Swails can build consensus

Mount Pleasant has changed dramatically over the last three decades, growing from a small town of about 14,000 into a sprawling suburban community of more than 65,000. As the town continues to cope with that sweeping transformation, Tuesday's election will bring dramatic changes to its government with voters picking a new mayor and four new council members.

In the mayor's race, Billy Swails is the choice of former Mayor Harry Hallman, acting Mayor Kruger Smith and the four incumbent council members not on this year's ballot.

He's our choice, too.

A life-long Mount Pleasant resident, Mr. Swails has a firm grasp of the challenges facing the town -- and a proven knack for facilitating effective compromises on difficult issues. He served on Town Council from 1976-84 before returning to the body three years ago. His broad public service also has included stints on the Charleston Area Regional Development Authority, Patriot's Point Development Alliance and Charleston County Transportation Committee.

Mr. Swails, as chairman of council's finance committee, has been a force for fiscal reason. Citing the continuing economic squeeze, he warns: "The gravy train's over." Hailing tough calls council has already made by freezing town hiring and limiting pay hikes, he says the town must continue to "look inward" to maintain core services without tax hikes.

He says council "paid too much" for Shem Creek property two years ago, "but we had to do something" to protect "the jewel of Mount Pleasant." He adds that improving public access to that site can't occur "until we identify money for operations and maintenance" -- a lesson learned from the town's new Memorial Waterfront Park, which he said "is worth every penny."

He supports the Coleman Boulevard revitalization plan, offering reassurance that it will be implemented "a little at a time" to minimize potential concerns about traffic and building-height changes.

He stresses the urgency of keeping and attracting small businesses in a town with a 20 percent commercial vacancy rate. An insurance agent, he persuasively points to his success as a small business owner in the town as a valuable asset on that front.

He says no new road should be built in the town "without a bike path and a sidewalk." He cites the wide spectrum of his endorsements, on and beyond council, as evidence of his ability to bring people with opposing views to common ground: "I'm the one that can build consensus."

That makes Billy Swails the one who should be Mount Pleasant's next mayor.