WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — Margaret Baggett, a former elementary school teacher and small business owner, is hoping to secure a seat on the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen.
A Wrightsville Beach resident for four decades, Baggett is running for an alderman position after currently serving on its planning board and parks and recreation committee. She also has held a seat on the Historical Landmark Commission.
“Our community is facing rapid regional growth and major infrastructure changes,” she said, “including bridge replacements scheduled for 2028. I would provide the leadership to create a 10 year strategic roadmap for our future. I would create forums that enable residents to be heard and involved in the town through continuous improvement with regards to transparency and two-way communication.”
Though the alderman race is nonpartisan, Baggett is affiliated with the Republican party. She will face off against Todd Schoen (U), Hank Miller (R), Lee Williams (R), and David Wortman (R) for two open seats.
Port City Daily asked all candidates a slate of questions about topics that are tracking high with voters and residents currently. Baggett’s answers have been edited below for clarity.
- A few things to consider this election season: A valid ID is required to cast ballot in North Carolina
- Election Day is Nov. 4, 2025, with voters required to go to their assigned precinct locations
- Early voting opens Oct. 16 and closes Nov. 1, and voters can cast a ballot at any of these four sites: Northeast Library (1241 Military Cutoff Road), Carolina Beach Town Hall’s Police Training Room (1121 N. Lake Park Blvd.), Cape Fear Community College’s McLeod Building, (411 N. Front St.), and New Hanover County Senior Resource Center’s Multipurpose Room, (2222 S. College Road). See all hours of operation here where you can also track the wait times at each early voting location.
Anyone who wants to register to vote can do so here through Oct. 10 or register and vote in one stop during early voting,
The paywall has been dropped on candidate profiles to help voters make informed decisions ahead of the election. Candidate opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily.
Port City Daily: What makes you qualified for a seat and sets you apart from other candidates?
Margaret Baggett: I started living in Wrightsville Beach 41 years ago during the summers, and four years as a permanent resident, then made it my permanent home for the last 25 years while I raised my children, one of whom plans to raise his own family here. I have been involved in Wrightsville Beach through a lot of volunteering, including — but not limited to — the Flotilla, Wrightsville Beach school, beautification projects, including working in Harbor Way Gardens.
About five years ago, I realized that I sincerely wanted to make a difference for our community but also knew that I needed to educate myself regarding our towns policies and planning, so I started attending as many public meetings as possible for the board of alderman, planning board, parks and recreation, lighting ad hoc, and bridge ad hoc. Subsequently, I was appointed to the Historical Landmark Commission, and then to the Planning Board as well as Parks and Recreation Advisory, both of which I’m currently an active member.
While serving, through collaboration and listening I have been able to get things done and achieve outcomes. And though I am a collaborator, I am not a pushover. I can be described as small but strong. Through these efforts and experience, I feel like I can contribute even more as an Alderman for the Town of Wrightsville Beach.
PCD: Parking and congestion continue to plague tourists and residents during peak season, and with population growth continuing locally, what do you think Wrightsville Beach should do to help lessen the burden of tourist traffic on the town?
MB: There is technology that is widely used, not only in Wilmington, but also across the state that could help modernize parking and traffic solutions. The town can implement three major features that would directly reduce congestion. First, a reservation system lets people secure their parking before even arriving at the beach, eliminating the need to circle in search of a spot. Secondly, availability tracking shows how many spaces are open in each lot at any given moment, guiding visitors to decide whether to make the trip before getting in their car thereby easing overall traffic. Third, flexible rates can be set to encourage parking in less crowded zones or during off-peak times. Together, these strategies reduce both circulation and rush-hour bottlenecks, ultimately enhancing safety on narrow streets like South Lumina where cars otherwise queue up, creating hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and exiting vehicles.
PCD: These issues will be compounded further when NCDOT begins to build the new bridges on Wrightsville Beach in 2028. What should the town be doing to prepare residents for this project’s impact?
MB: We need to implement modern technology as soon as possible, so that residents and visitors are aware and informed of an app where they can access and see traffic congestion and parking availability on the beach before they leave their house. We also need to make reservations available for the parking lots so that visitors can come during reserved time slots. This would help residents as traffic from visitors would be reduced. I think the town should also explore options for the residents ability to get to and from work, school, doctors appointments, etc. and not get caught in standstill traffic for hours which greatly affects their quality of life.
PCD: Wrightsville Beach is perennially confronted with questions and concerns over beach access, particularly with escalating parking costs and no public transportation offered. What options would you recommend to improve beachgoers’ access to the shore?
MB: I appreciate that people want to visit and we can improve that experience with improved access. Wrightsville Beach faces soaring visitor numbers each summer, creating heavy traffic, overcrowded parking, and inconsistent rates that frustrate both residents and tourists. Repeated attempts to raise fees, have proven shortsighted, failing to address the underlying congestion and user experience issues. As stated in earlier responses, a three-prong technology approach to parking (app for available spaces, app for reservations and variable rates) would preserve the towns welcoming spirit, while ensuring smoother parking and travel.
Also, more bike paths can be used as a way to access the beach for both residents and visitors while also allowing more people to patronize local businesses.
PCD: Last year’s parking revenue was nearly $6.7 million; it’s almost double what the town brings in from property taxes and yet parking expenses total less than $2 million. Do you think this financial setup is justified? Why or why not? Do you think the town should raise, lower or keep parking rates the same?
MB: Due to increased costs, I would keep the rates the same, or possibly raise them. In recent years, the rates have increased, and it has done nothing to mitigate traffic making daily life for the residents at times unbearable. In August alone, Hurricane Erin caused dangerous rip currents at Wrightsville Beach and ocean rescue and lifeguards had to perform 72 rescues in a single day. People need to understand that the Town of Wrightsville Beach pays for ocean rescue, lifeguards, first responders, police, trash removal, and infrastructure, including bulkhead, repair or replacement, roads, and sidewalks. The residents should not have to shoulder all of these expenses and the parking revenue helps pay for all these services, which also includes salaries, equipment, street cleaning and infrastructure repairs and replacement.
I would also like to consider looking at flexible tools that incentivize patronizing local businesses with regards to parking.
PCD: If you had to rate the status of the town’s infrastructure — streets, stormwater and water systems, sidewalks and bike paths — how would you do so? What projects do you think the town should prioritize?
MB: Some things are in good shape, including our parks and rec and new bike lanes, along with the upgrade to our water infrastructure by outsourcing to CFPUA. However, our land use plan adopted in 2018, unfortunately, is only updated every 10 years. We have almost all public access bulkheads in need of repair or replacement. Replacement can cost $600,000 per bulkhead. I would advocate for updating the plan every two years to avoid deferred maintenance and to fix before infrastructure has to be replaced. Storm drains on certain streets also need to be added to avoid flooding from heavy rain.
PCD: Beach renourishment is already on the plate for sustainability of Wrightsville Beach, but how else should the town address environmental mitigation against erosion, susceptibility to storms, rising sea levels, etc.?
MB: Enforce the laws that are already on the books — for example, no fake turf on the dunes, restrict access with signage to prevent trampling the dunes by pedestrians and enforce building setbacks.
We could also implement stormwater management by controlling through permeable surfaces and/or rain gardens as well as dune restoration, which can be done by installing temporary sand fencing to trap windblown sand and encourage dune growth. Another way is to plant sea oats, American beach grass and panic dune grass.
PCD: Wrightsville Beach has endured a lot of turnover in the last year with the resignation/turnover of its fire chief, police chief and town manager. What do you want to see these leaders in their new positions achieve for the Town of Wrightsville Beach and what priorities do you want them to put first?
MB: All three of these new hires have been outstanding. The staff seems to have been energized and working collaboratively under the new town manager. Our town manager, Haynes Brigman, in just one year has already done a lot to improve transparency, work collaboratively with all departments and has versed himself on all town affairs including the budget.
Our police chief, Jason Bishop, has been a lifelong resident and was hired internally, which has been good for the morale of his department. In 2007 and 2020, he was awarded police officer of the year, along with other recognition. He has been actively trying to get his officers to know the residents with a monthly meet a cop initiative. He is also considering more biking and walking opportunities for his officers so that they can get to know the community and vice versa. This is exactly what a small town needs.
Our fire chief, Matt Holland, was also hired internally and won a bronze recognition for excellence in training management. Under his leadership, which includes ocean rescue and lifeguards, many awards and recognition have been won under his leadership.
PCD: What is one other issue not discussed above that you have a plan to address if elected and how would you do so?
MB: In 2005 a master plan for revitalization of Wrightsville Beach was presented but never adopted. It was a comprehensive plan that included input from many local professionals, along with town officials. It laid out a vision which could be updated every two years as changes happened, and therefore adaptations that were needed could be implemented. Subsequently the Town of Wrightsville Beach CAMA Land Use Plan was adopted in 2018. However, the plan is only updated every 10 years. As things change and natural events occur, this is too long of a time not to be updated. We end up with a lot of deferred maintenance that could be repaired and more cost-effective rather than reaching a point of replacement, which is very expensive. My belief is that we should incorporate the land use plan into a master plan to be implemented in 15 years, but updated every two years. Your town, your voice.
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