NEWS RELEASE: Wilmington City Council Swears in 1st District Council Member Vincent M. White
Friday, February 3, 2023
Wilmington City Council Swears in 1st District Council Member
Vincent M. White
Vincent M. White replaces the late Councilwoman Linda M. Gray.
Vincent M. White serves as 1st District Council Member beginning February 2, 2023. His term expires in December 2024. Photo by Saquan Stimpson of WITN22.
WILMINGTON, DE – Vincent M. White, a former Wilmington Housing Authority chair and the current president of the North West Civic Association, joins Wilmington City Council as the new 1st District Council Member.
Through a resolution sponsored by President Trippi Congo, City Council unanimously voted on February 2, 2023, for White to fill the vacant first district seat, and immediately after roll call, White was sworn in by Attorney George E. Evans. White’s term will expire in December 2024.
“For many years, I have done much of my service to my neighbors from my dining room table,” said 1st District Council Member Vincent M. White. “I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to serve the residents of the 1st District and the City of Wilmington in this capacity. Know that I am committed to working hard to ensure our District is a safe and prosperous place to live, work, and raise a family. I will strive to ensure that our District is where everyone is respected and valued and that the City’s resources are used to benefit all its residents.”
White replaces the late Council Member Linda Gray, who unexpectedly passed away on November 14, 2022. This led to the First District Councilmanic position being vacated, effective November 15, 2022.
To fill the vacancy, the Council’s Committee of the Whole reviewed letters of interest and resumes from four (4) qualified candidates and on February 1, 2023, held public interviews to review the credentials of three (3) applicants due to the withdrawal of one of those candidates. Pursuant to the City Charter, a majority vote by the full body of the council shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.
“It’s been a hard and emotional process of having to fill in the seats of three council members this session, all of whom have passed away,” stated City Council President Trippi Congo. “I’d like to congratulate Vincent White and I look forward to working with him.”
City Council Members applaud after Vincent M. White takes his oath of office as 1st District Council Member. Photo by Yesenia Taveras, Director of Communications for the Wilmington City Council.
White is currently self-employed as a commercial real estate broker, educator, and housing consultant. He’s accumulated more than twenty-five years of experience in real estate sales, marketing, supervision, training, and office management; and possesses extensive knowledge of housing finance regulations, predatory lending, community development, and fair housing best practices.
White has collaborated with corporations, government, and faith-based groups on housing development initiatives and transforming distressed neighborhoods and housing markets into places people want to live and work.
1st District Council Member Vincent M. White takes his seat in Council Chambers during the council’s regular meeting on February 2, 2023. Photo by Yesenia Taveras, Director of Communications for the Wilmington City Council.
Council Member White wrote as part of his vision statement submitted to Council’s Committee of the Whole, “if l were asked which district goals I would champion, they would be the following:
- Work to ensure basic city services are provided
- Advocate for the building of safe, decent, affordable housing rental and homeownership
- Enhance resources for positive individual, family, and community growth outcomes
- Create additional employment and economic growth initiatives for adults and youth
- Work with and listen to Community Base Organizations to improve on quality of life issues.”
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MEDIA INQUIRIES:Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications, Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585
Cell: (302) 757-5748Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.govCity Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com