WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Wilmington officials met Tuesday night regarding whether or not to suspend enforcement of the downtown sign ordinance. They decided to continue to suspend enforcement until city staff can come up with a plan.

The city will now work with downtown business owners on possible changes to the regulations.

City staff says they know six months seems like a long time, but staff felt a longer period was needed since the traditional holiday season is about to begin and it might be harder to get input from downtown business.

Any proposed changes would have to be looked at by the planning and zoning commission, and then public hearings would also have to take place to implement changes.

City staff will begin to collect additional data from downtown owners and prepare to hold more public session in early January.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – There are two things you need to do to get elected to city council, raise money and get votes. But what is the cost of a single vote here in Wilmington? Well it depends on how much money you raised.

According to preliminary campaign finance reports, the top six candidates spent a combined $60,000 to receive 26,787 votes, which is a median cost of $1.97 or an average of $2.23 per vote.

Some candidates spent more money than others, meaning each vote they received cost more money. Napier Fuller spent an average of $3.83 per vote. Of the three winning candidates, Margaret Haynes spent the least amount of money per vote at $1.82.

Of the top six candidates, incumbent Ron Sparks spent the least amount per vote at only 52 cents. While his campaign may have won the race for thriftiness, his lack of spending may have cost him the election.