By Elisabeth Strillacci

KANNAPOLIS — Doug Wilson, who has served on the Kannapolis city council since 2013, is throwing his hat in the ring for the mayoral office, and given his lifelong desire to actively serve his community, it comes as no surprise.

Born and raised in Kannapolis, George Douglas “Doug” Wilson has spent his life serving not just the residents of the city he loves, but the kids. The posts in which he has served are endless, as is the list of accolades over the years.

He’s spent decades serving on the A.L. Brown Athletic Booster Club Board of Directors. He has been honored by the Kannapolis YMCA as an ambassador for youth and for being an active member for more than 60 years. He was a founding member of the Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Commission in 1989 and made a major impact there. He was chairman of that commission for eight years. He started the youth sports program. He’s been a member of the Kannapolis City Council since 2013 and has served as mayor pro tem. It was Wilson’s idea for the city to buy Downtown Kannapolis, and in 2022, Wilson received the Distinguished Legislator Award.

In 2018, Wilson received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Office of the Governor for his volunteer work with organizations such as Special Olympics and Meals on Wheels. That honor is the highest civilian honor the governor awards, but in truth, it is not as exclusive as The Laurel Wreath, which is limited to sports and athletics. And Wilson added that to his catalogue of honors this past February.

Ryan Dayvault, a fellow council member, was one of the people who helped bring the Laurel Wreath award to fruition.

“I don’t know anyone who has worked for Kannapolis as hard as Doug has,” Dayvault said the night Wilson received the award. “He’s a symbol for our youth. He’s a symbol for our town.” When he was told Wilson is planning to run for mayor, Dayvault said he believes Wilson has much to offer the city, and “if he runs the positive campaign I believe he will, I think he’ll be successful.”

Wilson might be a 75-year-old great-grandfather today, but he is still A.L. Brown’s assistant girls basketball coach, and he still has the devotion not only of current players, but of past players whose lives he made better.

“I’ve served on the council for 12 years, and a lot of good things have happened in that time,” Wilson said when he told the Post he plans to run. “But there have been so many arguments. The citizens deserve a competitive mayoral race, and they deserve a council that can work out disagreements without rancor.”

Current Mayor Darrell Hinnant is not without his own list of accomplishments and accolades.

Hinnant was elected to Kannapolis City Council in November 2001 and served as a councilman until 2013 when he was first elected mayor and he is currently serving his third term.

According to his profile on the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and an Executive Management Certification from Duke University. He served as executive director of a state agency commission that addressed environmental concerns. Hinnant was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James Martin. During his professional career, Hinnant has held executive positions in several national companies including Rollins Environmental Services, SouthEastern Labs, Radiator Specialty Co., and Executive Director NC Hazard Waste Commission in Raleigh. He also taught wastewater treatment operator classes for the state of North Carolina.

Hinnant has been at the helm of the council as the city has worked to revitalize its downtown, as the Cannon Ballers’ stadium has come to fruition and as the city has grown during its 40-year existence as an independent city. Hinnant announced Feb. 21 that he will again run for mayor this November. On his public Facebook page, he stated, “Many people have suggested that despite tremendous accomplishments, that my work was not done. Our council has many opportunities and options in the short and long term. Leadership is about confronting tough decisions and moving boldly forward. I am proud that citizens believe the my leadership is required for the next four years. God bless our work and the community we are building.”

Wilson and Hinnant are well acquainted with one another, attending the same church and Sunday school.

But Wilson notes that they do not hold the same view for the future of the city they have both worked to build.

“What we are talking about is a philosophical difference of opinions between us,” said Wilson. “We need now to ramp up economic development to help support our tax base. There is a push to get more residents living downtown to keep downtown from failing, but I don’t see that as the answer.”

Wilson says the city needs to begin to recruit industry and jobs now, and the focus on downtown should be more on things like accessibility.

“Right now, for seniors, we don’t have adequate access to all that downtown has to offer,” he said. His other focuses are on police, fire and teachers and having adequate compensation to both draw and keep the best.

“Generally, we need more cooperation with the schools,” he said. “We need the council and the school board to be on the same page.”

The other thing Wilson, along with at least two other council members, is determined to make happen is more transparency for the council. He and others have asked that the city begin to live stream council meetings so that residents who are interested but for any number of reasons cannot attend meetings in person can watch, either as it is happening or after the fact, so they have a full grasp of all that occurs.

“What are we hiding that we can’t seem to make that happen?” asked Wilson. “Yes, the council is the leadership of the city, but our leadership is supposed to represent what is best for the citizens, and what is the best representation of their needs and desires. They elected us to serve them, they should be included in the process as much as possible.”

The next mayor and council will be elected Nov. 4, 2025.