SURF CITY — Jillian Rodrigues de Miranda, semi-retired chef, is eyeing one of two seats open on Surf City Town Council.
It’s Miranda’s first time seeking public office.
“I was encouraged to run for Surf City Town Council because I am passionate about the town, and I am angry that the current council is so flippant with taxpayer dollars,” Miranda said. “There is so much the current council does now that is not in the town’s or taxpayers’ best interest. It doesn’t need to be baby Myrtle Beach, and I will do my best to see that it doesn’t become that.”
Though the council race is nonpartisan, Miranda is affiliated with the Democratic party. Four candidates are running, including incumbents Hugh Cannady (U) and Jeremy Shugarts, in addition to Andreas “Andy” Pleil (R). Daniel Blevins also filed to run but withdrew his candidacy.
Port City Daily asked all candidates a slate of questions about topics that are tracking high with voters and residents currently. Miranda’s answers have been edited only 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 register and cast a ballot at the Cooperative Extension Auditorium, 801 S Walker St., or Surf City Community Center Gym, 201 Community Center Dr. Click here for hours.
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?
Jillian Rodrigues de Miranda: I truly care about the town and keeping it a family-friendly, cool beach town that it is. No one comes into the job with anything other than life experience and, hopefully, common sense.
I have been involved in politics my entire life working for candidates with my mom and older sisters. I have studied politics and seen firsthand how it works. But, in reality, no one comes to any political job knowing all the ins and outs; it’s a steep learning curve and I am prepared for just that. It doesn’t take a degree in mathematics to look at that budget and see the red flags all over it.
In addition, I possess a strong ethical and moral compass that will keep me not only grounded and my faith but focused on how I can serve the town and citizens well and honorably. I have nothing to gain or to profit from serving in this role, as some do — I have no agenda at all. I just want to serve.
PCD: The current Surf City Town Council recently approved a 30% tax increase, a decision generating significant public feedback. What is your philosophy on fiscal responsibility for a municipality? What specific strategies would you implement to ensure the town’s long-term financial health and sustainability?
JRM: Yes, well, that was just an egregious move on their parts. To do such a thing an hour away where no one could oversee it was shameful.
I have reviewed the budget thoroughly and have found ways to safely cut hundreds of thousands of dollars without touching essential services. The spending is off the hook! The way they allocate money to the departments needs to change. It leaves a million or two just sitting there doing nothing.
Plus, the thing that really chaps my hide, while small, is indicative of how they think. They gave a $55,000 (over two years) raise to one town employee while amid the budget “crisis” and tax hike. He may be very nice and good at his job, but really?
PCD: The Surf City Town Council recently adopted a new strategic plan identifying a need to expand water and sewer capacity and address road congestion. What is your top infrastructure priority in both these areas — water/sewer and road congestion — for the town in the next four years, and how will you ensure it is funded and completed on schedule?
JM: What we need to do first is repair and fine-tune the infrastructure we have in place and make sure that it is working at top efficiency. Only then should we turn our attention to anything new.
I would advocate not adding more development until we clarify that it benefits the town and how. The developers need to understand that it is a privilege to build here and act accordingly. I would like to review the permitting process and the fees, which seem very low.
Then we need to make sure that if a new build requires additional infrastructure that it is paid for by the developer and ceded back to the town at no cost. Unlike other deals made by this council that shell out millions of dollars to buy back sewer infrastructure, I don’t think that is right.
PCD: As Surf City’s population grows, so does the demand for public services like law enforcement, fire rescue, and parks and recreation. How do you plan to ensure these departments have the resources to keep pace with the town’s growth and continue to provide a high quality of life for all residents?
JM: Our town’s services are strong, and we need to keep them that way by spending smart and paring back where we need to. We have to look at the vacant positions and decide if they really need to be filled and also look at redundancies in staffing. No one wants anyone to lose their job, but the town and its residents come first.
As I’ve said, I’ve looked at the budget and contrary to what the current council says, there is money there for all we need. We just can’t be wasteful.
PCD: Some citizens describe beach nourishment as a temporary solution to a long-term problem. With the increasing frequency and intensity of storms, how will you address public concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the town’s coastal resilience strategy?
JM: I think that nature will be nature, and we must be proactive and think long-term about this issue. I am not an expert in this area, but I sure would like to see what those experts, if they’ve been asked, have said over the years. Both short- and long-term. Are we spending money with wisdom? Some local towns have asked for and received help from the federal government, and I would like to investigate that as well. No one wants to see here what is happening with the Outer Banks. The beach is essential to our livelihoods and the quality of our lives. I feel strongly that we must protect what we have for as long as we can.
PCD: Some residents are concerned the current pace and scope of development are not aligned with the town’s long-term vision. What are some actions you would support on council to ensure that future development is strategically managed to protect Surf City’s community character and serve the public’s best interests?
JM: I would like to see all planning and development of new structures cease until we can ascertain if they are good for the town. What do these buildings and/or businesses bring to the town? What’s the benefits they bring? As I stated earlier, building here should be a privilege and developers should pay for their privilege. I think they should pay for their own infrastructure and cede back to the town, we should not be buying or adding any infrastructure for builders.
PCD: What is one other issue not discussed above that you have a plan to address if elected and how would you do so?
JM: I’m concerned about the multi-use trail proposed by Councilman Shugarts. According to him, it’s his “passion.” While sidewalks are needed for areas like Batts Road with heavy foot and bike traffic, especially for the kids going to the park, a trail from Highway 17 to the bridge would be costly to build and maintain. Purchasing the easements alone is very costly.
It could also attract troublemakers and create safety issues. And while he says there would be patrols, call boxes and lights, walking paths in other areas have proven to be prone to litter and vandalism. Despite his protest that it would be patrolled and be closed at night, when has a closed sign ever stopped troublemakers?
Additionally, and perhaps equally important, is the fact the project would plow under acres of precious wetlands and increase light pollution in neighborhoods where there is already too much light in the backyards at night. I know Councilman Shugarts is concerned about his legacy after his time as a councilman, but I am more concerned about the long-term effects on the town.
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