Burn, Freeman, Kent, Reilly for council

Four candidates stand out in a large (19 people), strong field for Mount Pleasant Town Council.

John Burn is a lifelong Mount Pleasant resident who says the town's main problem is that "it's spending more than it's taking in." A business owner, Mr. Burn recognizes that's not a viable fiscal option, stressing that the town needs to look for greater efficiencies in its operations without cutting essential services.

He added that over the long term, it needs a stronger initiative to encourage new business, which would provide greater employment opportunities and expand the city's tax base.

He also advocates more cooperation with the county and nearby municipalities to augment services at lower cost. For example, East Cooper needs more emergency medical transportation, which a cooperative effort might provide.

Mr. Burn is a former president of the Executive Association of Greater Charleston and a state board member of the Coastal Conservation Association. Both affiliations represent areas of expertise and commitment that he can use on behalf of Mount Pleasant's fiscal health and quality of life.

George Freeman rightly says, "Mount Pleasant needs to be a destination, not a thoroughfare. We need to increase wages so that people can live and work here."

A retired project manager for a computer software firm who is now in real estate, Mr. Freeman wants to enlist the support of the state for economic development. Meanwhile, the town should do more for "keeping it the kind of place that people moved here for." He calls the growth cap "the smartest thing the town ever did," slowing development before Mount Pleasant forfeited its identity. He says another way to enhance that identity would be to bring in the nearby unincorporated areas and their 10,000 residents into the town.

Mr. Freeman, born and raised in Mount Pleasant, has long been active in civic affairs, currently serving on Charleston County Planning Commission, the regional land use board of the Council of Governments and the county Greenbelt Advisory Board. He would be a well-informed member of council.

David Kent would bring valuable leadership skills and a self-described ability to "think outside the box" to council. Though he's never run for office before, the Clemson graduate, who grew up in Bennettsville, has been active in community endeavors since moving to Mount Pleasant more than two decades ago. Past president of the Charleston Trident Home Builders' Association and the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, Mr. Kent has insights on how to promote sustainable, reasonable residential growth. As a small business owner, he also has insights on how to make the town more attractive to other small businesses.

While the town has been fortunate on the fiscal front, he warns that "money will be tight" in the coming years, forcing tough choices over how to answer this question: "How much can you shrink government without reducing services?"

He advocates more centrally located recreational fields, an expanded senior center and "a joint venture" including developers, builders and the town to provide more workforce housing. He also suggests working with the school district to explore the possibility of varying school hours to reduce the peak-hour traffic congestion that bedevils the town.

Tom Reilly is known to many town residents as the former soccer coach at Wando High School. A 30-year resident, he also has long been involved in local greenspace initiatives and is committed to keeping intact the qualities that provide Mount Pleasant's small town feeling, despite its growth.

"I'm not an advocate of 'bigger is better,' " the retired educator says. "We need more quality than quantity."

Mr. Reilly wants more opportunities for cyclists and pedestrians to alleviate traffic woes. Additional recreational activities should dovetail with more access for the growing number of older residents. He also supports an expanded public transportation system on their behalf.

Mr. Reilly has served on the town's task force on education and on committees to develop plans for urban parks and greenspace. He has a Ph.D in psychology from the University of Southern California and is an adjunct professor at The Citadel. He organized and is chairman of the state's all-star soccer classic.

Mr. Reilly has made significant contributions to the community and is ready to continue that good work on Town Council.