There’s a lot of agreement among mayoral candidates for the post-Keith Summey era about pressing, major issues. They key in on North Charleston’s big need for more affordable housing, a safer city and continued economic growth. Rightly so.
What sets apart the candidacy of former Police Chief Reggie Burgess is an eye to other considerations, such as having a seamless transition from Summey, first elected in 1994, to the new mayor.
“This is not to be taken for granted,” Burgess wrote in a City Paper survey offered to all candidates. Five of 10 filled it out and qualified for consideration of our endorsement.
“Our city saw governance breakdown in the early 1990s as the long Mayor-John-Bourne-era ended. This must be avoided. Municipal services must be maintained and even improved.”
Municipal government, in fact, thrives when it effectively provides great local services, such as public safety, garbage collection and filling potholes. Failure to pay attention to what citizens want can be dangerous for those elected to represent them. Burgess gets that.
Burgess also knows about public safety, a key concern in North Charleston, which has had an outsized murder rate in national comparisons — even though other violent crime has gone down.
“Public safety will always be our priority,” Burgess said. “But we must not only address crime, but the reasons behind crime. This leads to addressing the socio-economic issues that lead people to commit crimes. This includes better jobs, education and recreation opportunities.”
Burgess also said he would focus as mayor on improving the quality of life across the city from its poorer, historic neighborhoods to newer, wealthier enclaves. Among his commitments: building grocery stores to eliminate food deserts; improving community centers that need repairs; partnering with developers to build more affordable housing; and investing in small business incubator programs.
While all of the candidates running to replace Summey offer some good ideas for the next council to consider, Burgess has the leadership experience and savvy to pull the city together in new, exciting ways for the future. We heartily endorse his candidacy.
Endorsements for North Charleston City Council
About two-thirds of candidates in city council races filled out a survey about North Charleston issues to qualify for consideration of an endorsement. You can read their answers online.
The City Paper endorses these city council candidates in contested races:
- District 2: Kenneth Ray. *
- District 3: Monica Mumme
- District 4: Richard Hayes
- District 5: Belinda Thomas Swindler
- District 6: Nefertiti Brown
- District 7: Dan Gregory
- District 8: Greg Perry
- District 10: Aaron Hicks
Go to the polls Nov. 7 and cast a ballot for candidates who you think will best represent you and your family. It’s the most important tool that you can exercise to keep our democracy strong.
* An editing error led to Mr. Ray’s name not being in the print edition. We apologize for the omission.
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