New Hanover County
New Hanover has five County Commissioners, elected for four year terms
at staggered two year intervals, and seven members of the School Board,
also elected for four year terms at staggered intervals. No African
Americans sit on either body, although at 15% of the population, they
arguably deserve a representative at county level, and definitely one
on the school board. New Hanover County School Board was censured in
2003 for failing minority students. The school district has the second
highest achievement gap between black and white students in the region.
Cities and towns within New Hanover County elect councilmen and
alderman at large, again at staggered intervals. The only city with a
significant minority population, Wilmington, with 22% of its population
African American ñ uses this system to elect five Council Members and a
Mayor. Currently, there is only one African American Council Member.