Committee to Elect Whitney Cantrell

09/04/2026

Tonight I attended the Onslow County Planning Board meeting. There were three rezoning requests on the agenda, along with an update from Planning staff regarding the former Jacksonville ETJ properties.

• Harris Creek Rezoning – Jacksonville Township
867 Harris Creek Road
The request is to rezone approximately 2.48 acres from RA (Rural Agricultural) to CB (Community Business). The applicant mentioned the possibility of a Dollar General being developed on the property. No one spoke in opposition.

The Planning Board voted 4-1 to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners.

• Continental Ground, LLC – White Oak Township
1473 Weatherington Road
This request is to rezone 19.5 acres from RA (Rural Agricultural) to R-5 residential. The applicant was the only person to speak, and no one spoke in opposition.

The Planning Board voted 4-1 to recommend denial to the Board of Commissioners.

• Morton & Morton Properties, LLC – Richlands Township
199 Country Club Blvd
This request is to rezone 5.13 acres from HB (Highway Business) to R-15 residential. Four people spoke in opposition.

The Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners.

I think this one is worth a little more explanation. Under the property's current zoning, there is the potential for much denser development, including approximately 20 townhomes per acre, or uses such as storage. The zoning being requested by the applicant would actually be less dense, with roughly 12 single-family homes discussed.

Planning staff also spoke about the amount of work currently going into establishing county zoning for the properties obtained following the dissolution of the City of Jacksonville's ETJ. This involves more than 1,100 properties. Staff shared that they have been meeting with affected property owners and, so far, those they have spoken with have been satisfied with the proposed changes.
For more information, visit: https://www.onslowcountync.gov/2481/ETJ-2026-Transition

All three rezoning requests will move on to the Board of Commissioners, who will ultimately make the final decisions.

Meetings like tonight's are exactly why I believe responsible growth requires us to be proactive rather than reactive. A rezoning request isn't just about what someone wants to build today. We also have to understand what the current zoning already allows, what a proposed zoning could allow in the future, how it fits with the surrounding area, and what impacts it could have on infrastructure and the people who already live there.

As a candidate, I believe part of being prepared to serve is putting in the time early on by showing up, listening to residents, hearing the discussions, asking questions, and learning how these decisions are made before ever having a vote at the table.

09/03/2026

I appreciate Hubert United taking the time to set this up and giving all of the candidates an opportunity to participate. While it may seem like a lot of time, it goes by quickly when you’re having meaningful conversations. These are important, in-depth topics, and there is still so much more we could talk about when it comes to the future of our community.

08/17/2026

📍 Onslow County Board of Commissioners — Meeting Day

It’s a full afternoon and evening of county business today.

The Board of Commissioners has a separate workshop at 3:30 PM, followed by the regular Board of Commissioners meeting at 6:00 PM.

I’ll be attending both, as I have regularly since filing to run for County Commissioner.

One of the commitments I made when I decided to run was to do the work before asking for the job. That means showing up, following the discussions, learning the process, asking questions when appropriate, and understanding the issues and decisions coming before our county.

Tonight’s agenda is another reminder of just how many different issues come before our commissioners and how those decisions can directly impact our communities. Local government may not always get the same attention as state or national politics, but many of the decisions made in this room are the ones that affect us closest to home.

I encourage you to stay informed, follow the meetings, read the agendas, and get involved. An engaged community makes for better local government.

See y’all at the Government Center! 🇺🇸

08/17/2026

This weekend, the kids and I spent some time putting service above self into action. ❤️

On Saturday, Kayden and I headed out to Yopp for United Way of Onslow County’s Stuff the Bus event. We shopped for school supplies from their list of needed items to help make sure local students are ready for the new school year. While we were out, we also picked up cases of water and packs of Gatorade to take to Haws Run Volunteer Fire Department for their Hydration Drive. 🚒💧

On Sunday, Brodie and I headed down to Sneads Ferry for the 35th Annual Rotary Club of Sneads Ferry King Mackerel Tournament. We enjoyed an amazing BBQ sandwich, watched the weigh ins and helped support their fundraising efforts. Brodie even used some of his own money for the kayak raffle.

And guess what?! This boy walked away with a KAYAK! 😂🛶 He was so excited!

I’m so grateful for a weekend filled with community, fellowship, fundraising, and giving back. I want my kids to grow up understanding that being part of a community means showing up for it. Sometimes that means donating supplies, sometimes it means buying a BBQ sandwich for a good cause, and apparently sometimes it means getting lucky enough to come home with a kayak. 😂

A pretty great weekend of service above self with two of my favorite people. ❤️

08/06/2026

This evening, my daughter Kayden and I spent some time knocking on doors in Holly Ridge, talking with neighbors and listening to what matters most to them.

One of the best parts of campaigning is getting out into the community and having real conversations. Every neighborhood has its own unique perspective, and I truly appreciate everyone who took a few minutes to speak with us.

I'm also proud to have my daughter by my side. Watching her see firsthand the importance of community involvement, service, and civic engagement is something I'll always cherish. I did treat her to Smokey Tony’s though. 😂

If you'd like to support our campaign, one of the biggest ways you can help is by sharing this page, sharing our posts, and helping spread the word. Every share helps us reach more voters, start more conversations, and build a stronger campaign across Onslow County.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed us today. If we missed you, I hope to see you out on the campaign trail soon!

08/06/2026

🚒💧 Hydration Drive for Our Firefighters 💧🚒

The summer heat is relentless, and our volunteers are working hard to serve and protect our community.

We're asking for donations of bottled water and sports drinks to help keep our crews hydrated and ready to respond.

We will be standing by at our Station at 904 Haws Run Road on Saturday, August 15th between 9 and noon to gratefully accept donations.

Every donation makes a difference. Thank you for supporting the Haws Run Volunteer Fire Department and the volunteers who serve you! ❤️


Southwest Plantation Haws Run Community Building

08/01/2026

Today started at the Onslow County Department of Juvenile Justice Court Services' inaugural Back-to-School Teen Wellness Event, where community organizations and local businesses came together to help local youth and families prepare for the upcoming school year.

Afterward, the kids and I headed back to Hubert to knock on a few more doors. It was great connecting with residents and even running into some familiar faces along the way. Every conversation is appreciated, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue meeting so many members of our community.

We're calling it a day after spending nearly six hours in the blazing sun, and we're definitely feeling it! Thank you to everyone who took the time to chat with us today. I truly appreciate your time, your kindness, and the opportunity to earn your support.

07/31/2026

Today I hit the streets in Sneads Ferry, going door to door because the best conversations don't happen online, they happen on your front porch.

I truly appreciate everyone who took a few minutes from their evening to speak to me. Every conversation matters, and every voice deserves to be heard.

If I missed you today, I'd still love to hear from you.

07/29/2026

Tonight, I had the pleasure of attending the Jacksonville•Onslow Chamber of Commerce's Sunset Social at Sturgeon City.

Looking around the room, I saw leadership in so many forms. Small business owners, educators, first responders, healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, military members, elected officials, religious leaders, and many others were all gathered with a shared commitment to serving our community.

What stood out most was seeing leaders come together to celebrate the achievements of other leaders. That kind of support says a lot about the strength Onslow County has.

Congratulations to the four individuals recognized this evening for their dedication and service. Thank you to the Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce for another wonderful event and for bringing together so many people who are making a difference every day.

07/14/2026

📢 Jacksonville Residents – We Need Your Input!

As a person apart of the City of Jacksonville's Community Action Team (CAT), I'm asking for just a few minutes of your time to help shape the future of our community.

The City of Jacksonville is developing a Resilience Strategy through the 2025-2026 North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program. This initiative is focused on identifying ways to better prepare for flooding, severe weather, and other coastal hazards while making our community stronger and more resilient for years to come.

A list of potential projects has been identified, and now it's time for the community to help prioritize them. Your feedback will play an important role in determining which projects receive the greatest support and move forward.

✅ The survey takes only 3–5 minutes
✅ Responses are completely anonymous
✅ The survey is open until August 24, 2026

Whether you've experienced flooding firsthand or simply want to help make Jacksonville better prepared for the future, your opinion matters.

Thank you for taking a few moments to make your voice heard and for helping build a stronger, more resilient Jacksonville for generations to come.

Please complete the survey and feel free to share it with your friends, family, and neighbors who live within the City of Jacksonville!

Resilient communities are built with community input. The City of Jacksonville is planning for tomorrow's challenges, and your feedback can help guide the way.

The City of Jacksonville is developing a Resilience Strategy to address flooding and other coastal hazards as part of the 2025–2026 North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program. Community feedback will help prioritize projects that strengthen resilience and support future implementation efforts.

The survey takes approximately 3–5 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. The survey will remain open through August 24, 2026.

Your feedback will help guide future resilience planning and investment in our community. Take the survey at: https://bit.ly/RCCP-Jacksonville-Projects-Survey