Suggs has served city for 26 years

Serving the citizens of Loris is nothing new for veteran city councilman Michael Suggs who is seeking to become the city’s next mayor. First elected in 1993, Suggs is in his 26th year as a member of council and for 10 of those years served as mayor pro-tem, presiding over city council meetings and handling mayoral duties in the absence of the mayor. During his tenure, Suggs has had the opportunity to serve on each of the city council’s standing committees gaining insight into the operation of all city departments. He has also received training through the Municipal Association of South Carolina and has completed both the MASC’s basic and advanced institutes of municipal government. Suggs is the only member of city council that has completed the advanced course of study.

Suggs says one of his priorities, if elected mayor, will be to get the overdue annual audits completed as soon as possible to determine if the city is financially sound. “We have to have a clear financial picture in order to determine our ability to move forward on projects such as improving drainage and repairing buildings. Without audited financial statements, our ability to borrow money or receive grant funds is restricted. This also impacts the daily operation of all city services including public works, public safety and recreation because a consequence of delinquent audits is the withholding of state funds from the city by the state treasurer.”

Operating all city departments as efficiently and effectively as possible is another of Suggs’s goals. “If the city operates efficiently, then our funds will stretch farther, and the citizens will get more for their tax dollars. Those of us in public service must always remember that we work for the citizens and are entrusted to spend their money wisely.”

A lifelong resident of Loris, Suggs graduated from Loris High School and the USC-Coastal Carolina College with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration before receiving his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1992. He has been an attorney for over 26 years and has worked in private practice in Loris and as a public defender.

He is a member of Loris United Methodist Church where he serves as treasurer, trustee and a member of the administrative board. Suggs has also served as a board member of the Loris Chamber of Commerce and has been a volunteer leader with the Boy Scouts of America.