Dr. Joe Pat Hatem
Proven Leadership. Committed to Southport.
For more than four decades, I have lived and worked in Southport, building my life around
service to this community. I am a North Carolinian by birth and upbringing, and while I was not born in
Southport, I have chosen it as my home. In every role I have held – mayor, physician at Dosher Memorial
Hospital, and graduate of UNC’s School of Medicine and School of Public Health – my work has been
guided by the same commitment: to safeguard the wellbeing of our residents and strengthen the
institutions that sustain a healthy, thriving city. I chose to run again at the encouragement of many
neighbors who asked me to return to office. I accepted because I believe Southport benefits from
experienced, steady leadership that protects the charm we treasure while planning responsibly for the
future and guiding our city toward its fullest potential.
Dr. Joe Pat Hatem
Proven Leadership. Committed to Southport.
For more than four decades, I have lived and worked in Southport, building my life around
service to this community. I am a North Carolinian by birth and upbringing, and while I was not born in
Southport, I have chosen it as my home. In every role I have held – mayor, physician at Dosher Memorial
Hospital, and graduate of UNC’s School of Medicine and School of Public Health – my work has been
guided by the same commitment: to safeguard the wellbeing of our residents and strengthen the
institutions that sustain a healthy, thriving city. I chose to run again at the encouragement of many
neighbors who asked me to return to office. I accepted because I believe Southport benefits from
experienced, steady leadership that protects the charm we treasure while planning responsibly for the
future and guiding our city toward its fullest potential.
About Dr. Hatem
I grew up in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, the last town before crossing into Virginia on Interstate 95. I often tell people I have not gone very far in life, just from the top of the state to the bottom. But what a place I landed in. Southport is a town that longtime residents already knew was special. Over time, I came to love and cherish it just as deeply.
My journey to Southport began with a moonlighting job in the Emergency Room at J. Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital. At the time, I was in Residency Training at New Hanover Memorial Hospital in Wilmington. What started as a temporary role turned into a lifelong calling. That was thirty-eight years ago, and I have been honored to serve this community as a physician ever since.
I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1977. It was both academically rigorous and spiritually meaningful. My experience there left a lasting impression that education and knowledge should be used to improve the lives of others. Later, I attended the University of North Carolina for medical and public health training, graduating from the School of Medicine in 1982 and the School of Public Health in 1992. I learned not only how to care for individual patients but also how to think broadly about the health and well-being of entire communities.
My motivation to serve as Mayor of Southport comes from the same desire that led me to practice medicine. I want to help people. Whether through public health or city government, my goal has always been to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
My father, Joe Hatem, was a small business owner. He taught me the value of hard work and community service. He was a Rotarian and lived by the motto “Service Above Self.” That lesson stayed with me. During my time at Notre Dame, I heard a quote from Albert Schweitzer that shaped my perspective. He said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know. The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found to serve.” That belief in service continues to guide everything I do.
While I was not born in Southport, I did marry into one of its oldest families. My wife, Tish, is part of the Hickman family, whose roots in Southport trace back to the eighteenth century. Together we have found that Southport feels like one big family. The shrimp boats may no longer line the waterfront, but the heart and soul of this fishing village remain. We are proud to call it home.
About Dr. Hatem
I grew up in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, the last town before crossing into Virginia on Interstate 95. I often tell people I have not gone very far in life, just from the top of the state to the bottom. But what a place I landed in. Southport is a town that longtime residents already knew was special. Over time, I came to love and cherish it just as deeply.
My journey to Southport began with a moonlighting job in the Emergency Room at J. Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital. At the time, I was in Residency Training at New Hanover Memorial Hospital in Wilmington. What started as a temporary role turned into a lifelong calling. That was thirty-eight years ago, and I have been honored to serve this community as a physician ever since.
I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1977. It was both academically rigorous and spiritually meaningful. My experience there left a lasting impression that education and knowledge should be used to improve the lives of others. Later, I attended the University of North Carolina for medical and public health training, graduating from the School of Medicine in 1982 and the School of Public Health in 1992. I learned not only how to care for individual patients but also how to think broadly about the health and well-being of entire communities.
My motivation to serve as Mayor of Southport comes from the same desire that led me to practice medicine. I want to help people. Whether through public health or city government, my goal has always been to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
My father, Joe Hatem, was a small business owner. He taught me the value of hard work and community service. He was a Rotarian and lived by the motto “Service Above Self.” That lesson stayed with me. During my time at Notre Dame, I heard a quote from Albert Schweitzer that shaped my perspective. He said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know. The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found to serve.” That belief in service continues to guide everything I do.
While I was not born in Southport, I did marry into one of its oldest families. My wife, Tish, is part of the Hickman family, whose roots in Southport trace back to the eighteenth century. Together we have found that Southport feels like one big family. The shrimp boats may no longer line the waterfront, but the heart and soul of this fishing village remain. We are proud to call it home.
To the Citizens of Southport,
The election is over, you have spoken with your ballot, and you spoke with clarity as our democratic
form of government ushered in a peaceful transition and a new direction for our city—one that offers
civility and excellence in governance and a steady progress –in the goals and objectives in serving you
the citizens of Southport.
Southport deserves peace in its governance, civility in its meetings, and progress that is both tranquil
and purposeful. Too often in recent years, we have witnessed division where there should have been
dialogue, discord where there should have been debate. I sought this office again not out of ambition,
but because I believe we must restore a spirit of service to City Hall. It is my greatest honor to serve you
once again—with dedication, integrity, and humility as we chart the course for our city’s future.
My vision is straightforward but profound: to restore civility to our civic life, to preside over meetings
that are orderly, respectful, and informative, and to ensure that every citizen feels heard. When difficult
or controversial issues arise—and they will—I will not stifle debate or push decisions behind closed
doors. Instead, I will call for dedicated town hall meetings where the collective voice of the people can
rise in a chorus of democracy, treated always with dignity and respect. True leadership does not fear
discussion; it embraces it, because truth and wisdom emerge most clearly when neighbors deliberate
together.
The past two years have weighed heavily on our city. My opponent’s 2023 campaign sowed division
with its negativity and misstatements, and that spirit carried into the very first aldermen meeting of the
new administration—a meeting that was disjointed, contentious, and a harbinger of decline. From that
moment onward, it was apparent that Southport’s civic culture was headed down a troubled path.
Progress since then, if any has been made, has been built upon the foundation laid in the preceding four
years. Our dedicated city staff embraced that earlier vision and carried it forward, but have done so
under a level of strain and discord that no staff should be forced to endure.
Again, it is worth reminding ourselves how our government is meant to function. Southport is a council-
manager form of government. The City Manager is the administrative head of government, charged with
supervising our departments and carrying out the policies adopted by the Board of Aldermen. The
board, including the mayor, sets the direction of our city through budgets, ordinances, and resolutions.
The board votes, the mayor votes only when there is a tie. And the mayor’s role—my role—is to preside
with order and impartiality, to represent the city with dignity, and to support the manager, department
heads, and employees so that we all work together for the success of Southport’s citizens. This includes
building relationships beyond our borders. The mayor must work with surrounding municipalities, with
our county government, and with state and federal leaders on behalf of Southport. The mayor must be
both steward and ambassador, always placing the town’s interests above self. But in recent years, this
doctrine has been blurred, and in that blurring we have seen the roots of division. A mayor who
overreaches or misuses the role sows confusion; a mayor who forgets the limit of authority risks eroding
the very trust that binds government to its people.
My philosophy of service is different. I believe the office must be conducted with humility and respect.
The role of mayor is not to dominate, but to facilitate; not to inflame, but to guide; not to make
Southport about one personality, but to make it always about community. Protecting quality of life has
always been my priority. That means preserving our historic character and village atmosphere,
safeguarding the environment that blesses us, promoting public health and safety, and steadily
improving our infrastructure. It means supporting excellence in every department, ensuring our budget
is fiscally responsible while still investing in capital improvements that benefit all. These are not abstract
ideals. They are the day-to-day commitments of a city that wishes to remain strong, vibrant, and
unique.
Our mission statement says it best: “To strive for excellence in our government, project a positive
attitude, involve our community, and protect our citizens by ensuring a safe, secure, and tranquil quality
of life with controlled and orderly growth.” Those words are not simply rhetoric. I will uphold our
principles, protect our traditions, and move our city forward—not with rancor, but with respect; not
with division, but with unity. I believe Southport’s best days are still ahead. But to reach them, we must
row together, each pulling with strength and good will, guided by leaders who remember that service is
not about self, but about others.
Let us, together, turn Southport’s ship toward calmer waters and brighter horizons. Guided by principle,
powered by unity, and carried by the salubrious breeze that has always graced this city, we can move
steadily toward peace, progress, and prosperity.
With gratitude and devotion,
Joe Pat Hatem, MD, MPH
Progress Made:
Since returning to office, my focus has been straightforward: restore a respectful public forum, strengthen the integrity of our process, and keep Southport’s work moving.
Meetings and Public Comment
Civility has returned to our Board of Aldermen meetings. We will continue to insist on orderly proceedings, even when issues are contested (as evidenced by the vote on the Planning Board nominations). Public comment is welcomed and encouraged, with a three-minute time limit so more voices can be heard. Every speaker will be treated with dignity and respect, and the same standard will apply across the room.
A Clearer, More Disciplined Agenda Process
“The city clerk and chief administrative officer shall prepare a proposed agenda for each meeting. A request to have an item placed on the agenda must be received at least 10 working days before the meeting. An agenda package shall be prepared that includes for each item of business placed on the proposed agenda, as much background information on the subject as is available and feasible to reproduce.”
This rule has not been followed, and it will be followed while I am mayor. I was elected to make meetings more civil and efficient. If adequate information is unavailable, if an item is not submitted in a timely manner, or if an item is currently under litigation, it should not be placed on the agenda. An item involving potential litigation would be referred to a closed session. If indicated and in an emergency, the mayor can place an item on the agenda. The agenda is carefully crafted and reviewed by the manager and the mayor. It is one of the most important responsibilities we have for our city and our citizens. With respect to removal of an item from the agenda, there must be a compelling reason, and it must never be driven by personal or political bias, as was done with the Planning Board nominations at the February Board of Aldermen meeting.
Accessibility
As mayor, I am available to all – by email, text, phone call, or correspondence. I have been meeting with citizens at City Hall and in their neighborhoods when requested. It is important that the City is responsive to your concerns.
The Mayor’s Update has returned and is included in the monthly newsletter. I have written an update most recently for March.
Projects Completed, Underway, and Advancing Toward Completion:
Completed:
- Community Building deck replacement (with future expansion to be considered through strategic planning)
Near Completion:
- Indian Trail Meeting Hall renovation
In Progress:
- Shoreline stabilization (permits secured; bids issued)
- Rights-of-way violations (continuing compliance work; only a few remaining)
- City website upgrade
- Citywide stormwater solution (funding and engineering now being addressed)
- Historic Preservation Commission revisions (ongoing)
- Budget preparation (City Manager and department heads underway; Board workshops to be scheduled)
- UDO updates and revisions (continuing process)
- Courthouse funding initiatives and grant applications (in progress)
- 250th Fourth of July celebration planning (ongoing)
- Cemetery Committee work on budget and improvements (ongoing)
- Southport 2050 Comprehensive CAMA Land Use Plan (completed in 2025 to guide long-range planning)
- City workshop scheduled for March
Protecting Public Health, Public Safety, and the Environment
One of Southport’s guiding principles is stewardship of our natural environment as a public health imperative. Most recently, the City has advanced resolutions addressing threats to the Cape Fear River, including opposition to dredging of the river and WIlmington Harbor, opposition to the proposed interbasin water transfer by Fuquay-Varina, and opposition to inadequate monitoring alongside increased PFAS discharges into the Cape Fear River. Other municipalities have joined Southport in recognizing the seriousness of these impacts.
Smart, Protective Ordinances
We are also advancing a vape shop ordinance to restrict locations and keep such businesses away from schools.
Day-to-Day Work Continues
While major initiatives move forward, the everyday work of city government continues: Public Services addressing maintenance, first responders serving with professionalism, planning and permitting progressing, and departments partnering with volunteer boards – Beautification, Forestry, Parks and Recreation – and our nonprofit organizations.
Thank you for your engagement and your care for Southport. I intend to keep our city’s work disciplined, transparent, and responsive to the people it serves.
Progress Made:
Since returning to office, my focus has been straightforward: restore a respectful public forum, strengthen the integrity of our process, and keep Southport’s work moving.
Meetings and Public Comment
Civility has returned to our Board of Aldermen meetings. We will continue to insist on orderly proceedings, even when issues are contested (as evidenced by the vote on the Planning Board nominations). Public comment is welcomed and encouraged, with a three-minute time limit so more voices can be heard. Every speaker will be treated with dignity and respect, and the same standard will apply across the room.
A Clearer, More Disciplined Agenda Process
“The city clerk and chief administrative officer shall prepare a proposed agenda for each meeting. A request to have an item placed on the agenda must be received at least 10 working days before the meeting. An agenda package shall be prepared that includes for each item of business placed on the proposed agenda, as much background information on the subject as is available and feasible to reproduce.”
This rule has not been followed, and it will be followed while I am mayor. I was elected to make meetings more civil and efficient. If adequate information is unavailable, if an item is not submitted in a timely manner, or if an item is currently under litigation, it should not be placed on the agenda. An item involving potential litigation would be referred to a closed session. If indicated and in an emergency, the mayor can place an item on the agenda. The agenda is carefully crafted and reviewed by the manager and the mayor. It is one of the most important responsibilities we have for our city and our citizens. With respect to removal of an item from the agenda, there must be a compelling reason, and it must never be driven by personal or political bias, as was done with the Planning Board nominations at the February Board of Aldermen meeting.
Accessibility
As mayor, I am available to all – by email, text, phone call, or correspondence. I have been meeting with citizens at City Hall and in their neighborhoods when requested. It is important that the City is responsive to your concerns.
The Mayor’s Update has returned and is included in the monthly newsletter. I have written an update most recently for March.
Projects Completed, Underway, and Advancing Toward Completion:
Completed:
- Community Building deck replacement (with future expansion to be considered through strategic planning)
- Indian Trail Meeting Hall renovation
- City website upgrade
- Southport 2050 Comprehensive CAMA Land Use Plan (completed in 2025 to guide long-range planning)
Near Completion:
- 250th Fourth of July celebration planning (ongoing)
In Progress:
- Shoreline stabilization (permits secured; bids issued)
- Rights-of-way violations (continuing compliance work; only a few remaining)
- Citywide stormwater solution (funding and engineering now being addressed)
- Historic Preservation Commission revisions (ongoing)
- Budget preparation (City Manager and department heads underway; Board workshops to be scheduled)
- UDO updates and revisions (continuing process)
- Courthouse funding initiatives and grant applications (in progress)
- Cemetery Committee work on budget and improvements (ongoing)
- Weather Tower restoration and assembly
- City-wide paving and street repair
Protecting Public Health, Public Safety, and the Environment
One of Southport’s guiding principles is stewardship of our natural environment as a public health imperative. Most recently, the City has advanced resolutions addressing threats to the Cape Fear River, including opposition to dredging of the river and WIlmington Harbor, opposition to the proposed interbasin water transfer by Fuquay-Varina, and opposition to inadequate monitoring alongside increased PFAS discharges into the Cape Fear River. Other municipalities have joined Southport in recognizing the seriousness of these impacts.
Smart, Protective Ordinances
We are also advancing a vape shop ordinance to restrict locations and keep such businesses away from schools.
Day-to-Day Work Continues
While major initiatives move forward, the everyday work of city government continues: Public Services addressing maintenance, first responders serving with professionalism, planning and permitting progressing, and departments partnering with volunteer boards – Beautification, Forestry, Parks and Recreation – and our nonprofit organizations.
Thank you for your engagement and your care for Southport. I intend to keep our city’s work disciplined, transparent, and responsive to the people it serves.