A few years ago the Town decided to remove the familiar blue trash barrels from our beach access points. The impact was immediate - and it wasn't pretty. Without them, trash quickly piled up on the sand, left behind by visitors who had nowhere to put it.

Day after day, my family and I found ourselves picking up cans, bottles and food wrappers just to keep our beach access clean. It wasn't just about appearances - it was about protecting the very environment that makes Wrightsville Beach special. 

After countless phone calls, texts and even social media posts calling attention to the issue, the barrels were finally brought back. But the lesson was clear: when Town Hall makes decisions without thinking about how they affect residents, the disconnect shows.

Our community deserves representation that listens, respects the people who live here and puts residents first in every decision. Because something as simple as a trash barrel should never come at the expense of our quality of life.