Salette Andrews for
New Hanover County Commission
News
“I currently serve on the Wilmington City Council where I've worked on expanding citizen participation, promoting local small businesses, promoting affordable housing, and protecting the environment. But this past year, the majority on the New Hanover County Commission, cut $36 million from our FY26 budget, and those cuts really affected our most vulnerable citizens. And I realized that in order to continue promoting the things that that are important to me, I needed to run for county commission and try to restore PreK, social services and all the good things for New Hanover County.”
​Read more at WECT.
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Watch the forum on YouTube.
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“Wilmington is a coastal city on the front lines of climate change, where issues like flooding, water quality and resilient infrastructure aren’t abstract: they affect our neighborhoods, our economy and our future,” Andrews stated in a release. “Serving on the National League of Cities’ Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee ensures that Wilmington’s real-world challenges and solutions help shape federal policy, while also bringing home the resources and partnerships our community needs to grow sustainably and protect what makes our city special.”
​Read more at Wilmington Business Journal.
“This is really a once-in-a-generational opportunity to preserve 25 acres of treed green space,” councilmember Salette Andrews said.
“Generations from now, families and kids are going to be playing in this park, and not realize how close it came to being developed as housing,” Andrews said.
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​Read more at WECT.
WILMINGTON — Wilmington City Council member Salette Andrews has been appointed to the National League of Cities 2026 Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Federal Advocacy Committee. She was reelected to a third one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on sustainability, climate change, community resilience, water infrastructure, solid waste management, and more.
“Wilmington is a coastal city on the front lines of climate change, where issues like flooding, water quality, and resilient infrastructure aren’t abstract: they affect our neighborhoods, our economy, and our future,” Andrews said in a press release. “Serving on the National League of Cities’ Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee ensures that Wilmington’s real-world challenges and solutions help shape federal policy, while also bringing home the resources and partnerships our community needs to grow sustainably and protect what makes our city special.”
“The National League of Cities’ federal advocacy committees are the voice of America’s 19,000 cities, towns, and villages to leaders in Washington,” National League of Cities President and Louisville, Kentucky, council member Kevin Kramer said in a press release. “I am thrilled to work with Councilmember Andrews and look forward to supporting her goals and ideas as she serves on the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee this year, helping to strengthen the partnership between local and federal leaders.”
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Read more at Port City Daily.
Q: What qualifies you to serve on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners?
A: I currently serve on the Wilmington City Council, where I’ve been entrusted by voters to help manage a complex local government, make difficult budgetary decisions, and deliver results for our community. In that role, I’ve worked hands-on with issues that overlap directly with county responsibilities, including affordable housing, public safety, infrastructure, environmental protection, and economic development, which gives me a strong understanding of how city and county governments must collaborate to serve residents effectively.
Before holding office and during my tenure, I have worked to ensure that working families, seniors, and historically marginalized communities have a real voice in local decision-making. That experience taught me how to listen, how to build consensus, and how to translate community concerns into actionable policy. I bring a record of showing up, doing the homework, and asking tough questions, especially when it comes to how public dollars are spent and whether our policies are truly improving quality of life for all residents, not just a few.
I am committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and data-driven decision-making, and I believe county government should be proactive, not reactive, in addressing growth, infrastructure needs, and environmental challenges. Most importantly, I bring a deep commitment to public service and a clear understanding that leadership is about accountability. I am prepared to bring my experience, collaborative approach, and values-driven leadership to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners to ensure our county grows in a way that is fair, sustainable, and inclusive.
Read more at Port City Daily.
Anti-ICE protest draws hundreds in Wilmington
“Renee’s death has ignited outrage because what happened in Minneapolis is not an isolated tragedy,” Wilmington City Council member Salette Andrews said. “It is a symptom for a broader, systematic problem. As communities across the country have witnessed, federal immigration enforcement has grown increasingly militarized and unaccountable.”
She continued: “We gather because the message must be clear: You are not welcome here, not in our streets, not in our neighborhoods, not in our country unless you uphold the values of justice and human dignity.”
Wilmington joins nationwide protests over fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good
“Let this gathering be a moral witness to the truth that government power must never be unrestrained,” council woman Andrews said at the podium at Saturday’s protest. “Let it be a call for community accountability, for respect for human life, and for humane immigration policy. And let it be a reminder that when one of us is harmed, we all feel that pain.”
Read more at Port City Daily.
Watch video of my speech here.
Wilmington council unanimously opposes Independence Boulevard extension
“What this resolution was saying was that yes, we support transportation projects, we support connectivity and getting people from place to place, but not at the cost of our neighborhoods,” Wilmington City Councilmember Salette Andrews said.
Read more at WECT.
City, county misaligned on Wave Transit vision, delay vote on recommended performance shifts
“What I’ve been hearing from the people that have been coming and speaking to us is that they have had problems, and that people have lost jobs from not being able to show up on time,” Wilmington City Council member and Wave board member Salette Andrews said at the meeting.
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Council member Andrews wrote: “Over the next decade, I would like to see a public transportation system in Wilmington that is more frequent, more reliable, and better aligned with how and where people actually live and work today, not one that continues to contract in the face of growing need.”
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Andrews, who is also campaigning for New Hanover County commissioner in 2026, spoke to traffic congestion as a highly cited issue among constituents and said governments have very few effective ways to mitigate it.
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“Investing in transit is not just about serving those who rely on it today; it’s about managing growth, supporting our workforce, and improving mobility for everyone,” she wrote.
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One idea she shared is a dedicated bus lane on College Road; she believes this could alleviate congestion concerns on one of the city’s busiest corridors and reduce overall traffic on the road should the bus system become more reliable as well.
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Andrews said she’s open to investing significantly in a long-term vision for public transportation, but that it must be a shared strategy among funding partners.
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“If the city and county are not currently aligned, I believe the next step is continued collaboration and transparent dialogue with city and county leaders, the WAVE board, and the public about what kind of system we want and what we are willing to support to get there,” she wrote. “A fragmented approach will not serve riders or taxpayers well. Transportation is a regional issue, and it requires regional commitment.”
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Read more at Port City Daily.
Salette Andrews Speaks Up
"I opposed the anti-camping ordinance because I believe it targets people who are already struggling instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness. I also fought to remove the word 'occupy' from the ordinance, because it went too far and risked violating people’s civil liberties. No one wants to see people living outside, but the answer isn’t punishment—it’s housing, services, and compassion. Until we have enough shelter beds, supportive housing, and mental health resources, enforcement just moves people from one place to another without helping them get back on their feet. We can keep our public spaces safe and still protect people’s rights and dignity. That’s the balance I’ll keep fighting for.
“I think all levels of government need to do a lot more—and do it together. We can’t keep treating homelessness as just a local issue; it’s a national crisis that demands coordinated solutions and serious investment. Cities like Wilmington are doing what we can, but without stronger federal support for affordable housing, mental health care, and living-wage jobs, we’re just managing the problem instead of solving it. We need every level of government pulling in the same direction—to make sure no one in this country has to sleep outside.
"I think the Founders believed deeply in liberty, justice, and the idea that everyone deserves a fair chance at life. They couldn’t have imagined all the challenges we face today, but I do believe they would be troubled to see so many Americans living without shelter or opportunity. Our Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'—and that means all of us. If we’re serious about those founding principles, then we have a responsibility to care for the most vulnerable among us. That’s how we honor their vision—not just with words, but with action and compassion.
"Our government is facing real challenges, and people are losing trust because they don’t always see their leaders listening or delivering. But I believe in the power of local democracy and community action. When people stay engaged, vote, speak up, and hold us accountable, government can still be a force for good. The future depends on us keeping that connection strong—and never giving up on the idea that we can make this country work for everyone."
Read more at The Real Homeless Herald.
Candidates begin filing for 2026 elections
The 2026 election cycle officially began in North Carolina on Monday as the filing period for candidates opened.
Several candidates filed Monday for two open seats on the New Hanover County Commission.
Democratic City Council Member Salette Andrews and School Board member Judy Justice both filed to run for commissioner positions, as did incumbents LeAnn Pierce (R) and Rob Zapple (D).
Read more at WECT.
Roundtable: Wilmington's anti-camping ordinance and the issue of homelessness
Councilmember Andrews stated she opposed the ordinance as it failed to address the root causes of homelessness, and that it undermined the constitutional protections of free speech, assembly, due process, and equal protection.
Andrews added her own amendment to remove the word occupy from the text of the document, claiming that criminalizing the act of taking up space in public could be deemed a violation to civil liberties. Even with her own touches added, Andrews still thinks it misses the mark. It doesn't help a single unhoused individual get to any kind of shelter or other services, and there are ways that it erodes our civil liberties.
Restaurant owner Billy Mellon says he encounters a lot of unhoused people downtown on his early morning walks and then on the way to his restaurant, Manna, on Princess Street.
“I recognize several of them. I've never had an issue with any of them. They're staying to themselves.” He says it's not really the homeless who cause trouble. If anything, it's juveniles and drunk tourists vandalizing his property.
In Mellon's defense, Councilwoman Andrews says these behaviors are indeed unacceptable, but they aren't necessarily a symptom of homelessness. “You know, we just have to enforce the laws that we have on the books and be sensitive to that.”
“But really, the only answer to homelessness is housing, and that's where we really, really have to put our efforts.”
When the ordinance was first brought to the table this year, Mellon spoke to the council. He said, “Empathy goes a long way,” and said he wasn't sure whether the ordinance was the right move, but he urged that something still needs to be done to protect businesses and employees.
And at the roundtable, he felt like the city still had work to do on this. The council has to weigh the concerns of nuisance behavior and the well-being of this vulnerable population.
“It's definitely a balancing act,” says Andrews, but she doesn't think the ordinance is the answer.
“I think we do have to separate the two issues, that there's definitely crime that happens in a growing, popular downtown, and it's a good place for people who are unsheltered to ask for money, which, by the way, is perfectly legal.”
In addition to a new shelter, council member Andrews says there's just a general need for more affordable housing.
Here she is recounting how Alan Serkin, the executive director at the Cape Fear Council of Governments, and Dr. Tom Dalton, the founder of a local tiny home community for the chronically homeless called Eden Village, explain homelessness like a game of musical chairs.
“So imagine that you have 10 of your friends and there's 10 chairs and somebody starts music and they remove one of the chairs.
“Now, just so happens that your friend, one of your friends, is on crutches because he just broke his foot. So when the music stops, everybody finds a chair except for your friend with the broken foot. So what was the cause of him not finding a chair? And a lot of people would say, well, it was his broken foot.
“But the fact is, is there just weren't enough chairs. That was the problem. And that's the problem that we have right now.
“There isn't enough housing for everybody to be housed.”
New Hanover Veterans Council hosts annual Veterans Day ceremony
City Councilmember Salette Andrews was the featured speaker at the event and spoke about her time as an officer in the Air Force.
She also shared her experiences as a mother of a son who was actively serving when he died.
“I’m reminded that freedom has always depended on people willing to serve something greater than themselves and that, my friends, is the legacy of every veteran here today,” Andrews said.
North Carolina City Rejects Factory Expansion Over Contamination Fears
Wilmington Councilmember Salette Andrews told Newsweek the council's decision "reflects our deep concern about the ongoing contamination of the Cape Fear River and the risks posed by PFAS chemicals to the health of our residents."
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PFAS pollution is something very close to the heart of Andrews who shared that she lost her 22-year-old son to cancer, who was exposed to significant amounts of PFAS chemicals while stationed in Iraq when he was in the U.S. Army, local news station WECT reported.
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She said he was exposed to "the toxic burn pits and the firefighting chemicals, which are nothing but PFAS."
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Wilmington Councilmember Salette Andrews told Newsweek: "For years, people in Wilmington and across the region have been unknowingly drinking and cooking with water contaminated by PFAS discharged from that plant. While it’s difficult to link individual illnesses directly to PFAS exposure, residents have reported elevated cancer rates, thyroid disorders, and developmental issues—conditions that are consistent with the known health risks of these compounds. Families have lost confidence in the safety of their tap water, and that loss of trust has its own lasting harm. At this point, Chemours should not be allowed to expand its operations until it can demonstrate, with transparency and independent verification, that it can operate without releasing PFAS into the environment.
Protecting public health must come before corporate growth."
She added: "We also need stronger state and federal regulation of PFAS. North Carolina must adopt enforceable limits for PFAS in drinking water and hold polluters financially responsible for cleanup, testing, and medical monitoring. The science is clear, and the public deserves action that matches the scale of the threat."
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When asked if she was hopeful the council's resolution could spark statewide change in the regulation of PFAS chemicals, Andrews said: "I am cautiously hopeful."
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"The growing public awareness, bipartisan concern, and recent federal steps by the EPA to designate PFAS as hazardous substances give me some optimism that meaningful reform is possible—but it will take continued public pressure and political will," she added.
Wilmington City Council rejects Chemours expansion amid PFAS fears
Wilmington Council member Salette Andrews submitted the resolution of opposition after losing her 22-year-old son to cancer.
Andrews said her son, an Army veteran stationed in Iraq, was exposed to toxic burn pits and firefighting chemicals containing PFAS.
“I lost my 22-year-old son to cancer. He was a veteran. He was in the Army, stationed in Iraq. And he was exposed to the toxic burn pits and the firefighting chemicals, which are nothing but PFAS,” Andrews said. “Pollution is personal to me.”
Read more at WECT.
Wilmington City Council unanimously pass resolution opposing expansion of Chemour’s Bladen County facility
Councilwoman Salette Andrews introduced the resolution.
Andrews is a cancer survivor. She said preventing further pollution of the river has always been a focus of hers. “It was a campaign promise of mine that anything that I could to protect our drinking water and really any part of our environment from harmful chemicals or any toxins that would affect human health, that I would do that,” Andrews said.
Read more at WWAY.
Council considers resolution against Chemours, as testing reveals unregulated PFAS in river
“My goal in introducing this resolution is to give voice to the deep concern shared by Wilmington residents and our regional partners about ongoing PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River and our drinking water supply,” Andrews told Port City Daily. “We have a moral and civic responsibility to speak out when new industrial activities threaten public health.”
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Although NCDEQ’s Division of Air Quality has the sole authority to review and approve Chemours’ application, Andrews said the resolution “sends a clear, unified message that our city expects regulators to uphold strong environmental standards and to put public health ahead of corporate expansion.”
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“I believe there is strong awareness on council of how this issue affects Wilmington residents and our regional partners,” Andrews stated.
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“Companies that profit from industrial processes must also take full responsibility for the environmental and health consequences of those activities,” Andrews wrote. “Polluters — not taxpayers — should bear the cost of cleanup and prevention. Wilmington residents deserve clean water, transparency, and corporate accountability.”
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Read more at Port City Daily.
How the 2026 election could shake up leadership across New Hanover
Andrews said her decision to run for county commissioner stemmed from New Hanover’s rapid growth and the sense that some people are being left behind.
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“The current majority on the commission cut $36 million from the county budget in June,” Andrews said. “They slashed funding for affordable housing, nonprofits, pre-K classrooms and about 100 public service jobs. I want to invest in families, protect our environment and ensure that all this great growth we’re having works for everybody.”
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Regardless of which board she serves on, Andrews says that she plans to work to resolve tensions across party lines, as well as improving the county-city relationship. New Hanover and Wilmington leaders have clashed in recent months on major issues such as affordable housing and homelessness.
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“I think that we need to put that aside and work to restore balance, accountability and frankly compassion to our government and realize that we’re doing things that affect people’s lives every day,” Andrews said. “When we listen to our residents and work together, we can really get results.”
Read more at StarNews.
Salette Andrews discusses running for county commissioner
Wilmington City Councilwoman Salette Andrews spoke with WWAY for the first time since announcing her campaign to run for County Commissioner next year earlier this month.
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Andrews was elected to the City Council in 2023, with her term lasting until 2027.
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She plans to focus on issues like a lack of affordable housing, healthcare, and transportation.
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She said she’s always pushed to get people more involved in local government.
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“I’ve worked hard to increase public participation in Wilmington and I’d like to continue that with New Hanover County,” Andrews said. “I’ve increased the number of speakers at call to audience.”
Read more at WWAY.
Starway Village opens with 400+ applicant list, hailed as affordable housing ‘template’
Council member Salette Andrews, who recently filed to run for New Hanover County Commissioner in the 2026 election, told Port City Daily Monday she wanted to bring the city and county back together to solve community issues, particularly housing.
Andrews said she would love for Starway to be the template, even if done on smaller scales due to the lack of large vacant parcels remaining in the city.
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Read more at Port City Daily.
Current city council and school board members plan to run for NHC county commissioner in 2026
Two seated officials, Wilmington City Council member Salette Andrews and New Hanover County Board of Education member Judy Justice, are planning to run for county commissioner in 2026, according to paperwork filed with the county’s board of elections.
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Andrews and Justice, both democrats, submitted Statement of Organization forms on Friday, October 10, listing New Hanover County Commissioner as the office they planned to seek next year.
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Andrews won her seat on Wilmington City Council in 2023, and her term will end in 2027.
If Andrews is successful, since she serves on a non-partisan city council, state statute says her replacement would be appointed by council.
Seeking one office while holding another is allowed in North Carolina.
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Read more on WECT.
Wildlife crossings garner widespread support from local leadership in North Carolina
On Tuesday, September 23rd, Environment North Carolina Advocate Emily Mason hosted a virtual briefing to demonstrate widespread support seen across North Carolina for wildlife crossings. During this briefing, a sign-on letter supported by 53 locally elected officials in support of the effort was released. Emily was joined by Councilmember Salette Andrews of Wilmington and Travis Wilson, the Eastern Department of Transportation (DOT) Habitat Conservation Coordinator for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. At the briefing, Councilmember Andrews explained that wildlife crossings are a proven and practical solution.
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In North Carolina, from 2020-2022, almost 60,000 animals on roads were killed. Wildlife crossings pose a solution to these collisions, creating safe passage for wildlife and drivers.
Read more at Environment North Carolina.