Elect Hilton, Bostic, Condonto Charleston County Council

Three seats are up for election on Charleston County Council. Voters will make their choices in single-member districts, but should consider candidates' broader aspirations for the county as a whole. Elect Coakley Hilton, an Independent, and incumbents Curtis Bostic, a Republican, and Colleen Condon, a Democrat.

Coakley Hilton is running a grass-roots campaign for the North Charleston seat being vacated by Council Chairman Tim Scott. His strong business and academic background, and demonstrated commitment to improving the Liberty Hill area, recommend his election to Charleston County Council.

After a corporate career, Mr. Hilton returned to North Charleston, where he grew up, to operate a funeral home in Liberty Hill. His education in accounting and finance, as well as human resources development, has prepared him for dealing with the difficult budget questions facing council. He says his corporate experience in business operations management will help him identify inefficiency and waste in county government.

Mr. Hilton believes the county isn't getting the biggest bang for its infrastructure buck, particularly in road repairs and drainage. He says mass transit and light rail could help ease the commuting crunch. He supports more job training to improve the economic health of low-income communities and to expand opportunities for young adults.

Mr. Hilton criticizes the parochialism he has seen on council since the creation of single-member districts: "I've attended County Council meetings where they don't know what is going on in other districts." He knows the problems of his district and will be attentive to countywide issues as well.

Curtis Bostic has been an advocate for conservation and fiscal restraint during his two terms on council, representing parts of West Ashley, North Charleston and James Island. He was the architect of the county's Greenbelt Bank, which has used proceeds from the county's half-cent sales tax to leverage some $40 million from private sources to preserve thousands of acres in rural Charleston County. It's a major success story.

He has, in his words, attained a "good understanding of efficiency and core government responsibilities" — a key asset as council struggles to avoid the county's first tax hike in 13 years in the face of a looming $7.8 million budget shortfall.

Mr. Bostic advocates a regional landfill serving Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties to help solve the solid-waste problem. A regional effort could also produce revenue in recycling, he says. If a cooperative solid-waste plan can work, it could lead to other cost-saving consolidation efforts, he says.

He supports expanded express service by CARTA to densely populated areas, and greater accountability in the Roadwise program, which has yet to provide the expected level of relief.

Mr. Bostic has learned how to forge alliances on a variety of issues. As he put it: "Don't just try to rally your troops, try to work with the other side."

Colleen Condon has been a strong advocate for better planning and improved transportation in her West Ashley district and the county as a whole. She is a proponent of regional cooperation in planning and transportation, as well as solid waste and future jail expansion.

Efficiencies from regional cooperation will pay off down the road, according to Ms. Condon, who is keeping a close eye on the current budget woes. "A tax increase can't even be considered," she says. She urges council to re-examine its priorities to avoid new taxes or cuts in essential services.

She recognizes that the county plays a key role in restraining urban sprawl and has been an avid supporter of the county Greenbelt Bank. She also has helped guide the effective use of mass transit as one of County Council's representatives on the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority board. Ms. Condon has shown a bipartisan spirit in tackling the problems of county government.