CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) -- With a 3-2 vote by Carolina Beach Town Council, you have to pay to park at Carolina Beach year round, starting in the fall of 2022.

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - For the first time in Carolina Beach history, voters have chosen the town’s first female mayor. Current town council member LeAnn Pierce is the new mayor-elect after receiving 1,025 votes. Tom Elicson came up short, only getting 759 votes. The votes are unofficial until they are canvassed by county elections officials. “I got to say I’m really excited to be a part of making history, you don’t get many chances in your life to make history and it’s been made tonight here in Carolina Beach and I’m just honored that I’m able to be a part of that," says mayor elect LeAnn Pierce.

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - The town’s first female mayor was sworn in by Carolina Beach town council Tuesday night. LeAnn Pierce took the oath in front of council and is now the official town mayor. “I’m actually honored to have that title to be the first woman mayor in Carolina Beach. I hope that I can be an example for other young ladies so that they will see that they can aspire to their goals and be what they want to be in the future as well,” Pierce said. Pierce and the newcomers say one big goal they have to continue beach re nourishment projects along the coast.

Many beach towns saw their best tourism year during the pandemic, and in some cases, their populations grew. Loretta Boniti talks with Mayor Leann Pierce of Town of Carolina Beach, and Mayor Craig Bloszinsky of Town of Kure Beach about how are they managing with the growth. BY LORETTA BONITI NORTH CAROLINA PUBLISHED 11:30 AM ET JUN. 20, 2021

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - Balancing private property rights with the need to protect the environment is a challenge local governments must face and one way they do that is through tree ordinances. In Carolina Beach, there has been a cry from residents for town leaders to take a more active role in protecting trees but a proposed bill could make that more of a challenge. House Bill 496 would strip the rights of cities and counties to enact tree ordinances unless the General Assembly gave them explicit permission to do so. It’s a bill that towns across the state are speaking out against. Carolina Beach Mayor LeAnn Pierce said the trees in the town are an important part of the community and are part of what gives the town its charm. But, right now, the town does not have any sort of tree preservation ordinance. Moreover, there are some landscaping standards that the town enforces but when it comes to any prohibitions on cutting trees, there are none. It’s a fine line that the town must balance between government overreach and land rights.

CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - Carolina Beach Mayor LeAnn Pierce will not seek reelection this year and instead is eyeing a seat on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Pierce announced the decision in a Facebook post Tuesday. “It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Carolina Beach for the last eight years on town council, and the last two of them as your mayor,” Pierce said. “After much thought and consideration, I have decided that I will not seek reelection for mayor but instead, in December when my term is up, I will file to run for New Hanover County commissioner.”