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Richard Collier is a candidate for Wilmington City Council and a seasoned civil engineer with thirty years of local experience, including service on city and county planning boards. Collier details his pivotal role in updating the city’s land development code in 2020, emphasizing significant changes such as improved tree preservation ordinances, new residential density regulations, and increased buffering to protect established neighborhoods. He highlights the importance of engineering in community planning, referencing his involvement in major developments like River Lights and Mayfair, and clarifies his identity as an engineer focused on infrastructure rather than a developer.

Throughout the conversation, Collier addresses urgent local issues such as rising property crime rates and the Wilmington Police Department’s staffing challenges, which he attributes largely to compensation and workplace culture. He calls for competitive pay and a renewed supportive culture to retain officers. On homelessness, Collier endorses amendments making local ordinances more effective, advocates for integrating mental health professionals alongside police, and praises nonprofits such as Good Shepherd and Salvation Army for their role in addressing homelessness and expanding shelter capacity. He also discusses zoning updates to encourage adaptive reuse and expand affordable workforce housing, stressing the critical need for incentives and clear definitions in city regulations to balance growth with community priorities.

The interview explores economic drivers in Wilmington like the growth fueled by UNCW, Cape Fear Community College, and public-private partnerships, alongside expansions at the port and airport. Collier shares his vision for mitigating traffic congestion through regional collaboration, infrastructure upgrades, and smarter planning. He emphasizes the importance of youth engagement in politics, accountability in city leadership, and transparent decision-making. The hosts and Collier wrap up by encouraging participation in upcoming candidate forums, highlighting the nonpartisan nature of municipal ballots, and urging all residents—regardless of party—to vote and take part in shaping Wilmington’s future.

Republicans have the answers.

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