Earlier today, I notified the Mayor and City Council of my intention to retire as Wilmington City Manager on May 30, 2025. I count Wilmington’s city employees among the very best in the profession, working day in and day out to create a better city. Your accomplishments, service, and resilience in the face of hardship have inspired me and filled my work with a deep sense of purpose. When I retire, it will mark nearly 44 years of professional service in local government, 16 years with the City of Wilmington, and four years as City Manager. Thank you for making these years more meaningful than I could have ever imagined.
Looking back over the past four years, we have faithfully delivered core services to this community, improving quality of life and public safety, and making Wilmington one of the most enviable places to call home on the eastern seaboard. We implemented a new Five-Year Strategic Plan, Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, multi-year departmental business plans, and broke ground and cut ribbons on numerous public facilities and amenities.
As I look back even further during my time as deputy manager, the number of major accomplishments we’ve brought about are almost too numerous to list. The Convention Center, revitalization of northern downtown, Riverfront Park and Live Oak Bank Pavilion, new fire stations, a new police and fire training center, major improvements to our roads and trails network, a new comprehensive plan and land development code, guiding our city through the COVID pandemic and along the long road to recovery after Hurricane Florence. We have done so much good together.
We couldn’t have done it without an incredible city staff. Nor could we have done it without an incredible Mayor and City Council, who I consider the best in North Carolina bar none.
Yet the work goes on. Over the next six months, I’ll continue to give you my all as City Manager while City Council begins the work of selecting my successor. Guided by our mission, vision, and values, and supported by your daily work, I have every faith that this organization will continue to create a better city every day long after I have handed off the baton.
Sincerely,
Tony Caudle
City Manager