Harrelson takes the oath of office as mayor

The Election Commission met on Thursday, June 13, at 10:30 a.m. for the official announcement that Todd Harrelson is the new mayor of Loris.  It was official as Damon Kempski and Kenya Wright placed their signatures executing Election Commissions results.

On Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m. Kempski welcomed guests present to witness Harrelson taking the oath of office.  After Councilwoman Joan Gause gave the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance, Harrelson and his wife, Sheila, stood by Wright as she read the oath of office.  The Bible that Harrelson used to place his left hand on was his grandmother’s, Thelma “Tommie” Todd.

After taking the oath Harrelson addressed the guests.He said, “Approximately 50 years ago I was in this same building running around after the baseball season was over.”  He continued, “Standing right here, right now, is pretty special; from all that time ago until now it was whirlwind after whirlwind, in good times and bad that to find myself here with the citizens of Loris and family in the city that I love and the city where I grew up.”  He said, “I’m honored and humbled, I just appreciate all the support from everybody that’s here, and I do promise that I will do the very best I can do for the city of Loris.”  He concluded with, “I thank you, and God bless you.”

The city administration provided food prepared by Santino’s Pizza, where guests mingled and ate pizza, salad, meatballs, cakes and cookies to celebrate the new mayor.

Present at the meeting were council members Joan Gause, Jan Vescovi, city administration Damon Kempski, Brandon Harrelson and Loris Police Chief Gary Buley.  Guests included Harrelson’s family, Loris police officers, city employees, David Stoudemire and Martha Dorman.