Full name: Annie Drees
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: https://www.anniedrees4hollysprings.com/
I1) In 300 words or less, please give our readers your elevator pitch: Why are you running? Why should voters entrust you with this position? What prior experience will make you an effective member of the Holly Springs town council?
My family and I moved to Holly Springs in 2017. Since that time, I have volunteered with a number of non-profit organizations. From these experiences, I have seen firsthand the real challenges many of us face, from access to resources to the effects of rapid growth. These experiences inspired me to make a bigger difference in my community, which led me to run for Town Council in 2023.
For the past two years I have been honored to serve on Town Council. From this experience, I have a comprehensive understanding of the role and the amount of time necessary to do a thorough job. As a career-long electrical engineer, I dive into the details on Town Council to make sure our ordinances and development plans are thoughtful and consistent. I listen, research and evaluate solutions from multiple points of view as I navigate the important decisions that shape the future of Holly Springs. My experience, dedication and critical thinking all make me uniquely qualified for this role. I see the big picture and focus on the details because real change happens when vision meets execution.
2) What would your priorities be as a member of the town council? Please identify three of the most pressing issues Holly Springs currently faces and how you believe the town should address them.
As a member of Town Council, my top priorities are transportation, housing affordability, and environmental sustainability.
Transportation: Holly Springs needs both long-term investments and immediate fixes. I will continue to prioritize road funding through our Intelligent Transportation System, which synchronizes traffic signals and improves safety in real time. I also support expanding the PAYGO program, which funds smaller, urgent projects like pedestrian safety, streetlights, and sidewalk connections. In addition, I’ve championed regional trail connectivity and supported our new micro-transit program, giving residents more options to move around town affordably.
Affordable Housing: Holly Springs must develop a long-term housing strategy. I would push for regular housing inventories to track supply and gaps, stronger incentives for developers to include affordable housing, and exploration of public-private partnerships. Our current utility allocation plan offers incentives, but they aren’t being used—we need to re-evaluate and make them more effective so working families, teachers, and first responders can live where they work.
Sustainability: Rapid growth requires careful stewardship of our natural resources. I support setting measurable energy-reduction goals. Preserving green space and protecting natural habitats must remain central to how Holly Springs grows.
My vision is for a Holly Springs that moves safely and efficiently, offers housing that meets the needs of our residents, and grows in a way that protects the natural environment we all value.
3) What’s the best or most important thing the town council has done in the past year? Additionally, name a decision you believe the town should have handled differently. Please explain your answers.
One of the most important things the Holly Springs Town Council has done in the past year is actively pursue economic development projects in the life sciences. This strategic, multi-year effort is now paying off with major companies choosing to locate here. These businesses will generate significant tax revenue that can support our infrastructure, services, and overall growth, while also creating an ecosystem of opportunity that will benefit residents for years to come.
On the other hand, while the Council did complete an affordable housing study, no direct action was taken as a result. Housing affordability is one of the most pressing challenges in Wake County, and Holly Springs is behind the curve. We need a long-term plan to ensure people who work here—teachers, first responders, young families—can also afford to live here. When the study was completed, the Council had an opportunity to take meaningful steps forward. I believe we should have acted then, and I’m committed to making this issue a priority going forward.
4) President Trump is working to ramp up deportations and curtail visas. At the same time, the state legislature has passed laws requiring agencies to cooperate with ICE. What do you think the town council can or should do to ensure safe, welcoming communities for immigrants in light of these policies?
Holly Springs should always be a welcoming and safe community for all people. Our Town Council can help ensure that by setting clear expectations for how we uphold both safety and dignity. For example, I support requiring a warrant before ICE can enter any business, including town facilities. This approach protects due process while also maintaining trust between residents and local government.
Beyond that, the Council should continue to foster strong partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and faith groups to make sure immigrant families feel supported and informed. By demonstrating fairness and compassion, we strengthen connections with our entire community.
5) As climate change leads to more intense rainfall, communities are at greater risk of inland flooding, such as the historic floods in parts of the Triangle this summer. How would you like the town council to address climate resilience, particularly flooding?
Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and we must plan ahead to keep our community safe when disaster strikes. Holly Springs has already taken steps, such as implementing yard waste carts that reduce blocked storm drains and the flooding they can cause. The town also has strong requirements for developments located upstream or downstream of existing or potential flood sites.
Looking forward, we should continue to use zoning as a key tool for resilience. That means safeguarding flood-prone areas by avoiding problematic variances, keeping floodplains as open space or designed wetlands, and ensuring new homes are built only on high ground—with modified setbacks when needed to protect natural flood buffers.
Wake County has invested considerable effort in the One Water Plan that maps out increased storm runoff and projected flooding risks in Wake County. Partnering with the county on their efforts to drive more flood resilience in the county and as follows in Holly Springs, is an effort I fully support.
By combining smart infrastructure with careful planning, Holly Springs can reduce risk today while building long-term resilience to the heavier rains we know are coming.
6) Federal funding cuts this year have hit the Triangle particularly hard, from cancelled grants to layoffs, and local government officials are having to make difficult decisions about what to fund and how. What are your ideas for how the Holly Springs Town Council can prioritize competing funding needs, close funding gaps, and balance the financial burden on residents?
As my mom always said, “Every yes is also a no.” That lesson is especially true when it comes to budgeting. Each dollar we spend is a choice, and the Town Council must prioritize investments that provide the greatest long-term benefit to our community.
In my two years on Council, I’ve been a strong advocate for infrastructure. With construction costs rising, setting aside funds early for key projects helps protect residents from even higher costs down the road. At the same time, I believe partnerships are one of our most powerful tools for closing funding gaps. By collaborating with neighboring communities, we can share costs, access the latest technologies, and achieve solutions that no single town could afford alone.
For example, Holly Springs is already partnering with Sanford, Pittsboro, and Fuquay-Varina on water treatment expansion, and we’re exploring future wastewater treatment collaboration with Cary and Apex. These joint ventures allow us to build sustainable systems while keeping the financial burden on residents as low as possible. I will continue to champion this approach—prioritizing smart, cost-saving investments and regional partnerships to ensure our budget decisions balance growth, sustainability, and fairness for our community.
7) Describe what sustainable growth and development mean to you. Additionally, what is another municipality you believe has made smart decisions related to growth and development that could be similarly implemented in Holly Springs?
To me, sustainable growth means balancing the needs of current residents with the pressures of future growth, all while staying true to Holly Springs’ long-term vision. It’s about making sure that as we expand, we preserve our green spaces, protect our natural habitats and resources, and invest in our infrastructure that will serve us well into the future.
That’s why I’ve advocated for setting clear goals to reduce energy use and for reorganizing the Tree Advisory Committee into a broader Environmental Advisory Board—so every development proposal is reviewed through the lens of environmental impact. I’ve also worked to restructure our contract with Harnett County to give Holly Springs more investment in our drinking water supply, because access to sustainable water is fundamental to growth.
Infrastructure is another key piece. Last year, I recommended additional property tax revenue to accelerate collaboration with the DOT, because road improvements are moving far too slowly. I’ll continue to push for stronger investments in our roads, trails, and transportation options—like the micro-transit system we’ve already budgeted to launch in 2026. The next step is to connect those transit options with our neighboring towns.
We can learn from Charlotte, which has made forward-thinking, sustainable choices in its development planning—integrating transit, green space, and economic opportunity. Holly Springs has the chance to follow a similar path, growing in a way that is smart, balanced, and sustainable for decades to come.
8) Holly Springs is one of the only towns that has not adopted Wake County’s non-discrimination ordinance, which protects residents from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, and more. Would you support the adoption of the ordinance? Please explain your position.
Yes, I support adopting the Wake County Non-Discrimination Ordinance. Everyone in Holly Springs deserves to feel safe, welcome, and protected from discrimination—no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or background.
During my term on Council, I asked Wake County to provide an update on the ordinance’s effectiveness and any potential costs, because I believe in making informed, data-driven decisions. Unfortunately, the majority of Council voted against even hearing that update. I was disappointed, because we can’t responsibly lead without looking at the evidence.
From what we know, the ordinance has been effective countywide, with very few complaints and no hidden costs. That’s why I would vote to adopt it here in Holly Springs. Passing the NDO would not only unite us with the rest of Wake County, it would also send a clear message that our town stands for fairness, inclusivity, and equal protection for all.
9) In what ways should Holly Springs work to promote economic development? What are your goals for Holly Springs’ downtown and what does the town need to do to achieve those goals?
Economic development in Holly Springs should mean creating opportunities for both large employers and small businesses; while making sure our growth enhances the quality of life for residents. That’s why I voted last October to expand the Downtown Investment Grant program, increasing access for more small business applicants. After a year of implementation, we’ll review the program, and look for additional opportunities to expand the applicant pool and make a more meaningful different for small businesses.
For downtown specifically, my goal is a vibrant, walkable district that attracts the right mix of retail, dining, and entertainment while preserving the unique character of Holly Springs. To get there, we need to address infrastructure limitations that create cost barriers for prospective businesses, and take proactive steps to attract the kinds of development that serve our community best. The Holly Springs Downtown Area Plan includes lots of big ideas including an enhanced Mims Park, a permanent home for the Farmers Market, a Festival Street, and more parking. As we continue to make progress on this plan, development will follow.
Finally, we must look ahead to cultural growth. Our town has outgrown the current Cultural Center. Over the past year, I’ve been working to build support for reimagining it into a larger library and performing arts space that can serve as a true hub for our community. This will take time and resources, but by starting the planning process now with Wake County, we can ensure Holly Springs invests in a downtown that reflects our values, supports our economy, and strengthens our sense of community.
10) With major companies expanding and investing in Holly Springs, including Genentech, Fujifilm and Amgen, the town will need more housing to support its workforce. What should the town do in order to provide this needed housing, especially for lower income families who will be working in service jobs in these facilities?
With major companies like Genentech, Fujifilm, and Amgen investing in Holly Springs, we must ensure that the people who work here—from scientists to service workers—can also afford to live here. That means developing a long-term strategy for affordable housing.
First, we should conduct regular housing inventories every two years to identify supply gaps and adjust zoning or development priorities accordingly. Second, we need stronger, more effective incentives for developers to include affordable housing in their projects. Our current utility allocation plan offers incentives, but they aren’t being used. By re-evaluating the water resource management plan and creating a policy to include affordable housing in new developments, we can make these incentives more attractive and impactful.
In addition, we should actively pursue public-private partnerships that bring new tools and resources to the table. Affordable housing is a countywide challenge, and Holly Springs must be proactive in creating policies and partnerships that meet the needs of our growing workforce.
As we grow, we need to grow from the bottom up so no community is left behind. If we want our community to thrive, we have to make sure the people who serve it every day can afford to call Holly Springs home.
11) If there are other issues you want to discuss, please do so here.
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