Victory for Local Anti-Annexation Forces

Wilmington City Councilman and CSE member Jason Thompson introduced a motion and led debate to amend the city’s charter to allow people to vote on whether to be annexed, which resulted in a 4-3 vote by the City Council. This vote enables state lawmakers to introduce a bill for New Hanover County that will not allow annexation without the vote of the people.

NC CSE and Good Neighbors have helped lead the way in opposing involuntary local annexation. Jonathan Hill, Director of NC CSE said that this vote is a great victory for the citizens of New Hanover County who have been working against forced annexation.

Four General Assembly members representing New Hanover County, Senator Patrick Ballantine, Senator Luther Jordan, Representative Edd Nye, and Representative Danny McComas, have signed CSE’s pledge to protect residents from involuntary annexation. Hill said that CSE looks forward to working with other members of the General Assembly on passing this bill in the upcoming short session.

Now is the time for the General Assembly to take action and pass a local bill that will follow the lead of the City Council.