Balancing Growth

Emerald Isle is growing—and that’s a good thing. We’re seeing more full-time residents than ever before, and with that comes a growing desire for more community services, events, and everyday conveniences. Years ago, you’d recognize almost everyone you passed in town; now, there are many new faces—and that’s part of our evolution.

The balance lies in how we grow. Just because something hasn’t existed here before doesn’t mean it shouldn’t—it may simply be that it wasn’t needed until now. As Mayor, I’ll support open dialogue about how we maintain what makes Emerald Isle special while planning thoughtfully for the future.

But it’s not just our town that’s growing—surrounding communities like Cape Carteret, Swansboro, and Newport are expanding too. That means more day visitors and more shared use of our most cherished asset: the beach. We need to actively plan for how we remain a welcoming, well-managed coastal town for both residents and visitors. These conversations won’t be one-time events—they should be ongoing, respectful, and rooted in community collaboration.