Folly “Meets the Candidates”
By Lauren Dean
The Civic Club’s “Meet the Candidates” night is a Folly tradition and it was standing room only at the Folly Beach Community Center on March 16.
The format never changes. Moderator Chris Lewis read a short bio of each candidate, who then gave a brief stump speech. Attendees wrote questions that were collected during the “refreshment break” and in round two the candidates answered these questions. Lewis asked for short questions aimed at improving Folly Beach. “And please remain civil and quiet no matter how outrageous the statements,” he quipped.
Pencils scratched furiously on the white index cards as the candidates came forward to say things residents had already read in campaign literature. They had come for answers, not more rhetoric.
During the break, residents expressed opinions on what they hoped to learn from attending the forum and if anything they heard made a difference in how they would vote.
Gay Pardee came because she didn’t know enough about the candidates and was concerned about the “party atmosphere” at Folly Beach. “I don’t think this is where we want our beach to go,” she said. “I haven’t heard enough about family values. I want to hear a candidate who wants a wholesome atmosphere for Folly Beach.”
Former mayor Bob Linville quipped that he was there because “there wasn’t no basketball on” but he added that although he already knew who he would vote for, he wanted to hear what the candidates had to say.
Laura Dunlap came to support her candidate, but found it interesting to meet everyone and hear the wide range of viewpoints. “I was surprised at the diversity of candidates in such a small town,” she said.
Ken Holland thought he had made up his mind who to vote for, but was “in limbo” after hearing the candidates speak. “Now I’m not sure,” he said. “I’ll wait until they answer the questions to make up my mind.”
Nita Rodemann had already decided which candidates would get her vote before the forum, but she thought all the candidates were well-informed and had good things to say.
Sidney Riggs said he loves politics and is extremely interested in government, particularly the government where he lives. Although he knew most of the candidates, he came to get a better feel for those he didn’t know. “I got a good three minutes worth from each of them,” he said, “now I’m ready for the questions.”
Pauline Ray hadn’t made up her mind and wanted to hear the candidates and see what they had to offer. She said she would vote for the ones she felt were “down to earth” and she wanted to see how they answered the questions.
Vince Perna lives on James Island, but works on Folly Beach. Although he can’t vote, he said what happens in the election is important to his job in real estate. He wanted to hear the candidate’s views on the zoning rewrite and controlling development.
Judith Gilbreath has been a Folly resident for less than a year. She said although she had attended several City Council meetings, she wanted to know more about the candidates for Council. “I had narrowed it down to five,” she said. “Now I know the three I’ll vote for.”
Jim Nicklaus said although everyone had done a good job and seemed sincere, he had not seen anything to sway him from his previous assessments. That could change though, he said. “I try to stay neutral until they ring the bell.”
The Mayoral candidates were first to take the podium after the break. Carl Beckmann was not present at the forum due to a previous engagement at the National League of Cities in Washington, DC.
Eddie Ellis got the first question, which asked his opinion of the proposed new County Park on E. Arctic Avenue. It bothered Ellis that no assessment had been made regarding loss of revenue or who would control the traffic and pick up the cash. “As a rule of thumb,” he said, “it’s not a good idea to establish ongoing expenditures when our revenues are declining.”
Ellis was also asked questions about paid-parking, the Beach Management Patrol and the proliferation of under-the-radar rental additions to homes in single-family residential areas. Ellis said Folly Beach currently gets a percentage of Palmetto Parking’s profits – which he termed a “risk-free” deal for Palmetto – and said it would be more advantageous for Folly to get a set amount. He would decrease the amount of money spent on seasonal augmentation of Public Safety and use that money to fund a Folly friendly beach patrol. As for the illegal conversions, Ellis said Folly Beach Building Official Eric Lutz does not have time to ride around looking for illegal conversions, but Lutz would enforce the law. “We have to rely on you to tell us about it,” he said.
Tim Goodwin was asked why he voted for the C-4 Commercial Corridor and if he still thought it was a good idea. He said the annexation was done to capture revenues from the Piggly Wiggly -which he estimated at $75,000 annually – and said he would not vote for any additional annexations. Regarding the Beach Management Patrol, Goodwin said last year was a test that showed the program was successful. He encouraged people to sign up for the volunteer patrol the City is trying to set up. He considers Community Watch Programs the best way to deal with the issue of illegal rental additions rather than having the City directly involved. “I’m not for looking in your windows to see who’s sleeping in your bedrooms,” he said.
Then came the City Council candidates, who were asked questions in a rotating manner, but whose responses are grouped together for organizational purposes in the order in which each candidate was asked his first question.
DJ Rich said he was opposed to a traffic circle at Center and Indian Streets, but would work to get a traffic light at that location and to get a recycling center on Folly Beach. When asked if he thought his position as the owner of a Center Street business (Planet Follywood) would present a conflict of interest, Rich said “Being a business owner keeps me in touch with Folly Beach citizens on a regular basis. Just because I own a business doesn’t make me pro-business any more than being a resident makes one pro-resident.”
Susan Breslin, who has been vocal about transparency in government was asked what she would do to open the City’s business to Council members and residents. She said she would update the website and try to have a structured way for residents to talk to the people who represent them such as a “Coffee with your Council” type forum once a month. She was also concerned about the fact that Folly Beach is losing permanent residents and would market Folly as a place for people to retire and to come to raise families.
Pennell Clamp, asked if he would enforce the policy of having Public Safety officers live within a reasonable distance of Folly, said with only two of the City’s 58 employees living on Folly “You have to question whether their heart is at Folly Beach,” but the island’s size and cost of living were too prohibitive to make that a requirement. Asked if he favored letting residents vote on the City Hall expansion, Clamp said that would be okay with him, but suggested voters would be better informed if they could see for themselves the cramped the working space City workers now use.
Joel Flores, a 10-year resident of Folly Beach who works on Center Street said he has the pulse of residents, business owners and tourists. “The business they bring outweighs people falling down drunk on the street, but we need more police patrolling,” he said when asked if he favors street festivals. Flores, who has been regularly attending City Council meetings for two or three years, was asked what procedures he would employ to make Council more cohesive. He decried the bickering and personal attacks he said have put issues vital to the town to the side and suggested that members meet more often outside of Council chambers.
Laura Beck was asked what she would do to change the image of Folly as a party beach. “Having a good time and having a family beach are not mutually exclusive,” she said. “It’s about responsibility and moderation. No one wants a drunken party beach, but parents like to go out at night and have a drink.” Regarding the recent change to once-monthly full Council meetings, Beck said it slows down the process but ordinances now require only two readings for passage and work sessions are productive, but she thought there should me two meetings a month at which votes were taken.
Bob Hatcher, who owns houses in both Folly Beach and West Ashley, was asked how he could be aware of summer problems when he rented his house out in the summer. “The fact that we’re not sleeping here every night doesn’t mean we’re not aware of what’s going on,” he said.
Paul Hume was asked what he would do to help move traffic on and off the island. “We’re building two new bridges,” he said. “We need to change them to three lanes – two coming in early in the day, two going out later in the day.”
Regarding how he would enforce laws for year-round residents who leave their trash and recycling receptacles out for weeks at a time, his response was that neighbors should look out for one another and Folly doesn’t need garbage police writing citations.
The moderator thanked the audience for coming and wished the candidates good luck with their campaigns. Another “Meet the Candidates” night came to an end and the crowd headed over to the Crab Shack or the Planet for a beer and a shrimp basket. Political opponents bellied up to the bar together to continue the debate. It’s Follitics as usual.
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