By Maddy Wagner, News Editor 

This November’s municipal elections have brought new representation to local boards, and for three First Flight High School students, they’ll see first hand how local government works now that their parents have been sworn in as newly elected officials.  

On the Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners, junior Jude Sproul’s dad, Ben Sproul, has taken the top post as mayor, with sophomore Maren Ingram’s mom, Ivy Ingram, serving as a commissioner. In Nags Head, senior Taylor Brinkley’s dad, Kevin Brinkley, will serve on the Board of Commissioners.

The three were sworn into their new positions earlier this month, and for these students, watching their parents run for election and knowing they are now part of important decision-making in the community has impacted them greatly. Their parents’ campaigns have also taught them a lot about politics and about Dare County as a community. 

Ingram reflected during election week about what it’s like to have a mother as a newly elected commissioner.

“It’s kind of weird, but it’s really cool to know that she’s up there and making some decisions and just being there in the community and for the town itself,” Ingram said. 

But Ingram acknowledges that it was an odd experience during the campaign to have her mom’s name advertised all over the town on campaign signs. 

Ingram said she believes the job is a great fit for her mom, and says her mom loves being a part of the community. 

“How caring she is about everything like the environment and the people (in the community),” Ingram said. 

A big part of the election, Ingram explained, was “realizing how much of the community supports my mom and is behind her and just knows her from the various things she’s done,” Ingram said. 

For Brinkley, she noted that campaign season was hectic in her household.

“Just all the campaign signs we had to order, dealing with all the stuff my dad had to write, getting the signs out, people calling him and figuring out what houses to put them at,” Brinkley said.

But with all that chaos, Brinkley learned some lessons about running for office. 

“You have to be really involved in the community, and really be able to devote a lot of your time to the community, and be able to talk to them,” Brinkley said. 

Brinkley believes that this job will suit her dad’s outgoing personality well.

“He is very good with the community. He likes to meet new people and he’s not shy to introduce himself to people he doesn’t know,” Brinkley said 

For Sproul, campaign season didn’t change his life too much, but he said his dad brings important qualities to his newly elected mayoral position. 

“I believe he thinks of others before himself and that, I think, is the best quality he has,” Sproul said. 

He also weighed in on what makes a good elected official. 

“The people in the office who create the least amount of problems for others are the ones who should be at the top,” Sproul said. 

And for these three First Flight students, their parents are making a difference in Dare County.

Junior Maddy Wagner can be reached at 21wagnerma13@daretolearn.org.