Two candidates seek to fill unexpired council term in April election
by Jenny Peterson | Current Staff Writer
Two candidates are running for one open council seat vacated by longtime council member and Folly Beach local Eddie Ellis, who announced earlier this year that he was moving to St. Louis to be close to his girlfriend.
Ellis had been elected for council five times in his Folly political career for a total of 18 years and three months, he says. That included the chartered waters of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the general election planned for that spring was pushed back three months due to voter safety in a statewide order signed by the governor.
He owned a landscaping and vacation rental home management company. The special election to fill his unexpired term will be held on April 23 at the Folly Beach Baptist Church at 77 Center Street. The winner of the election will serve until November 2025.
Voters in precincts Folly Beach 1 & 2 as well as James Island 1A & 1B are eligible to vote.
“I liked serving a community that’s eclectic with all the different people. Folly Beach is a great place to live and to work and to serve.,” Ellis said. “I’ll miss Folly Beach, but I’m going to start a new chapter of my life and I’m looking forward to being a resident of Saint Louis.”
The public is invited to attend Ellis’ going-away party on April 20 from 1-5 p.m. on East Eerie Avenue between the Crab Shack and Planet Follywood. The side street between the two businesses will be closed to traffic for the event, which will include live music.
Ellis’ wish for the future of the beach community and its council is to work together.
“I’d like for the residents and the elected officials to focus on their common denominator—what they have in common rather than their differences and keep Folly funky,” he said.
Below are the candidates running for Ellis’ open seat. (Listed alphabetically by last name)
Skip Fink
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
Professional background (including any previous elected positions):
- BA Political Science/Pre-law (U of FL), and two Masters Degrees-Public Administration (Auburn) & International Relations (Marine Corps University)
- 25 year career as a Marine Corps Officer; retired as a Colonel
- Served in Viet Nam and Desert Shield/Desert Storm
- Senior staff officer at NATO
- Commanded 2 Fleet Marine Force squadrons
- Served as Dean of Academics for an advanced degree-granting military Command and Staff College
- Served on SC Governor’s Staff (5yrs) for military base closure redevelopment.
- Worked in the Defense Industry as President of a Systems Engineering Company and as a Subject Matter Expert
- Elected Vice President of a Homeowners Association
- Member of Rotary International (20+yrs); served as a Club President and currently Chairman of the Veteran’s Committee
- Serving on the Board of Directors for the Warrior Surf Foundation, a non-profit organization founded on Folly Beach, serving veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. (5yrs)
- Trustee Committee Chairman for the Folly Beach United Methodist Church (7yrs)
- Serving on the Folly Beach Design Review Board (9 years, 3 as Chairman)
- Member of Folly Beach Civic Club (9yrs)
- Active volunteer for a myriad of City events, clubs and community outreach
When did you move to Folly Beach and what drew you to the community?
My wife, ‘Sam,’ and I made the move to Folly in July 2013. Sam hails from Jackson, SC, and graduated from Clemson’s School of Nursing. During my active-duty service, I served as a Squadron Commander at Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort and following my service, joined the Governor’s staff in Columbia. Our eldest son attended the College of Charleston, prompting our frequent visits to the Lowcountry. Both of us harbored a desire to eventually retire to the area. We were struck by the relaxed atmosphere of Folly Beach and strong sense of community among its residents. Neighborhoods were welcoming, fostering close connections among neighbors who often gathered for intimate events at each other’s’ homes and at island events in the lively business district. My Florida upbringing instilled a deep love of the ocean and Folly just felt like home for us. Thus, in 2013, we solidified our decision to relocate from the DC area to Folly Beach to embark on this new chapter of our lives and immerse ourselves into the community. Folly has exceeded our expectations as the laid-back, welcoming community we hoped for. We’ve now enjoyed 11 years as Folly residents.
What made you decide to run for council now?
I’m motivated by a lifelong dedication to leadership and service, committed to serving my country, family and community and people. My extensive experience, leadership abilities, governance skills, and civility drive my genuine passion for community service, evidenced by my active involvement on city boards, clubs, and in volunteerism since moving to Folly Beach. Recognizing a shift away from our once vibrant, livable community, I advocate for safeguarding a sustainable Folly, while maintaining our welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
While I pledge to uphold the STR referendum passed by residents, it’s crucial to pivot towards effective governance beyond this divisive issue. The council’s forced referendum focus has hindered progress on other critical challenges such as the environment, safety, housing, support for seniors, parking, and traffic. I’ve entered this election to address these pressing challenges and to actively govern for our special island community’s benefit. Eager to contribute to a forward-thinking council, let’s unite to build a brighter Folly future together. Time to Press On!
Why do you think this election has been seemingly a much more civil process with less divisiveness than the previous election?
I consciously chose not to participate in the divisive social media baiting and banter that has prevailed and divided our community over the past year or so and I am committed to remain on a forward thinking, civil course throughout my campaign. I am self-funded and do not accept donations from any source to avoid ties to any special interests, preventing undue or one-sided “influence.” I want to simply be the voice of our community, residents, businesses and guests alike. Lessons from the previous campaign have led to a more civil tone, although some divisiveness persists. While acrimony has decreased, resorting to playground bullying and off-color dialogue serves no purpose and I will continue to remain above the fray. I know residents still remember the last election and some of it’s ‘characters’, but I am encouraged that this election is taking on a more civil tone. If elected, I am anxious to join Council and continue that tone of civility, character, cooperation, and mutual respect as we focus on Folly’s future.
What issue would you tackle first if elected?
Beyond my qualifications above for effective councilmanship, prioritizing strategic goals is essential. Public safety, flooding, and beach health are already city objectives and must be prioritized. However, I also advocate for two additional key priorities: 1) Affordable and Accessible Long-Term Housing and 2) Seniors’ Initiatives.
Firstly, I propose forming an “Affordable Housing Initiative” committee. While the new STR ordinance is a step forward, we need further innovative solutions tailored to Folly Beach’s unique needs. This challenge demands creative thinking, data-driven insights, and a proactive approach. Drawing inspiration from over a dozen other communities with similar challenges which I’ve extensively researched, I am motivated to share creative ideas as your councilman.
Secondly, our senior community, comprising over 37 percent of our population, faces unique challenges, particularly with transportation for essential needs like medical appointments and grocery shopping. The Senior’s Club has initiated efforts, including engaging CARTA to extend routes and collaborating with the Trident Area Agency on Aging for transportation options, but further action is needed to enhance accessibility and to support our seniors.
These initiatives underscore my commitment to addressing critical community needs and fostering a thriving, inclusive, and livable Folly Beach community for all residents.
JODY ROGERS
Hometown: I was a military baby, born in West Point, New York and grew up in Peru, Indiana. Once I moved to South Carolina, I never left. The Charleston area has been my home for over 20 years.
Professional background (including any previous elected positions):
After 30 years leading supply chains across various industries, I am retiring this month from my role as Senior Director – Global Supply Chain at Charles River. Over the course of my career, I attained a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor’s degree in Management and Communication. I moved to the Charleston area over 20 years ago to lead a start-up company that brought over 300 jobs to the area. I have achieved transformational results by leading people with seemingly conflicting goals to achieve consensus. I am prepared and committed to listening and working together with all of Folly’s constituents and council members to solve challenges the city faces.
When did you move to Folly Beach and what drew you to the community? My husband and I visited Folly for the first time in 2012, and we immediately knew Folly’s funky vibe, limited high-rise condominiums, plentiful restaurants and unpretentious neighborhoods made this beach community special. We chose to make Folly Beach our home because we wanted to live in a place where people enjoy visiting and neighbors look out for each other.
What made you decide to run again for a council position? After the November election, I watched council struggle to reach consensus on amendments to the short-term rental ordinance that were fair to people who owned property on Folly before the cap passed. The inheritance amendment was a big improvement, but the hardship amendment has many flaws. A pre-cap property owner shouldn’t have to die or be physically disabled to get an ISTR license. I’m running for council again because I believe there’s more work to be done to be fair to pre-cap property owners, in addition to improving pedestrian and traffic safety, parking, and storm water drainage.
Why do you think this election has been seemingly a much more civil process with less divisiveness? When going door-to-door and meeting new neighbors, it’s obvious that this community is still very divided. People that had their future and financial plans disrupted because of the STR cap are understandably still upset. Some people I have spoken with who voted for the cap believe the pendulum swung too far and there should be amendments to be fair to pre-cap property owners. Yet, there are others who voted for the cap that don’t want any amendments. The difference in this election versus the November election is due to the two candidates being civil and reasonable people who can listen to each other without getting defensive, even when we disagree.
What issue would you tackle first if elected? While I will keep working to propose STR amendments, I believe the most urgent issue facing our community is traffic and pedestrian safety. I would ensure the SCDOT safety study carefully looks at Folly Road coming onto the island, as well as the safety concerns on the island. The city has created a tremendous risk by allowing parking on both sides of Ashley Avenue. I would propose the city back off from the paid parking expansion so that free parking would be limited to just one side of Ashley Avenue. And I would seek to accelerate the progress of building walking paths from one end of the island to the other.
