Delegates at the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Annual Meeting unanimously elected Carol Burdette, mayor of the Town of Pendleton, as the Association’s president for 2009-10.
After the election, Burdette addressed the membership, "No matter the size of your city or town or the location, we will work together because working together is how we will get things done. As your leader I want to focus on bring partners together for win-win situations. We must be ready to work together in positive ways to contribute to the success of the great state of South Carolina. Remember, we are the government closest to the people. Let’s rise to the occasion to bring our state together for the benefit of all."
Three questions with Mayor Carol Burdette
What is your vision for the next year as you take over the leadership of the Municipal Association?
The state of the current global economy requires local and state leaders to work together to ensure our state’s future economic success. Now more than ever before, we must put aside our parochial differences and work collaboratively and regionally. I look forward to continuing the work the Municipal Association has done to bring together local elected officials with leaders in the business community as we all work toward making South Carolina more competitive.
Also in the coming year, we must work together to ensure that all cities and towns have the tools and opportunity to thrive and prosper. I’m pleased to be chairing a Municipal Association task force looking at how we can better identify and help cities and towns that may be in financial distress. Fiscal accountability and stability are more important than ever during these challenging economic times.
What do you see as the biggest challenge cities and towns face?
Our greatest challenge today obviously comes from weathering the economic challenges we face. More importantly, however, is the long-term challenge of our state’s economic future and the issues posed by continued piecemeal changes to our state’s tax policy. Stop-gap proposals such as changes to the state’s point of sale provision in our tax law have long-term implications for local governments but more importantly affect our businesses and our residents who live in lower income areas. This will be a very important issue in the 2010 legislative session.
How can cities and towns in the state take a leadership role in the state’s competitiveness efforts?
Cities and towns have to be strong, vibrant communities. As local elected leaders, we are striving to build our cities and towns as hubs of business and industry that provide the services our residents expect and demand. We are all ready to work together on positive ways to contribute to the success of the state.
President
Mayor Carol Burdette of Pendleton
First Vice President
Mayor Kevin Johnson of Manning
Second Vice President
Mayor Paul Miller of Orangeburg
Third Vice President
Mayor Randy Randall of Clinton
Immediate Past President
Mayor Rick Danner of Greer
Board members are elected to three-year terms. The board is composed of representatives from each of the 10 regional planning districts and three at-large seats.
Mayor Terence Roberts of Anderson
Representing: Appalachian Council of Governments
Term expires: July 2011
Mayor Terry Wright of Brunson
Representing: At-large
Term expires: July 2011
Councilmember Tameika Isaac-Devine of Columbia
Representing: At-large
Term expires: July 2010
Mayor Stan Shealy of Chapin
Representing: Central Midlands Council of Governments
Term expires: July 2011
Mayor Alys Lawson of Conway
Representing: Waccamaw Planning and Development Council
Term expires: August 2010
Mayor Todd Davis of Dillon
Representing: Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments
Term expires: July 2010
Mayor Ken Durham of Edgefield
Representing: Upper Savannah Council of Governments
Term expires: June 2012
Mayor John Rhoden of Hampton
Representing: Low Country Council of Governments
Term expires: July 2010
Mayor Minnie Blackwell of Hanahan
Representing: Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments
Term expires: July 2010
City Administrator Eric Budds of Newberry
Representing: At-large
Term expires: June 2012
Councilmember Susie Hinton of Rock Hill
Representing: Catawba Regional Planning Council
Term expires: June 2012
Mayor Joe McElveen of Sumter
Representing: Santee-Lynches Council of Governments
Term expires: July 2010
Mayor Thomas Rivers of Williston
Representing: Lower Savannah Council of Governments
Term expires: July 2011