Board debate on New Hanover Community Endowment appointments turns contentious

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners considered several committee appointments and a contested slate for the New Hanover Community Endowment, prompting an extended debate about process and transparency.

Commissioners nominated Shannon Winslow and Justin Burgess to seats on the endowment. One commissioner said the endowment’s new CEO and current chair had asked the county to appoint experienced members to provide stability during a leadership transition. A board member supporting Burgess described him as a “highly qualified financial planner” with community service experience, and said selecting him aligned with concerns previously expressed about the endowment’s operations.

Other commissioners pushed back, calling for a more open appointment process and saying the county owed the public a fuller discussion. One commissioner objected to what she described as “bullying” and pressure in private communications leading up to the vote, saying she would not be pressured into a vote. Another commissioner responded that they were not part of such behavior and apologized if their actions were interpreted otherwise.

The board approved Shannon Winslow’s appointment and then proceeded to vote on Justin Burgess. The record shows the Burgess appointment passed but with at least one recorded “No.” Several additional advisory appointments (Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, Health & Human Services board, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council) were also handled during the session.

Next steps: The appointments will take effect according to their standard terms; commissioners discussed pursuing more transparent processes for future committee appointments but did not adopt a separate policy during this meeting.