pay and benefits to help retain city and private enterprise employees.

- Supports better pay and benefits to help retain city and private enterprise employees.
- Opposes further property tax increases.

Advocates protections for employees who report unfair treatment and whistleblowing.

Supports bringing together Wilmington’s diverse communities to address shared issues.

- Advocates protections for employees who report unfair treatment and whistleblowing.
- Supports bringing together Wilmington’s diverse communities to address shared issues.

Criticizes unchecked high-density development and questions whether residents receive value for their tax dollars.

- Criticizes unchecked high-density development and questions whether residents receive value for their tax dollars.

Calls for increasing the number of sworn deployable police officers to meet minimum staffing needs.

- Calls for increasing the number of sworn deployable police officers to meet minimum staffing needs.

Plans to address crowded roads, pedestrian fatalities, strained water and sewer systems, and high-density development.

- Plans to address crowded roads, pedestrian fatalities, strained water and sewer systems, and high-density development.

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

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Billy Craig

Jonathan Barfield Jr. is from Wilmington, North Carolina. He attended New Hanover High School. He has been married to his wife Laura for 36 years, and they have 4 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 2 grandsons. He attends St. Stephen AME Church.

Linkedin

Jonathan currently works as the broker and owner of Barfield and Associates Realty. He previously worked as the owner of Star Lite Entertainment Mobile DJ Service.

Former commissioner Jonathan Barfield to run for Wilmington, NC ...

Jonathan previously served on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners for 16 years, from 2008 to 2024.

Believes local governments should retain existing businesses and recruit new ones that will pay living wages.

- Believes local governments should retain existing businesses and recruit new ones that will pay living wages.

Supports measures to provide clean drinking water and protect the environment.

- Supports measures to provide clean drinking water and protect the environment.

Supports and has helped fund housing affordability initiatives in Wilmington and New Hanover County.

Believes housing affordability is the biggest challenge facing Wilmington.

- Supports and has helped fund housing affordability initiatives in Wilmington and New Hanover County.
- Believes housing affordability is the biggest challenge facing Wilmington.

Supports local government funding for first responders, including police officers and firefighters.

- Supports local government funding for first responders, including police officers and firefighters.

Supports development that preserves the tree canopy and wildlife.

- Supports development that preserves the tree canopy and wildlife.

As of September 4, 2025, Jonathan Barfield, Jr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jonathan Barfield, Jr.

Jonathan previously served on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners for 16 years, from 2008 to 2024. He lost his seat in the November 2024 election by a narrow margin of roughly 250 votes.

As of September 4, 2025, Jonathan Barfield, Jr. did not have a website or any information online.

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor attends and runs City Council meetings, serving as an important leader for how local laws get set. These laws affect local services, such as Police, City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation.  
- The Mayor in some circumstances may vote to break a tie in council meetings. They do not have veto power.