Johnson offering business expertise

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Post and Courier is profiling each of the five James Island mayoral candidates this week. Profiles of the 10 Town Council candidates will appear Thursday in some editions of Your Lowcountry.

Brett "Skibo" Johnson said his experience at operating a small business will help him run the town of James Island if he becomes its next mayor.

Johnson worked at Pearlstine Distributors for 21 years and is owner and operator of Skibo's Neighborhood Grill at 1023 Harbor View Road. Johnson ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2006 but said he's better prepared this time to win and to lead.

Johnson said his experiences in the private sector give him the edge in the race. "I have experience managing money, people and time, and can bring a personal touch to the office," he said.

If elected, he said, he'll work for a smaller, more-efficient government that will better communicate with the island's people and businesses.

Under Mayor Mary Clark, the town has been at odds with Charleston County officials, who have stopped doing the ditch-clearing and dirtroad grading services they provided the town before it incorporated. Johnson insists he can negotiate with the county to get the services back, and can forge a better relationship with the city of Charleston and advance mutually beneficial efforts.

"I will make amends with Charleston County and plan to work with, and not against, other municipalities," Johnson said. But, he said, if the county continues to demand a larger payment for road and ditch services than the town can afford, he'll consider other means, including continuing to seek bids for the work.

Johnson said he thinks highway officials will get their wish and bring Interstate 526 to the island, with or without the town's consent. He said the town will fare better if it gets involved early in the interchange design phase.

"We'd be better off being a part of it and getting concessions," he said.

At least one of Johnson's proposals could rankle the city of Charleston, which shares the Island with the town of James island. Under his proposal, which would need the approval of the state Legislature, property owners on James Island who have been annexed into the city of Charleston could leave the city and join the town, and vice versa.

Johnson said he thinks there would be a tremendous movement of property owners out of Charleston joining James Island, creating a united and contiguous town.

"I plan to lobby for a new law to enable landowners to annex from city to city," he said, "and feel everyone within the 29412 ZIP code should be in the town of James Island."