Brunswick County’s midterm results are in, and a Nov. 7, 2026 Port City Daily report digs into what the next Board of Commissioners and Board of Education say they want to prioritize. For homeowners and buyers from Leland and Belville down through Bolivia, Supply, Shallotte, and the South Brunswick Islands, the debates are familiar: sewer capacity, who pays for roads and utilities, school overcrowding, and how fast new neighborhoods should move forward.
This is not a partisan rundown. It is a practical watch list for anyone who owns or is considering a home in the county while those boards take shape in December.
Who Is Joining the Boards
According to Port City Daily (Emily Sawaked, Nov. 7, 2026):
- Commissioners: District 1 Commissioner Randy Thompson was re-elected. Republican Patti Hewett is expected to succeed current Vice Chair Marty Cooke in District 2.
- School board: Republican Chair Steve Gainey was re-elected in District 5. Republican Paige Morgan is expected to succeed Robin Moffitt in District 3.
Thompson told Port City Daily this will be his last term after more than 11 years on the board. Hewett’s campaign messages emphasized responsible growth, safer roads, water and sewer improvements, emergency services, and environmental protection, according to the same report.
Why Growth Still Dominates Every Conversation
Port City Daily cites Office of State Budget and Management figures showing Brunswick County grew about 24% between 2020 and 2024 and ranks among the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina and the country. The 2025 U.S. Census estimate cited in the article puts the county population near 174,700, up from about 136,700 in 2020. The paper also notes nearly 60,000 housing units incoming since 2016.
That pace shows up in daily life as more traffic on U.S. 17 and N.C. 211, more kids in classrooms, and more pressure on water and sewer plants. Earlier this year the county hit sewer capacity limits that triggered a North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality permitting freeze under state allocation rules Port City Daily summarizes in the Nov. 7 piece. Infrastructure catch-up is not a side issue for buyers. It can affect when new subdivisions get final utilities and how counties and towns rethink fees.
What Thompson Says He Wants Next
In the Port City Daily interview, Thompson argued new development should cover more of its infrastructure cost. He said Brunswick currently charges developers 90% of the 75% of estimated future infrastructure cost that state law allows counties to levy, and that he wants developers paying closer to the full cost of related infrastructure. He also wants water utility capacity expansions prioritized in budget cycles and has previously pushed for tools to slow approvals when services lag, though state law limits when a true moratorium is allowed.
Under H.B. 1222 (see our earlier guide on who approves Brunswick neighborhoods now), commissioners gained more final say over development approvals for applications submitted after July 2, 2026, with the planning board shifting toward a recommending role. Thompson supported that change, Port City Daily reports. Buyers and sellers should expect more development debates to end at the elected board rather than stopping at the planning board.
A Court Date to Watch: Green Hill on Nov. 9
Port City Daily’s Nov. 7 story notes the Green Hill case is set for Brunswick County Superior Court in Bolivia on Nov. 9, 2026. Earlier coverage, including Port City Daily’s Oct. 21, 2026 report, describes a proposed 1,340-home planned development on roughly 785 acres near Winnabow that the planning board denied and developers challenged after mediation failed. Whatever the court decides, the case is a live example of how flood, traffic, fire-service, and UDO-compliance arguments collide in fast-growing parts of the county.
We covered the lawsuit’s background in our earlier Green Hill guide. The Nov. 9 hearing is the near-term date homeowners along the U.S. 17 corridor between Leland and Southport should watch for updates, not a prediction of the outcome.
Schools: Bond Money and a New Board Member
Voters approved roughly $350 million in school bonds with about 55% support, Port City Daily reports, including new schools planned off U.S. 17 and in northern Brunswick with construction targeted to begin around 2029. Redistricting conversations for areas such as Jackey’s Creek, Leland, and the U.S. 17 corridor are expected later, with Gainey telling the paper the board would likely take that up around fall 2028.
On staffing, Port City Daily cites N.C. Department of Public Instruction figures showing Brunswick’s teacher attrition rate at 14.32%, up from about 10% in 2023–2024, with 125 teachers leaving in 2024–2025. Morgan, a former educator, told the paper her first step after being sworn in will be meeting teachers, students, parents, and other stakeholders. For families shopping homes, school performance grades and attendance lines can change as new campuses open, so verify the assigned school for any specific address before you write an offer.
What This Means If You Are Buying or Selling
- Buyers: Ask whether a subdivision already has sewer allocation, what fee increases are discussed for water and sewer, and whether nearby roads are in any NCDOT or county improvement plan.
- Sellers: Growth headlines cut both ways. More jobs and amenities can widen your buyer pool; unresolved infrastructure fights can make some relocators cautious. Price and condition still close deals.
- Investors: Watch court and commission calendars the way you watch interest rates. Approval pathways and utility timing affect delivery of competing inventory.
FAQ
When do the new Brunswick board members take office?
Port City Daily reports the new commissioner and school board member join their boards in December 2026 after the midterm elections.
Does H.B. 1222 change who approves new neighborhoods?
For applications submitted after July 2, 2026, commissioners have more final approval authority while the planning board’s role is more advisory, according to Port City Daily’s summary of the law’s local effect.
Should the Green Hill hearing change my home search?
Treat it as context for Winnabow and the broader U.S. 17 growth corridor, not as a reason to freeze a search. Confirm utilities, flood zones, and commute times for each property you seriously consider.
Want Local Help Reading the Growth Map?
Aspyre Collective helps buyers and sellers across Brunswick County weigh neighborhood fit, utilities, and timing, not just list price. If you want a straight conversation about Leland, Bolivia, Supply, Shallotte, or the island towns, contact Aspyre Collective and we will help you sort the next step.
