Cornelia Olive, former mayor of Sanford, has had a significant impact on her hometown through her decades-long commitment to public service and journalism. Olive began her career at The Sanford Herald and later worked for newspapers in Durham, Greensboro, and the Outer Banks for 25 years. Her investigative reporting led to a position in the Attorney General’s office where she contributed to strengthening consumer protection laws.
Olive returned to Sanford with an understanding of the city’s future needs. In 2003, she ran for City Council representing Ward 2 with a focus on infrastructure improvements, attracting industry, and beautification projects. At that time, women were underrepresented in local government; only one woman had previously been elected to the council.
After serving as a council member, Olive decided to run for mayor in 2005. She stated: “We needed to focus on infrastructure – especially water and wastewater – if we wanted to fortify our city against economic downturns,” which were already brewing.
Her experience as a journalist gave her confidence in the campaign. “Running for mayor as a woman didn’t concern me at all,” Olive said. “The newspaper business requires thick skin,” adding that raising children as a single mother prepared her for difficult challenges.
Olive won the election and became Sanford’s first female mayor. Reflecting on her achievements during two terms in office, she highlighted several initiatives including homelessness programs like Family Promise, new parks, and the start of the Sanford Block Party.
“I also wanted to engage people who typically aren’t involved in government,” Olive said. The block party both improved city appearance and built relationships within the community.
However, Olive considers infrastructure upgrades as her most important accomplishment during her tenure. Under her leadership, Sanford upgraded water and sewer lines, added lift stations, and expanded the Big Buffalo Wastewater Reclamation Facility—projects that helped stabilize the city during economic challenges such as job losses from textile plant closures and the 2008 recession.
She credits collaboration among policymakers: Olive acknowledged “a progressive, forward-thinking City Council” along with “the right people” at City Hall for supporting these efforts.
When asked how she hopes residents remember her service: “I hope people remember me as approachable, as someone who was there to help,” Olive said. “That’s the whole point of public service.”
To young women interested in politics or public service roles she advised: “Dare to do it.” She continued: “Take the risk… If I had let anyone or anything scare me off, I would’ve missed out on so much… Things shouldn’t have worked out for me, but my faith in God and my mission to serve protected me.”
Now age 86, Olive continues volunteering locally at H3 Street Medicine and remains active at St. Thomas Episcopal Church—a congregation founded by her great-grandfather in the late nineteenth century.
“Above all else,” she concluded when reflecting on advice for future generations of leaders,“we need to be brave enough to be obedient to God and the calling He places on us… He thinks so much bigger than we ever could.”
