LinkedIn

Stephanie grew up in the Wilmington area. She holds both a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington She is married to her husband, Laurie, with whom she has 2 children. 

Stephanie works at The English Gardener. She is also a co-founder of Turnaround Taskforce at New Hanover County Schools. 

Stephanie Walker currently serves as a member of the New Hanover County School Board. She was elected to this position in 2020 and is serving her first term. She previously served as secretary of the New Hanover County African American History Heritage, & Culture Commission and as chairman of the Vereen Memorial Historical Gardens Committee and Precinct Harnett 11. 

Candidate website

Supports creating walkable communities with public access to waterfronts.

Supports developing walkable communities with public access to waterfronts.

Believes in fostering community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Supports ensuring public interests and access rights to waterfront and coastal waters are upheld.

Promotes stakeholders working with the greater community in making development decisions and wants to ensure the public's interests and access to the waterfront and coastal waters are upheld. 

- Supports developing walkable communities with public access to waterfronts.
- Promotes stakeholders working with the greater community in making development decisions and wants to ensure the public's interests and access to the waterfront and coastal waters are upheld. 

Public Services

Believes a lack of funding causes staffing shortages, leading to difficult working conditions.

Believes insufficient funding caused staffing shortages and difficult working conditions.

- Believes insufficient funding caused staffing shortages and difficult working conditions.

Economy

Believes addressing poverty, hiring more teachers of color, eliminating elementary school suspensions, and mandatory bias training can reduce educational disparities. Supports expanding policies for greater school integration and equity.

Wants to address community poverty, hire more minority teachers, end elementary school suspensions, and require bias training for teachers and staff. 

Believes access to a sound, basic education is a fundamental right for every child. As a New Hanover County School Board member, works to uphold this right and advocates for public education.

Supports accessible education, saying it is a "right I resolutely work to uphold..."

Supports greater racial and socioeconomic equity in schools and additional resources for students with learning difficulties.

Promises to advocate for racial and socioeconomic equity in schools and provide more resources for students with learning difficulties.

Supports advocating for teachers and staff for classroom support and a livable wage.

Wants more teacher and staff support and to establish a "livable wage." for school employees. 

Believes all children deserve a safe learning environment and supports a zero-tolerance policy for those who abuse their position by preying on children.

Believes all children deserve a safe learning environment and promises to install a zero-tolerance policy for any individual who commits sexual assault on students. 

Supports expanding the Pre-K program to ensure all children receive a head start. Said, "Our current program is insufficient to meet the dire need."

Wants to expand the county's Pre-K education program. 

Believes in raising awareness about ACEs, resiliency, and mental health and behavioral needs for students. Supports comprehensive mental health and behavioral support in education.

Wants to provide mental health and behavioral support. 

Opposes restrictive measures for teachers.

- Wants to address community poverty, hire more minority teachers, end elementary school suspensions, and require bias training for teachers and staff. 
- Supports accessible education, saying it is a "right I resolutely work to uphold..."
- Promises to advocate for racial and socioeconomic equity in schools and provide more resources for students with learning difficulties.
- Wants more teacher and staff support and to establish a "livable wage." for school employees. 
- Believes all children deserve a safe learning environment and promises to install a zero-tolerance policy for any individual who commits sexual assault on students. 
- Wants to expand the county's Pre-K education program. 
- Wants to provide mental health and behavioral support. 
- Opposes restrictive measures for teachers.

Education

As of June 14, 2024, Stephanie Walker’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Supports addressing the affordable housing crisis through inclusionary zoning and public-private partnerships for payment assistance and tax incentives.

Wants to increase affordable and workforce housing through inclusive zoning policies. 

Plans to collaborate with elected bodies and organizations to address the affordable housing crisis and prevent residents from being priced out.

Plans to collaborate with other elected bodies and organizations to address affordable and workforce housing and prevent residents from being priced out of the area. 

Believes in making development decisions "predictable, fair, and cost-effective" through consistent policies and coordinated permitting processes.

Believes development decisions that are "predictable, fair, and cost-effective" by having consistent policies and coordinated permitting processes.

Believes in balancing growth with responsible development, especially in low-lying coastal areas. Said, "we are running out of buildable space" and must address the challenges of growth.

Supports balanced growth with "responsible development...especially for our...low-lying coastal areas." saying that "we are running out of buildable space..."

Believes in Smart Growth principles, including affordable housing, environmental conservation, and development that respects coastal community infrastructure.

Supports measures to help protect the environment. 

Supports mixing land uses, including water-dependent uses.

Supports "Mixed land uses, including water-dependent uses."

- Wants to increase affordable and workforce housing through inclusive zoning policies. 
- Plans to collaborate with other elected bodies and organizations to address affordable and workforce housing and prevent residents from being priced out of the area. 
- Believes development decisions that are "predictable, fair, and cost-effective" by having consistent policies and coordinated permitting processes.
- Supports balanced growth with "responsible development...especially for our...low-lying coastal areas." saying that "we are running out of buildable space..."
- Supports measures to help protect the environment. 
- Supports "Mixed land uses, including water-dependent uses."

Housing & Urban Development

Believes in providing a variety of land- and water-based transportation options.

Supports robust land and water forms of trasportation. 

Supports addressing transportation issues, including the disparity in bus driver pay and the bus driver shortage.

Supports addressing transportation issues, including bus driver shortages and disparities in bus driver pay. 

- Supports robust land and water forms of trasportation. 
- Supports addressing transportation issues, including bus driver shortages and disparities in bus driver pay. 

Transportation & Infrastructure

Instagram

Facebook

Stephanie Walker

Stephanie Walker grew up in a small neighborhood near UNCW in Wilmington, where she attended public schools including Snipes, Tileston, Williston, and Hanover High School. After high school, she spent time in the United Kingdom, where she met her husband Laurie, with whom she has two children, Aaron and Julia, both graduates of Laney High School who went on to attend North Carolina universities. Stephanie obtained her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from UNCW. There is no information provided about the church she attends.

As of July 8, 2024, Stephanie Walker’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The candidate's website says, "​Take advantage of compact community design that enhances, preserves, and provides access to waterfront resources"

Supports strengthening and directing development toward existing communities and encouraging waterfront revitalization.

The candidate's website says, "At-Large Member, Friends of the Library (2023-Present)"

Supports small business development, having run businesses in landscaping and community management for over two decades. Plans to pursue a new small business endeavor.

Believes early childhood education leads to higher educational attainment, lower crime rates, and reduced depression. Supports investing in these programs, citing a cost-benefit analysis showing $4 to $11 in economic benefits for every dollar spent.

Believes a community school is "both a place and a set of partnerships" with a focus on academics, health, social services, youth and community development, and community engagement.

Believes that "our community's children are disadvantaged by a biased system." Supports addressing systemic biases in education to ensure fair opportunities for all children.

Believes it is "embarrassing to come forward when you've been assaulted" and supports a "zero tolerance policy for individuals that abuse their position by preying on children."

Believes in Smart Growth principles, including affordable housing, environmental conservation, and development that respects coastal community infrastructure. Supports planning for school capacity, traffic management, and quality of life improvements.

Believes in providing diverse housing options to accommodate both seasonal and permanent residents. Supports addressing the needs of all community members through varied housing opportunities.

Believes development is essential for economic growth but must be supported by "Smart Growth" principles to ensure infrastructure like schools and roads can handle it.

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.

New Hanover

Taxes

Public Health

North Carolina

Energy & the Environment

County Commissioner

Wants to install "Smart Growth principles..." including "conaffordable housing, environmental conservation, and development that respects coastal community infrastructure. Supports planning for school capacity, traffic management, and quality of life improvements.