diff --git a/api/data/config.ini b/api/data/config.ini
index f726a5c..7086d3d 100644
--- a/api/data/config.ini
+++ b/api/data/config.ini
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ user = tam3
 password = tam3
 database = tam3
 
+[tickets]
+default_pref = TEXT
diff --git a/api/repos/tickets.py b/api/repos/tickets.py
index 6ae9825..919e35b 100644
--- a/api/repos/tickets.py
+++ b/api/repos/tickets.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from .template import Repo
+from settings import read_config
 
 @dataclass
 class Ticket:
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@ class Ticket:
     first_name: str = ""
     last_name: str = ""
     phone_number: str = ""
-    preference: str = "CALL"
+    preference: str = read_config()["tickets"]["default_pref"] or "CALL"
     changed: bool = False
 
 class TicketRepo(Repo):
@@ -37,4 +38,4 @@ class TicketRepo(Repo):
         for t in tickets:
             self.cur.execute("REPLACE INTO tickets VALUES (%s, %s, %s, %s, %s, %s)", (t.prefix, t.t_id, t.first_name, t.last_name, t.phone_number, t.preference))
         self.conn.commit()
-        return {"detail": "Tickets posted successfully."}
\ No newline at end of file
+        return {"detail": "Tickets posted successfully."}
diff --git a/api/settings.py b/api/settings.py
index a8d7055..b0d5c8b 100644
--- a/api/settings.py
+++ b/api/settings.py
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ def read_config():
             "password": os.getenv("TAM3_DB_PASSWD", "tam3"),
             "database": os.getenv("TAM3_DB_DATABASE", "tam3"),
         }
+        config["tickets"] = {
+            "default_pref": os.getenv("TAM3_DEFAULT_PREF", "CALL")
+        }
         with open(config_path, "w") as f:
             config.write(f)
         return config
diff --git a/webapp/src/lib/server/settings.js b/webapp/src/lib/server/settings.js
index a98a411..ce69b8d 100644
--- a/webapp/src/lib/server/settings.js
+++ b/webapp/src/lib/server/settings.js
@@ -2,18 +2,22 @@ import { env } from "$env/dynamic/private";
 import fs from "fs";
 
 export function readSettings() {
-    if (fs.existsSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH)) {
-        const rawFileData = fs.readFileSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH, 'utf-8');
-        const fileData = JSON.parse(rawFileData);
-        return fileData;
-    } else {
-        const fileData = {TAM3_REMOTE: env.TAM3_REMOTE || "", TAM3_REMOTE_KEY: env.TAM3_REMOTE_KEY || ""};
-        fs.writeFileSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH, JSON.stringify(fileData, null, 2));
-        return fileData;
-    }
+  if (fs.existsSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH)) {
+    const rawFileData = fs.readFileSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH, "utf-8");
+    const fileData = JSON.parse(rawFileData);
+    return fileData;
+  } else {
+    const fileData = {
+      TAM3_REMOTE: env.TAM3_REMOTE || "",
+      TAM3_REMOTE_KEY: env.TAM3_REMOTE_KEY || "",
+      TAM3_DEFAULT_PREF: env.TAM3_DEFAULT_PREF || "CALL",
+    };
+    fs.writeFileSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH, JSON.stringify(fileData, null, 2));
+    return fileData;
+  }
 }
 
 export function writeSettings(settingsObj) {
-    fs.writeFileSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH, JSON.stringify(settingsObj, null, 2));
-    return "File written successfully."
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+  fs.writeFileSync(env.SETTINGS_PATH, JSON.stringify(settingsObj, null, 2));
+  return "File written successfully.";
+}
diff --git a/webapp/src/routes/api/tickets/[prefix]/[t_from]/[t_to]/+server.js b/webapp/src/routes/api/tickets/[prefix]/[t_from]/[t_to]/+server.js
index 6f27379..da58bca 100644
--- a/webapp/src/routes/api/tickets/[prefix]/[t_from]/[t_to]/+server.js
+++ b/webapp/src/routes/api/tickets/[prefix]/[t_from]/[t_to]/+server.js
@@ -4,33 +4,51 @@ import { tickets } from "$lib/server/db/schema";
 import { eq, and } from "drizzle-orm";
 
 export async function GET({ params }) {
-    const env = readSettings();
-    let n_t_from = parseInt(params.t_from), n_t_to = parseInt(params.t_to);
-    if (env.TAM3_REMOTE) {
-        const res = await fetch(`${env.TAM3_REMOTE}/api/tickets/${params.prefix}/${n_t_from}/${n_t_to}/?api_key=${env.TAM3_REMOTE_KEY}`);
-        if (!res.ok) {
-            return new Response(JSON.stringify({details: "Unable to fetch tickets."}), {status: res.status, statusText: res.statusText})
-        };
-        const data = await res.json();
-        return new Response(JSON.stringify(data), {
-            headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
-            status: 200, 
-            statusText: "Tickets fetched successfully."
-        })
-    } else {
-        let r_dict = {};
-        for (let i=n_t_from; i <= n_t_to; i++) {
-            let data = await db.select().from(tickets).where(and(eq(tickets.prefix, params.prefix), eq(tickets.t_id, i)));
-            if (data[0]) {
-                r_dict[i] = {...data[0], changed: false};
-            } else {
-                r_dict[i] = {prefix: params.prefix, t_id: i, first_name: "", last_name: "", phone_number: "", preference: "CALL", changed: false};
-            }
-        };
-        return new Response(JSON.stringify(Object.values(r_dict)), {
-            headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
-            status: 200, 
-            statusText: "Tickets loaded successfully."
-        })
+  const env = readSettings();
+  let n_t_from = parseInt(params.t_from),
+    n_t_to = parseInt(params.t_to);
+  if (env.TAM3_REMOTE) {
+    const res = await fetch(
+      `${env.TAM3_REMOTE}/api/tickets/${params.prefix}/${n_t_from}/${n_t_to}/?api_key=${env.TAM3_REMOTE_KEY}`,
+    );
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      return new Response(
+        JSON.stringify({ details: "Unable to fetch tickets." }),
+        { status: res.status, statusText: res.statusText },
+      );
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    const data = await res.json();
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify(data), {
+      headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+      status: 200,
+      statusText: "Tickets fetched successfully.",
+    });
+  } else {
+    const ticket_pref = env.TAM3_DEFAULT_PREF || "CALL";
+    let r_dict = {};
+    for (let i = n_t_from; i <= n_t_to; i++) {
+      let data = await db
+        .select()
+        .from(tickets)
+        .where(and(eq(tickets.prefix, params.prefix), eq(tickets.t_id, i)));
+      if (data[0]) {
+        r_dict[i] = { ...data[0], changed: false };
+      } else {
+        r_dict[i] = {
+          prefix: params.prefix,
+          t_id: i,
+          first_name: "",
+          last_name: "",
+          phone_number: "",
+          preference: ticket_pref,
+          changed: false,
+        };
+      }
+    }
+    return new Response(JSON.stringify(Object.values(r_dict)), {
+      headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+      status: 200,
+      statusText: "Tickets loaded successfully.",
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/webapp/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte b/webapp/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
index bec1f86..47ca1f9 100644
--- a/webapp/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
+++ b/webapp/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
@@ -58,6 +58,24 @@
 
 <br />
 
+<hr />
+
+<div>
+    <h2>Local Settings</h2>
+    <p>These settings will only apply if you're operating in local mode.</p>
+    <div>
+        <div>Default Ticket Contact Preference:</div>
+        <div>
+            <select bind:value={stagingSettings.TAM3_DEFAULT_PREF}>
+                <option value="CALL">CALL</option>
+                <option value="TEXT">TEXT</option>
+            </select>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+</div>
+
+<br />
+
 <div class="flex-row">
     <button class="styled" onclick={saveChanges}>Save</button>
     <button class="styled" onclick={cancelChanges}>Cancel</button>