The three newcomers headed to Charleston City Council after Tuesday’s election are likely to bring new perspectives that may sting a bit for freshman Mayor William Cogswell.
For the last two years, Cogswell has been able to operate quietly in many ways, with paltry media outreach to reporters and an increased use of private sessions to talk about public business out of earshot of residents. Accountability and transparency, one former city employee has said, have not been friends for Cogswell, a developer.
But the election of three City Paper-endorsed candidates may yield a refreshed interest in more openness, based on surveys they completed in the fall.
Newcomers Ben D’Allesandro, Aaron Polkey and Leslie Skardon won landslide victories Tuesday in races for Charleston City Council on Tuesday. Polkey walloped eight-term District 4 councilman Robert Mitchell and D’Allesandro beat longtime District 6 council member William Dudley Gregorie. On James Island, Leslie Skardon faced down two challengers to win. All three won by a margin of about 20 points. Here’s what each said about government transparency in surveys:
Polkey: Said he would support private council sessions only within the narrow confines of state law and “object when scopes of discussion stretch Freedom of Information Act beyond its good-faith intent.”
D’Allesandro: “I believe transparency is essential to public trust. … Our business should be conducted in the open.”
Skardon: Said she believed public input is critical in decision-making. “I would hope we use executive sessions minimally and only when justifiably necessary.”
District 10 incumbent Stephen Bowden, also endorsed by the newspaper, backed efforts for more accountability: “We all need to strive for transparency in our decision-making at all times.”
Also in Charleston, incumbents Kevin Shealy, who faced one challenger, and unopposed council member Mike Seekings won their reelection bids, according to unofficial results.
Other Charleston County poll results
Mount Pleasant: Second-term Mayor Will Haynie also won 60.3% of the vote in a two-way race with opponent Curt Thomas. Two fresh faces — Alexandra Crosby and Kathryn Whitaker — won seats and will join veteran council members Mike Tinkey and John Iacofano after placing in the top four slots in a field of nine. Crosby won a spot by getting just 18 votes more than newcomer Perry Rourk, with about 6,000 cast for each.
Folly Beach: Newcomers Elton L. Culpetter and Chris Bizzell will be in a runoff after garnering 36.6% and 30.8% respectively in a five-way race to replace outgoing Mayor Tim Goodwin. Voters cast more than 1,200 votes.
Isle of Palms: Incumbent Mayor Phillip Pounds will go to a runoff with challenger Scott Pierce after getting just under 50% of votes each in a three-way race.
Sullivan’s Island: Incumbent Mayor Patrick O’Neil faced no formal opposition, but won reelection with 54% of the vote after more than 400 voters cast write-in ballots.
Awendaw: Newcomer Chris Crolley will be the town’s new mayor after a plurality win.
Lincolnville: Mayor Enoch Dickerson won 48% of the vote — just under the majority to win reelection. He’ll face Tyrone Aiken in a runoff.
Mayors re-elected: Voters reelected four mayors who faced no opposition: Kiawah Island Mayor Brad Belt, McClellanville Mayor Rutledge Leland III, Rockville Mayor Riley A. Bradham and Seabrook Island Mayor Bruce Kleinman.
CPW: Former Charleston City Council member Kathleen Wilson won a seat on the Commission of Public Works for Charleston by grabbing 53% of votes in a contest with Barbara Dungee Acobe.
Across the county, about 19% of voters turned out in municipal elections, which was about what was expected as off-year elections tend to generate more voter apathy than engagement. Of 191,653 registered voters in the county, 36,471 people went to the polls. Runoff elections, when needed, will be Nov. 18.
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