The Summerville Mayoral race

Who will be the next Mayor of Summerville?

     Have you been following this?  It seems we have a pretty good race between Mayor Collins and Wiley Johnson.  I am very disappointed because I registered to be at the Chamber of Commerce forum tomorrow night (Tuesday, the 13th) but I just read on Wiley's Facebook page he will not be attending because the Chamber is not allowing questions about the last 4 years of Mayor Collins reign.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  If I were running for a political position I would take every opportunity to be seen and heard but if Mayor Collins is unwilling to address his last 4 years that should spark some concern as well.  It looks like there could be a debate on 10/21 in the council chambers off Cedar Street but at this point who knows who will show up.

     I'm very interested in hearing what Wiley and Bill have to say about our great town of Summerville. Yes, we have some issues that need addressed such as the hotel, traffic, lighting, and some infrastructure issues but we need to hear from both candidates in a neutral setting and one that allows for honesty and true debate.  I've reached out to both candidates to meet with me so I can post their vision and plans on this site.  Hopefully they're willing to meet and I'll get you the most updated information on them.  Be an informed voter!

     Wiley has been a resident of Summerville since 1975 according to the Post and Courier article linked here - (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150511/PC16/150519860/wiley-johnson-to-challenge-bill-collins-for-summerville-mayor).  He feels the town is going in the wrong direction and you can see his plans below for our town.

According to Collins4mayor.com here are his accomplishments:

Paid off the bonds on the existing parking garage that saved taxpayers over $500,000 in interest payments;

Purchased 53 new police cars, hired five new officers, put in an $800,000 communications system and replaced the air-conditioning system in the police headquarters

Purchased a new fire engine, built a new fire station, employed eight new firemen and began renovating yet another fire station;

Built a new office and maintenance facility for the Parks and Playgrounds Department, renovated the interior of the Cuthbert Community Center, opened two new parks — the skate park and Oakbrook Nature Trail, started a cricket team (the Summerville Sandlappers), refurbished the boardwalk at Jessen Boat Landing, resurfaced tennis courts in Azalea Park and on Laurel Street, beautified two quadrants at I-26 and Exit 199, and developed a new plan for renovation of Hutchinson Square and renovation of the old armory on Hickory Street;

Spent $5 million resurfacing roads in Pine Forest, Gahagan, Marlin Estates, Robynwyn, Newington, Corey Woods, Brownsville, old Summerville, Parish Park and Oakbrook;

Built new sidewalks on W. 1st North Street, E. Richardson Avenue, South Gum Street, Parkwood Drive, Wassamassaw Road, Woodward Boulevard and North Magnolia;

Began movies in the park at Gahagan ball fields;

Annexed Colonial Dorchester on the Ashley River;

Synchronized traffic signals on Main Street;

Expanded the Farmers’ Market;

Staged four annual Summerville Cares Days of Service that brought hundreds of volunteers out to work on projects all over town;

Worked with 500 of our citizens who came out to give us their ideas for Summerville’s next 25 years as council developed a vision plan for our future;

Established free WiFi in downtown Summerville;

Moved Municipal Court from the police station to town hall and hired new judges who are all attorneys;

Created permits to allow sidewalk dining and citizens to bring coolers to events in our parks.

From some of the letters to the editor, one might think Summerville is in chaos.

According to Mr. Johnson and his site https://onecmc.com/wileyformayor here are his plans for our town:

• Our traffic is the number one problem that needs attention. Of course, pedestrian safety with ease of circulation is an important consideration.

• The Town should hire a professional and experienced Town Administrator. Part of this can be paid for by a reduction of the Mayor’s salary from $45,000 to the 2011 level of $15,000.

• We need increased citizen participation in major decisions and spending, not decisions made by a few behind closed doors. Stop spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars on unnecessary consultant fees.

• The Town needs a top-to-bottom assessment to weed out inefficiencies and duplication of effort.

• We need increased transparency in our government, with televised public meetings, and increased disclosures on the Town’s web site.

• The Town infrastructure should be well maintained with our current tax millage remaining at the same level or lower. We should not raise taxes for pet projects without taxpayer consent. Growth should pay for itself without raising taxes.

• The Town should develop and follow proper procedures for awarding bids. Our system now is flawed. We will get rid of the Good-Old-Boy system of awarding bids!

• Our downtown and Historic areas should be preserved and polished not modified beyond recognition. No high density development in Downtown! No high-rise buildings in Downtown.