Niki Cutler

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Niki Cutler

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2019

Education

Bachelor's

Carolina College of Biblical Studies

Personal

Profession

Piano teacher

Niki Cutler ran for election to the Oak Island Town Council in North Carolina. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2019.

Cutler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Niki Cutler earned a bachelor's degree from Carolina College of Biblical Studies in 1986. Cutler's career experience includes working as a piano teacher and as owner of Middle Sea Piano Studio. She has served as a Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard Auxiliary Instructor, and served a three-year term on the Oak Island Board of Adjustment from 2016 till 2019.

Elections

2019

See also: City elections in Oak Island, North Carolina (2019)

General election

General election for Oak Island Town Council (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Oak Island Town Council on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jeff Winecoff (Nonpartisan)	19.7	1,479
✔		Charlie Blalock (Nonpartisan)	18.4	1,377
✔		Sheila Mansfield Bell (Nonpartisan)	18.2	1,365
		Dara Royal (Nonpartisan)	16.7	1,252
		Michael Defeo (Nonpartisan)	14.6	1,093
		Niki Cutler (Nonpartisan)	12.2	913
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	23

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,502
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Niki Cutler completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cutler's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived on Oak Island since 2005 and am a homeowner and local business owner. I have been a member of the Department of Homeland Security as a Coast Guard Auxiliary Instructor, as well as Oak Island Water Rescue and Oak Island Fire and Rescue. |I have been a piano teacher since 1992 and currently perform with two orchestras. I am a leader and accustomed to team work, hard work and preparation for success.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Public Service must be a priority.
• Growth must be managed so it does not outpace our infrastructure.
• Spending must not tread outside of Town responsibilities into tourist attractions which compete with private industry.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Town Services - Providing timely basic services that our residents expect and deserve including lawn debris removal and road maintenance. We must maintain and equipment, anticipate upgrades to the sewer system and manage our beach sand resources wisely.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Oak Island is the largest beach community in North Carolina and should be an example to other beach communities.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my father who is a highly decorated military Veteran and a devoted family man. I try to follow his example, even jumping out of a helicopter once because he was Airborne! I do not know anyone who has more courage or leadership ability.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Leadership, intelligence and the desire to continuously learn, determination to succeed and an outstanding work ethic.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Respect the citizens that you were elected to represent, and represent them, not yourself.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

One of the most significant memories I have was the end of the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1981. I went with my father, Silver Star Recipient, Command Sergeant Major Richard Cutler (retired) to the US military airbase to welcome them to Germany prior to their return to America. I was only 16 and grew up overseas on military bases in the midst of many historical moments.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a stock person at the military convenience store until I began college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Art, over 2500 works from Cave to Contemporary. I love art and visiting art museums and galleries. My favorites are Impressionist artists, but all art is fantastic and such a deep look into the culture of civilizations. I have a lot of art books but this is my best resource because it is an encyclopedia of everything.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

All of the pieces my orchestras are currently working on and my class repertoire! Mozart, Bach, Strauss...

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Having experience is good as long as it is productive and effective. Merely being in a position for a time does not automatically translate into 'excellent experience'.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

My term on the Board of Adjustment (2016-2019) gave me valuable experience with Town ordinances and I established excellent working relationships with staff. I bring to Town Council a strong skill set and I promise to work effectively with other Council members to solve current and future issues. Leadership, communication skills, the ability to effectively listen and resolve are skills that are required in office.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2019

Ballotpedia submission

Cutler highlighted the following themes in an email to Ballotpedia on September 30, 2019:

What do you feel are the three biggest issues Oak Island will face in coming years?

• Town Services - Providing timely basic services that our residents expect and deserve including lawn debris removal, road maintenance and emergency services. Public service must be a priority.
• Spending - Tourist attractions that compete with private business tread outside of sound government. We must maintain and replace equipment, anticipate upgrades to the sewer system and manage our beach sand resources wisely.
• Growth - Now is the time to implement strategies that ensure our growth does not outpace our infra-structure capabilities. This is a critical election that will determine the future of Oak Island for decades.

Why are you the best candidate to tackle these issues?

• I am a homeowner and local business owner and have a proven ability to solve problems. I currently perform with two orchestras and am accustomed to studying and preparation for success. In 2014 I established the Trash Cart Rollout Service of Oak Island as a Public Utility, effectively eliminating a major problem along the entire beachfront. My Board of Adjustment term gave me experience with Town ordinances and I established excellent working relationships with staff. I bring to Town Council a strong skill set and promise to work effectively with other Council members to solve current and future issues. I am not asking for campaign contributions nor placing signage all over our town. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

See also

2019 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Town of Oak Island website
• Oak Island Town Council webpage