Candidates want to improve city, complete unfinished projects

A special election to select a successor to the late Mayor Henry L. Nichols will be held on Tuesday, May 28, to fill the term of mayor until December 31, 2019. Four residents have filed with the city to be placed on the ballot for the May special election.

They are: Joan Gause, council member; Todd Harrelson, council member and mayor pro tem; Michael E. Suggs, council member; and Jeannie Tyler-Fox.

Joan Gause began serving the city and residents of Loris in the 1996 election for city council. She said, “I am running for mayor to help complete some projects that other mayors began as well as implement new ideas.” She stated that she will encourage citizens and leaders to work together for improvement for everyone. She hopes to improve flooding problems, dilapidated and abandoned buildings and vehicles, bring in higher paying jobs and better transportation. She said, “Prayer from everyone will bring the city together in unity, more love and respect.” Her term on council expires this year. At this time she plans to run for mayor again in the November election.

Jeannie Tyler-Fox has not held public office. She was voted the class vice president in her freshman and sophomore years in high school; she was also voted in as an officer in several clubs through her high school years. She got a taste of serving the public when she was selected to attend the Palmetto Girls State where she met former Senator Strom Thurmond and was elected mayor of my “city”. She also attended Princeton-Model United Nations in Washington, D.C. to learn negotiation and diplomacy. She said, “I am running for mayor because it has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl.” She said her recent move into the city limits of Loris gives her the opportunity and eligibility to run for office, along with the timing being right for her and her family.

“I love our town, the people, the places and the spirit,” says Tyler-Fox, “I would like to see everyone thrive, not merely survive.” She states she has a passion for Loris and some ideas she feels could be implemented to help the city progress. “I’ve spent over half of my life working in the service industry.” She said, “I believe serving others is one of my gifts. I would love the opportunity to serve and be a voice for the people of Loris and the mayor’s seat is the best place to do both.” She further stated if elected she will focus on the needs of the people and improve Loris cosmetically and financially. She said, “I will seek a grant writer to obtain state and federal grants to fund the improvements.”

The state law requires a special election to fill an unexpired term of office if, when the vacancy occurs, there are more than 180 days left in that term before the next general election. State law further provides that the special election shall be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs.

Voters will cast ballots on May 28 in the East Loris and West Loris Precincts with polls open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The election results will be certified by the Municipal Election Commission in a hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 30. A runoff election, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, June 11.

The city’s general election will be held in November. At that time a mayor and three council members will be elected to serve regular four-year terms.

Harrelson and Suggs will be featured in next week’s edition of The Loris Times.