NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – On Monday, Dane Scalise was unanimously approved by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners to serve as a County Commissioner through the 2024 election cycle.
Scalise was selected and unanimously recommended by the New Hanover County Republican Party last week to fill the vacancy created by the sudden passing of Commissioner Deb Hays in late March. He was appointed by Commissioners at the April 17 meeting and sworn into office.
“I am humbled to have been considered for this position and look forward to working collaboratively with my fellow Commissioners to serve the best interests of our community,” Scalise said. “Deb was a very special person and someone I greatly admired. Her passion for helping others was at the forefront of everything she did. My focus is not in replacing her, but carrying on the service she was committed to doing for our county.”
A longtime attorney and insurance broker in the Wilmington area, Scalise has served on the board of directors for the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Downtown Inc. and the New Hanover Bar Association. He also served as deputy commissioner of the North Carolina Industrial Commission from 2016-2020.
A UNC Greensboro undergrad, Scalise obtained his law degree from the University of North Carolina. In 2020, the husband and father of two was selected as a 40 Under 40 award winner by the Star News and Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and listed among the WilmingtonBiz 100, which spotlights key figures making an impact in Southeastern North Carolina’s business landscape.
"As Commissioners, we are all very familiar with Dane and his commitment to public service here in New Hanover County,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Rivenbark. “While we are very saddened by the circumstances, we certainly look forward to welcoming Dane as he brings a wealth of knowledge, business acumen, and passion to the Board.”
For more information on the New Hanover County Commissioners, click here.
