3 declare they will run; 2 not seeking re-election

The filing period has not yet been set for Charleston County Council candidates, but with two council members having announced they will not seek re-election this year, three people already have declared that they will run.

Five of the nine County Council seats will be on the ballot in November; Dist. 1 (Joe McKeown), Dist. 2 (Dickie Schweers), Dist. 5 (Teddie Pryor), Dist. 8 (Curtis Inabinett), and Dist. 9 (Paul Thurmond). Inabinett and Thurmond have announced they will not seek re-election.

Thurmond's Dist. 9 seat serves much of James Island, small parts of West Ashley and Johns Island, all of Folly Beach and Kiawah and Seabrook islands.

Inabinett's Dist. 8 seat serves part of James Island, most of Johns Island, Wadmalaw and communities across southwestern Charleston County including Hollywood and Ravenel.

Candidates who announced this month that they will run for County Council are:

--Dist. 9: Joe Qualey. Qualey, an attorney, is known for his work in helping establish the town of James Island, and has served on Town Council for more than six years. He has also chaired the town's Planning and Zoning Committee.

"I have worked hard for the people of James Island and have navigated through many tough issues," he said. "I look to bring that experience to Charleston County to make it a better place for all."

Qualey, a Republican, said he hopes to bring a lawyer's thinking and a small-business person's experience to problem-solving, and said he will fight for his district if elected.

"If you want someone in your foxhole, I'm your guy," he said. "I will bring real energy and passion to County Council.

"On the tough issues, I'll be the guy on the front lines," said Qualey.

He said he hopes to help the county find inexpensive solutions to problems that might arise.

--Dist. 9: Amy Fabri. Fabri, 40, is manager of the family-run chemical company Polymer Ventures and is known for her work with Islanders for Responsible Expansion, a grass-roots group which works with local governments to reduce the harmful impacts of development while easing traffic and protecting natural resources.

"We need traffic and development solutions that won't destroy our home, our heritage, or our quality of life," she said. "If we don't take charge of our destiny, Charleston will no longer be a good place to live."

Fabri, a Democrat, serves on the board of Lowcountry Lab Rescue, a nonprofit organization that rescues Labrador retrievers from South Carolina shelters.

With Islanders for Responsible Expansion, Fabri said she led the fight to save 41 grand oaks at the intersection of Camp and Folly roads.

Fabri grew up on James Island and is a graduate of Ashley Hall and the University of South Carolina. She is the daughter of longtime James Island activist, former Charleston City Council candidate and local attorney Margaret D. Fabri and Jon Fabri. Her Web site is: www.amyfabri.com.

--Dist. 8: The Rev. Charles A. Glover of Adams Run is associate pastor of Nazerene Baptist Church in Ravenel and is a retired commercial service technician.

A Democrat, Glover said he hopes to reach across party lines if elected to see bipartisan solutions to the county's economic shortfalls. The county expects a multimillion-dollar budget deficit in the coming year, on top of budget cuts made in the current budget year that ends June 30.

Glover said that as the county braces for future budget cuts, he hopes to find solutions that will eliminate the possibility of employee furloughs.

Glover said he would have an open-door policy if elected and would encourage County Council to hold some of its meetings in communities served by the county, rather than holding them all in the county's North Charleston offices.

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Glover has been active in local issues, speaking in favor of development of a construction waste landfill in Adams Run, and also calling for the creation of a new municipality in that region of the county.

--Dist. 8: Fran Roberts. Former County Councilman Roberts said he also will seek the District 8 seat as a Republican.

Roberts, who owns a sign company, served on council before the federal court ordered its seats changed from at-large to single-member districts.

After the change in 2004, Roberts ran for re-election but lost to Inabinett.

During his time on council, Roberts' record was that of a fiscal conservative and of an advocate for property rights, particularly for landowners in rural areas.

Reach David Slade at dslade@postandcourier.com or 937-5552.