Local politics may not always make the headlines, but its impact reaches into every corner of our daily lives, from the quality of our schools to the safety of our neighborhoods. At The TeenView, we believe these decisions affect not just today’s residents, but the next generation growing up in our community. That’s why we sat down with Madison mayoral candidate Margi Daly to go beyond campaign flyers and slogans, and hear directly about her background, priorities, and vision for the city. Through this conversation, we aimed to understand how her ideas could shape the Madison we will inherit.

In a race that will determine the direction of one of Alabama’s fastest-growing cities, mayoral candidate Margi Daly brings both the grit of New York and the perspective of a seasoned public servant. Born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island, Daly moved through the East Coast living in New York City in the 1970s and later in New Jersey, before settling in Madison 21 years ago. Her career began in the medical field, moving from a secretary to a medical technician, and later expanded into the restaurant industry, where she worked her way from the bottom up.

Margi Daly's political career took root in New Jersey, where she served as both a City and County Commissioner as well as a member of the Alcohol Beverage Commission. She oversaw 535 liquor license cases, enforced laws at multiple levels, and saw firsthand the dangers of alcoholism and gang violence. After 9/11, Daly sought a quieter life in the South, touring communities until she chose Madison as her home. Her path into Madison politics began with attending city meetings and witnessing what she describes as “tyranny” under a city manager system early on in her time in Madison. This led her to start a campaign where she helped raise awareness and began educating the public on the corruption she witnessed in the city. She helped rally a successful effort to remove that structure, with 73% of voters siding against the city manager model.

When asked why she’s running for mayor, Daly cites her desire to make Madison affordable again, avoid excessive taxation, and increase transparency. She warns of the recently passed state bill allowing property tax increases of more than 7%, as well as the push from some current leaders to continue taxes originally meant for the creation and construction of James Clemens High School. The current Madison city audit later revealed to her that Madison faced over $1.22 billion in debt until 2054, a figure that solidified her belief that both senior citizens and younger generations risk being priced out.

When discussing how she would balance Madison’s rapid growth with maintaining a strong sense of community, Daly emphasizes that residents must feel comfortable approaching their council members. She believes in rebuilding trust, improving direct communication, and listening to public concerns on growth, infrastructure, and green space.

   Given Daly’s upbringing and career in the tristate area, she has recognized similar patterns of spending between Madison and Jersey City. During her time in New Jersey, she recalls that many developers would give donations to government entities in return for tax abatements. This led to consumers absorbing the cost of most city projects, raising citizen’s taxes even higher. While what is happening in Madison is different, Daly still believes that there is a similarly big issue regarding affordability in Madison. According to the city audit, the Trash Panda Team was given a $1,500,000 bond by the city to construct the stadium. This included a $350,000 maintenance fee; however, Daly states that the city has not seen this money yet, and it has become a “burden on the taxpayers.” 

  Similarly, Daly criticizes projects such as the ramps leaving the Trash Panda Stadium for their inability to help the city of Madison. “Neither of the ramps touch down in Madison,” Daly cites, noticing that while these ramps spent a great amount of tax payer dollars and time to complete, they do not directly help Madison City. When the amount of time to complete a project is taken into consideration, it is true that many construction projects in the area are running behind or left stagnant. Daly details a plan to increase the reach of our public works facility, which would entail the direct hiring of a night crew for roadwork, allowing for projects to be finished more swiftly. 

  In addition to lowering taxes at a contractual level, Daly also mentions an eagerness to work with the Chamber of Commerce to allocate funding that would improve quality of life and place. “I appreciate the Chamber of Commerce here in Madison,” Daly says with an impressed tone. 

     When asked about youth interaction with local government, Daly provided many examples of how Madison’s youth could become more involved. Daly wishes for the entire community to “feel comfortable with the council.” To achieve this, Daly wants to ensure that all council members will be open for communication. Whether this be through emails, open meetings, or even council floor livestreams, Daly has many ideas to bring not only the youth into the government, but the rest of the community as well. 

     Daly has many concerns surrounding the youth of our city, especially when it comes to mental health. Daly details her familial history with mental health, citing her personal experiences as catalysts for her deep emotional attachment to finding a solution. With few resources in the community, Daly sets out to reconstruct a system she observed in Jersey City: Family Relation Constituent Services. While there are similar help systems in place in Alabama, Daly shows a desire to expand its reaches in regards to mental health practices. This system would allow affected individuals and their family members to reach out for help directly from a government-sponsored body. 

Daly also believes that it is key to our community that more students get involved in local government. That could mean visiting City Hall to shadow a council member, bringing attention to issues at a council meeting, or just volunteering regularly. However, Daly states, “you have to do it for the right reason, many politicians are narcissists.” This is intended as a call to younger residents to not only help out, but to do so to aid the entire community. Daly herself believes she follows this maxim, primarily because of her campaign style. While other candidates have accepted donations from large development companies and board members, Daly states that she owes “no one,” so she has no hiring or city payment obligations. Using this evidence, Daly believes that she is for the people of Madison only, and not for herself, as she would see no monetary payout, unlike her competitors. 

In regards to the School Board, Daly sees the potential for great change. Daly believes that many appointments to the board are the product of “nepotism,” and a “who you know” system. She, however, believes she could adjust this to best fit the needs of the people. She mentions a survey system to figure out how parents want School Board members to be chosen. Her ideas include elections, parent-based appointments, and open floor discussions. Daly’s primary goal with the school board is to increase transparency and parent interaction to create a team that will make the best decisions to aid Madison’s students.

For many young people, local politics can feel distant, and something that happens in council chambers and budget meetings, far removed from daily life. But as Margi Daly’s campaign makes clear, the decisions made in City Hall can shape everything from the taxes our families pay to the quality of our roads, schools, and mental health resources. Her emphasis on transparency, accessibility, and student engagement isn’t just campaign talk, it's a call for the next generation to show up, speak out, and learn how local government works. Whether it’s shadowing a council member, attending a public meeting, or bringing youth perspectives into community planning, Daly’s vision offers concrete ways for students to take part.

The issues she raises — affordability, mental health, and educational transparency — will define the Madison we inherit, regardless of who the mayor is. And if we want that future to reflect our values, we can’t wait until we’re old enough to vote. We need to start paying attention now, because the Madison we help shape today is the one we’ll live in tomorrow.