Committee to Elect Whitney Cantrell

06/04/2026

As the Community Town Hall gets closer, we're sharing that we have invited a few guests to join the conversation.

Check out the flyer to see who 👀

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear updates, ask questions, and engage with participating guests.

06/02/2026

The OCSO has released their 2025 Annual Report, and there’s a lot of interesting information included. Take a few minutes to look through it for a recap and overview of the work our Sheriff’s Office accomplished throughout the year.

The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office is proud to present our 2025 Annual Report. 📝👮

This report highlights the dedication, professionalism, and hard work of the men and women who serve our community each day. From patrol operations and criminal investigations to community outreach, detention services, and emergency response efforts, the annual report provides a look back at the accomplishments, challenges, and progress made throughout the year.

We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and providing the highest level of service to the citizens of Onslow County. Thank you to our community for your continued trust and support as we work together to keep Onslow County safe.

View the full 2025 Annual Report:
-Download the free Onslow County Sheriff's Office App and view the Annual Report section under "MORE."

-Visit the link here: https://www.onslowcountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27190/2025-2?bidId=

06/01/2026

This morning the Onslow County Commissioners held their monthly morning meeting. A proclamation was presented recognizing Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Representatives from Onslow Memorial Hospital and UNC Health were also in attendance to provide updates to the Board of Commissioners regarding future plans, increased access to specialty care, their multi-year strategic plan, and ongoing efforts to improve patient safety and quality outcomes.

Interim County Manager Steve Eaton presented the proposed FY 2026-2027 County Budget to the Board. This budget includes a proposed lower tax rate, as well as a budget that is less than the budget for our current fiscal year. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held Monday, June 15 at 6:00 PM. Public comments must be submitted by Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM to [email protected].

You can review the proposed budget here:
https://www.onslowcountync.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1489

Two rezoning public hearings were also held today:

📍 Folkstone OFWB Church Rezoning PREZ-2026-00002
Old Folkstone Road, Holly Ridge
Requested rezoning from R-8M to HB
Approved unanimously by the Board of Commissioners.

📍 Wilson Rezoning PREZ-2026-00003
Sneads Ferry Road, Sneads Ferry
Requested rezoning from R-8M to CB
Approved unanimously by the Board of Commissioners.

The Senior Services Director also presented the annual Home and Community Care Block Grant provided through the Area Agency on Aging and Eastern Carolina Council. The grant provides funding for in-home services, adult day care, transportation, and nutrition services for seniors throughout our community. The total grant amount is $847,357 with an $82,259 local match included within the Senior Services operational budget. Commissioners approved unanimously.

The Emergency Services Director also presented an EMS Service Agreement for mutual aid response coverage between Onslow County EMS, Camp Lejeune, and New River. The agreement was approved unanimously by the Board.

Additionally, the Volunteer Fire Department Contract developed through the Fire Commission was presented and voted on by the Board of Commissioners for approval.

06/01/2026

May was definitely a busy month, but a good one filled with a lot of learning, involvement, and conversations throughout our community.

This month I attended both County Commissioner meetings, three budget workshops, the Planning Board meeting, Fire Commission meeting, and the Jacksonville Community Action Team meeting discussing the vulnerability assessment for the City of Jacksonville. These meetings continue to provide important discussions surrounding growth, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and long-term planning for our community.

I also attended several community events including Jonslow benefiting the Salvation Army, the Hubert Fire Department Vendor Fair, the Onslow County Shriners fish fry, the Piney Green Fire Department BBQ fundraiser, and the Memorial Day Ceremony at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery followed by the luncheon hosted by Dixon High School DECA and DAV.

I had the opportunity to attend the TASCO Resiliency Conference, tour the Carolina Museum of the Marine before its opening, visit Sturgeon City to hear about their future expansion plans, and attend the graduation ceremony and career fair at the Eastern Regional Skills Center focused on keeping local talent here in our community.

Thank you to everyone who continues to have conversations, share concerns, and stay involved in making Onslow County stronger for the future.

05/25/2026

This morning, my family and I had the honor of attending the Memorial Day Ceremony at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. It was a moving and well-attended ceremony as our community came together to remember and pay our respects to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Following the ceremony, we attended the Memorial Day Luncheon hosted by Disabled American Veterans and Dixon High School DECA. It was a wonderful event filled with great food, meaningful conversations, and a strong sense of community.

I especially want to recognize the students of Dixon High School. Their kindness, hospitality, and attention to every veteran and guest did not go unnoticed. From serving the crowd to handing out handwritten thank you cards to veterans, they represented our community exceptionally well.

Being part of a military family in a military community is something I never take for granted. Today was a reminder of the strength, gratitude, and respect that continue to make our community so special. On this Memorial Day, we remember, we honor, and we thank those who gave everything for our freedom.
🇺🇸❤️💙🤍🇺🇸

05/08/2026

This evening I attended the Onslow County Planning Board meeting where three rezoning requests were presented, discussed, and voted on for recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.

📍 Folkstone OFWB Church Rezoning PREZ-2026-00002
Old Folkstone Road, Holly Ridge
Requested rezoning from R-8M to HB
The Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval to the commissioners.

📍 Wilson Rezoning PREZ-2026-00003
Sneads Ferry Road, Sneads Ferry
Requested rezoning from R-8M to CB
The Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval to the commissioners.

📍 Starling Cove Conditional Rezoning CREZ-2026-00002
Queens Creek Road, Hubert
Requested rezoning from RA to CZ-R10
The Planning Board voted unanimously to not recommend approval to the commissioners.

These rezonings will now move forward to the Onslow County Board of Commissioners for final consideration and voting.

Meetings like these are important because growth, development, infrastructure, and long-term planning all directly impact the future of our communities. I appreciate hearing from presenters, applicants, the property owners, and the residents, listening to the discussions, and staying engaged in the process.

To follow these projects and other developments happening throughout the county, residents can view the county’s online project tracker:

https://onslow.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/d8b3aa6ee5104fd591b94a4d6e40c28a

It works best when viewed on a computer rather than a mobile device.

05/05/2026

While spring is here and the flowers are blooming, it’s also budget season and today was all about numbers.

Today I spent the majority of my day at the Government Center at Burton Park. I attended the Onslow County Commissioners Meeting this morning, where they presented proclamations for EMS Week and National Travel & Tourism Week, along with several well-deserved recognitions. The Circle of Excellence Award was given to the Parks & Recreation Park Operations and Maintenance staff, the Dedication to Public Service Award went to Shirley Nunez, and the Onslow County Leadership Award was presented to Gerald Cruz. The meeting was followed by a budget workshop this afternoon that I sat in on.

This evening, I attended the City of Jacksonville budget workshop as well.

These workshops are where a lot of the detailed discussions take place and priorities begin to take shape. One of the biggest topics, as expected, is the tax rate, along with pending state legislation involving property evaluations. This is where decisions start forming on how funds are allocated and what that means for our community moving forward. Both the county and city budgets must have an adopted tax rate and the budgets voted on and approved by June 30th ahead of the July 1st fiscal year start date.

While I’m running for a seat at the county level, staying informed on what’s happening within our municipalities matters. These decisions directly impact our community, and being present and engaged is an important part of the process. A lot of insight was provided today.

05/03/2026

I had the opportunity to attend the 4th Annual Jonslow Eats hosted by the The Salvation Army, and it was truly an incredible event for our community.

Held at the Eastern Regional Skills Center in Burton Park, the event brought together some amazing local culinary talent to showcase their skills in front of a panel of judges and our community.

They had everything from gumbo, crab bisque, ribs, chicken and pastry, to a wide variety of cakes and everything in between. It was honestly hard to choose favorites because there were so many great dishes. I’ll just say this… I definitely left full!

More importantly, this event served a meaningful purpose. Jonslow Eats is a well attended fundraiser supporting families across Onslow and Jones counties. The Salvation Army continues to play a vital role in providing food and assistance to those in need, and events like this help ensure they have the resources to keep doing that important work.

It’s always inspiring to see our community come together, local talent, local organizations, and neighbors, all supporting a cause that truly makes a difference.

04/25/2026

This morning, I had the opportunity to attend the State of the Child event hosted by OnePlace at their beautiful new Hope Center. They are offering scheduled tours of the facility, and I encourage people to go see the incredible work they are doing for families in crisis in our community.

Today’s discussion focused on the growing child care crisis in Onslow County, including the challenges families face finding affordable care and the impact it has on our workforce and local economy.

When we invest our time, treasure and talent in children and support families, we invest in the future of our county. Grateful for the opportunity to listen, learn, and be part of the conversation.

04/25/2026

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend the Fire Commission meeting at the Emergency Operations Center in Jacksonville. It was another valuable chance to listen, learn, and gain a better understanding of the work being done to support fire protection and emergency response across our county.

After all, it takes a village and Onslow County is ours. The future of our community belongs to all of us, which is why involvement matters. Public meetings are one of the best ways to stay informed, ask questions, and be part of the conversation. Many meetings also set aside time for public input, giving citizens a direct voice in the decisions that affect our county.

You don’t have to hold office or sit on a board to make a difference. Show up, stay engaged, and let your voice be heard. Strong communities are built when neighbors care enough to participate.