Election 2025: Meet Leland Town Council candidate Bill McHugh

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — The 2025 municipal election is underway, and Leland voters will soon decide who will serve as the town’s next council members.

To help voters learn more about where each candidate stands on key local issues, WWAY sent a questionnaire to all Leland Town Council candidates. The questions cover topics such as growth and development, public safety, housing,  and transparency in government.

Not every candidate responded to our request. For those who did, we are publishing their responses in their entirety, to give voters a direct look at their priorities and perspectives before heading to the polls.

Background and Motivation

1. Tell us a little about yourself — your background, career, and connection to Leland.

I’m married to the love of my life, and we have a bright and beautiful two-year-old daughter. In addition to being your Councilman, I’m an attorney working in Contract Management overseeing the development and negotiation of contracts for clinical research, helping to bring life changing and life saving drugs to market. I moved to Leland in 2018 because it was exactly the place I wanted to put down roots, a community full of potential and promise.

2. Why are you running for Leland Town Council, and what inspired you to seek public office?

I ran in 2021 because I saw a community at an inflection point. Leland was growing fast and in need of thoughtful leadership. I wanted to help shape that growth with a clear plan and long-term vision. I ran on a platform of building a safe, smart, and sustainable future, and I’ve delivered on that promise. My goal remains the same: to keep Leland moving forward responsibly.

3. What are the top three priorities you would focus on if elected?

1) Continued proactive planning and investment. I want to ensure we invest wisely in Public Safety, infrastructure, and parks/greenspace.

2) Smart Development: We’ve made many strides in improving development practices in Leland. We have banned burning from land clearing, passed a buffer ordinance, and updated many of our rules and practices to make them align with a safe, smart, and sustainable future. We need to do more by taking steps to address tree protection and flood zone development.

3) Community Engagement: Build on our progress in transparency and ensure residents feel seen, heard, and well-informed.

Growth and Development

4. Leland has experienced rapid population and housing growth over the past decade. How do you believe the town should manage future growth while maintaining its character and quality of life?

Growth is and will remain our greatest challenge. We can’t stop it, and we can’t control it but we can manage it by being proactive in our planning and using our zoning ordinances to ensure that what is built reflects our community’s values. We should continue to prioritize preservation of green space, because once it’s gone, you’ll never get it back. We also must continue to plan and invest in walkable and bikeable infrastructure to allow our residents to enjoy what Leland offers without requiring a car for every trip.

5. What is your vision for responsible development and infrastructure improvements, including roads, traffic management, and utilities, in the coming years?

Infrastructure must keep pace with growth. Once you fall behind, you never catch up. In my first term, we’ve focused on improving road connectivity, implementing our Integrated Mobility Plan, and launching the Safe Streets for All initiative. These efforts help manage traffic and improve safety. We must continue updating our zoning ordinances to ensure all development meets Leland’s high standards.

6. How do you view the town’s annexation strategy and its impact on existing residents and services?

Annexation in North Carolina is always voluntary. Leland’s approach is more rigorous than most, allowing us to set clear standards for development. When land is going to be developed anyway, it’s often better for it to be under our jurisdiction so it’s built to our standards and contributing to our tax base. That said, we must be careful not to overextend our boundaries or strain town services.

Public Safety and Services

7. What steps would you support to ensure that police, fire, and emergency services keep pace with Leland’s growth?

This has always been a top priority of mine, and the results show it.
We’ve expanded and improved our Police and Fire Departments significantly. We added a Power Shift to our PD, doubling Police presence at the busiest 12 hours of every day and maintain starting salaries that are among the highest in the region, allowing us to recruit the kind of officers, and more importantly, the kind of people we want to protect us.
Our Fire Department has been upgraded to a Class 2 ISO rating, putting us in the top 8% of departments in the state and lowering homeowner’s insurance rates.
We must continue proactive investment to keep Leland safe as we grow

8. How can the town better partner with Brunswick County and surrounding municipalities to improve public safety and emergency response?

We already have strong mutual aid agreements and cooperative relationships with neighboring departments. I’d like to expand that collaboration, especially in emergency management and disaster response to strengthen our collective preparedness in this flood and hurricane-prone region.

Economic Development

9. What types of businesses or industries would you like to see grow in Leland, and how should the town attract or support them?

Residents consistently say they want more sit-down restaurants and retail, and that’s happening with Marshalls, Ulta, and Texas Roadhouse on the way. We’re also adding hotels that will attract more dining and retail options. Beyond that, I want to recruit life sciences and pharmaceutical companies. These industries already have a North Carolina presence, fit Leland’s strengths, and bring high-quality jobs and economic opportunities to our community.

10. How do you see Leland balancing residential expansion with commercial and job growth?

Leland has limited commercial space, so we must protect it. The Jackey’s Creek annexation helps expand that capacity, but we must continue preserving commercial zones to avoid converting them into more housing. This approach fosters a business-friendly environment that attracts the kinds of restaurants, shops, and employers residents want. Our recent Life Sciences Summit and the recruitment of Cygnus Technologies are examples of the progress we can build on.

Quality of Life and Community

11. How should Leland invest in parks, green spaces, and recreation opportunities as the population grows?

Over the past four years, we’ve expanded and renovated parks and preserved nearly 1,000 acres through conservation efforts, including the last undisturbed Live Oak stand on the Brunswick River. We should continue acquiring land for future parks and protected spaces to ensure that as Leland grows, we retain the natural beauty that defines us.

12. What role do you see the town playing in supporting community events, cultural activities, and local small businesses?

The town does support community events and cultural activities, like the North Carolina Rice Festival. We host many events throughout the year like Fall Fest, Founders Day, and Leland in Lights. I would love to see us expand those offerings to strengthen our sense of community. I believe this would also help our small businesses thrive by attracting visitors.

Transparency and Leadership

13. How will you ensure transparency and communication between the Town Council, staff, and residents?

We have made great progress here over the last four years, but we still have a lot to do. We’ve improved our website, which has lots of information on everything from the budget to events, to town projects. We are also working on a town app that will help consolidate all of that into an easy-to-use platform that allows us to proactively communicate with residents who sign up.

I also want the town to increase in-person engagement opportunities and create a way for residents to not only share their thoughts and opinions but share their experience and expertise. We have quite the brain trust in Leland, and I know many people are ready to jump in and be involved.

14. What do you think the town is doing well right now, and where is there room for improvement?

We are doing an excellent job with public safety. We have an excellent Police Department, and recently added a “Power Shift”, which doubles Police presence during the busiest 12 hours of the day, every day. Our Fire Department has a Class 2 ISO rating, putting us in the top 8% of the state.
We’re excelling in public safety and infrastructure. Our Fire Department’s Class 2 ISO rating and the Power Shift in our Police Department show our commitment to safety. Our newly implemented 5% annual road resurfacing program keeps town streets in great condition.
Where we can improve is resident engagement. Not just by making information available but making it easy to find and understand while ensuring our residents feel heard.

15. What makes you the best candidate to represent the people of Leland?

After nearly four years on Council, I understand both the issues and the processes required to solve them. I’ve built strong relationships with neighboring municipalities, county officials, and state partners to move Leland’s priorities forward. My background in law and contract negotiation helps me find creative, effective solutions even within the limits of local authority. I have the experience, relationships, and vision to keep Leland moving in the right direction.