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Candid Interview with Pender County’s First Female Mayor w/ Olivia Dawson (EP #62)

  • May 18
  • 2 min read

Rebel Rootz Show Episode #62 with Olivia Dawson.


Watch the full episode on Youtube:


In this episode of Rebel Rootz, Evonne Varady sits down with Olivia Dawson, the Mayor of Burgaw, North Carolina, for a candid conversation about leadership, service, and small town impact.


Olivia shares how her love for community led her from local events and tourism to becoming the first female mayor of Pender County. She opens up about running a small town, staying grounded, balancing family, and why her work has always been about service over status.


Evonne and Olivia also talk about why small towns are often underestimated, what makes Burgaw special, and how thoughtful growth can create real opportunity.

Tune in to hear what it really takes to lead a small town with purpose.


Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer + Intro

[01:29] Meet Olivia Dawson

[03:04] Community & Service

[03:48] Running for Mayor

[05:33] First Female Mayor

[08:21] Reality of the Role

[11:38] Staying Grounded

[13:27] Mayor Mode

[15:30] Why Small Towns Matter

[17:01] What Makes Burgaw Special

[18:48] Goals for Burgaw

[22:41] Building Downtown

[25:05] Advice for Leaders

[27:23] Growth Between Terms

[32:06] Rapid Fire

[34:08] Blueberry Festival


Key Takeaways:

• “I just had a yearning that I wanted to give back or to do something grand.” ~ Olivia Dawson

• “I didn’t run on being a woman. I really ran on that I love my community.” ~ Olivia Dawson

• Leading a small town means handling everything from sidewalks and roads to business, housing, water, and growth. ~ Olivia Dawson

• “I have to take care of myself to bring the best version of myself.” ~ Olivia Dawson

• Small towns are often underestimated, but they are where people live, build community, and create real opportunity. ~ Olivia Dawson

• “It depends on if you’re helping your small town reach its potential. It matters.” ~ Olivia Dawson

• “Just because government runs slow doesn’t mean everything has to run slow.” ~ Olivia Dawson

• It is easy to sit outside and have opinions. It is harder to be the one making the calls. ~ Evonne Varady


Keep In Touch with Olivia Dawson:


Resources Mentioned:

Town of Burgaw: https://burgawnc.gov/ 

North Carolina Blueberry Festival: https://ncblueberryfestival.com/ 

Town of Burgaw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurgawNC/ 

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