WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Attorney Woody White, representing the Michael Lee for North Carolina Senate Campaign, released a statement Thursday responding to a dispute over campaign signs in the race for North Carolina’s District 7 Senate seat.
White said Sen. Michael Lee has been targeted by an outside organization that goes by the name “Clean Politics, Clean Water NC.” White said the organization has “dispatched agitators” to the community to spread “degrading images” of Lee, deface private property and claims their actions violate North Carolina law.
The full statement from white can be viewed below:
Background
The dispute centers on more than 40 signs Lee said were posted illegally across New Hanover County. Lee’s opponent, Democrat Jessica Bichler, said she had nothing to do with the signs and called the situation a low blow. The New Hanover County Democratic Party also denied any connection to the group behind the signs.
Lee said a mural was glued to a business without permission and that oversized cutouts created a safety concern for drivers. Parts of the mural remained on the ground at Black Cat Halloween in Wilmington after it was taken down.
According to the website cited on the ads, Clean Politics, Clean Water NC paid for them. A search found no campaign finance records for the organization, and the group’s website, listed on the signs, does not include contact information.
Bichler denounced the vandalism but stood by scrutiny of Lee’s clean water record.
Jill Hopman, chair of the New Hanover County Democratic Party, said the party has no connection to the group behind the campaign but said it would “welcome this same outrage aimed at Chemours.”
WECT has tried to contact the organization behind the ads. The website listed on the ads cites no contact information.
Copyright 2026 WECT. All rights reserved.