New council member recognizes familiar face

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Newly elected Town Councilman Dr. Craig Rhyne thought incumbent Councilman Ken Glasson looked familiar, but he wasn't sure why until they talked at a council meeting on Thursday.

Rhyne attended the last meeting of the outgoing council on Thursday dressed in turquoise-colored surgical scrubs.

"I had a lot of fun running for political office. I learned a lot, and it was an enjoyable experience after all," said Rhyne, who had never run for office before.

He also learned where he remembered Glasson from before either was elected to council. Turns out that Glasson was a U.S. Marine Corps instructor at Quantico, Va., when Rhyne was there one summer as a Citadel cadet. "He (Glasson) was one of the bosses," Rhyne said.

He said he had aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot until he suffered a knee injury. Instead, he went on to become a facial trauma and reconstructive surgeon in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged as a major in 2008 and chose to return home to begin his private practice and raise his family.

Rhyne is a partner in Palmetto Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In addition, he chairs the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for Roper and St. Francis hospitals.

Rhyne's presence in the audience prompted acting Mayor Kruger Smith to quip that he had a cracked tooth and that he wondered if Rhyne could take a look at it. Smith, who is retiring from politics after 27 years on council, said "I can walk away now feeling good about the town of Mount Pleasant being in very good hands."

Council met briefly Thursday to adopt a resolution regarding the official results of the election held Tuesday. Councilman Billy Swails was elected mayor, and four new council members, including Rhyne, Elton Carrier, Linda Page and John Burn were winners in a contest that drew 19 council hopefuls. They join incumbent council members Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, Paul Gawrych, Nick Collins and Glasson. The new council members and mayor will be sworn in Tuesday.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.