Return Incumbents in North Myrtle Beach

Saturday’s editorial offers our thoughts on the race in North Myrtle Beach:

A town without major controversy or a slate of burning issues generally indicates that those in charge are doing a pretty good job of keeping things on an even keel. So far this time around, that’s been the case in North Myrtle Beach.

While the decision to construct a new sports tourism park has generated some concern, many of the candidates we talked to over the past weeks said the bigger issue they’ve been confronting is residents who didn’t even know an election was coming up. That tells us that there’s been no major groundswell of concern about the incumbents and no anxious waiting for the next election so a new group can be put in charge. As a result, we’re happy to recommend the return of Doris Williams, J.O. Baldwin and Hank Thomas to their seats on City Council.

Each of the incumbents has the experience of city government necessary to serve the residents of the city well, and each is possessed of the common sense, intelligence and communication skills that define a good representative. Williams in particular has shown herself to be a strong voice for the residents in her time on council, often asking the questions that others leave unspoken and leading the way in communicating with residents about the city’s actions. As the city continues to grow, the development experience of both Thomas and Baldwin could serve the city well.

For those who might prefer a new face on the council, there are fine choices in each of the three races. Fred Coyne, running against Williams in the Cherry Grove Ward, can offer a wealth of experience on city commissions and is well informed and in tune with city issues. Our only hesitation in recommending Coyne, one of the best funded of the candidates, is our appreciation for the job that Williams has done and a slight hesitation about how willing Coyne would be to ask the tough questions often demanded of a council member.

Running against Baldwin in the Crescent Ward, challenger Terry Fletcher could also be a fine council member. His management experience and comfort running large operations could be a plus. But because any differences between Fletcher and Baldwin come down to very fine distinctions, we lean toward favoring Baldwin’s experience on council and his history in North Myrtle Beach.

The race for the at-large seat is somewhat similar. While challenger Tom Powell impressed us with his civic involvement, his grasp of the city’s economic issues and his drive to serve, he and Thomas agreed on most issues and distinguishing between the two is difficult. On the bridge into the Barefoot community, for instance, both agreed that a study is called for on constructing a new span into the growing area. We feel confident that either could serve the city well.

As for the other two challengers, William Ambrose and Gary Stephens, we were disappointed that both seemed more concerned with disparaging the current city leadership than with offering solutions of their own. And Stephens’ stated intention of running for the region’s new 7th Congressional District seat put his commitment to serving North Myrtle Beach in doubt.

But even if Ambrose and Stephens are discounted, North Myrtle Beach residents can vote on Tuesday confident that there are multiple strong candidates in each of the races.

 

Each of the incumbents has the experience of city government necessary to serve the residents of the city well, and each is possessed of the common sense, intelligence and communication skills that define a good representative. Williams in particular has shown herself to be a strong voice for the residents in her time on council, often asking the questions that others leave unspoken and leading the way in communicating with residents about the city’s actions. As the city continues to grow, the development experience of both Thomas and Baldwin could serve the city well.

For those who might prefer a new face on the council, there are fine choices in each of the three races. Fred Coyne, running against Williams in the Cherry Grove Ward, can offer a wealth of experience on city commissions and is well informed and in tune with city issues. Our only hesitation in recommending Coyne, one of the best funded of the candidates, is our appreciation for the job that Williams has done and a slight hesitation about how willing Coyne would be to ask the tough questions often demanded of a council member.

Running against Baldwin in the Crescent Ward, challenger Terry Fletcher could also be a fine council member. His management experience and comfort running large operations could be a plus. But because any differences between Fletcher and Baldwin come down to very fine distinctions, we lean toward favoring Baldwin’s experience on council and his history in North Myrtle Beach.

The race for the at-large seat is somewhat similar. While challenger Tom Powell impressed us with his civic involvement, his grasp of the city’s economic issues and his drive to serve, he and Thomas agreed on most issues and distinguishing between the two is difficult. On the bridge into the Barefoot community, for instance, both agreed that a study is called for on constructing a new span into the growing area. We feel confident that either could serve the city well.

As for the other two challengers, William Ambrose and Gary Stephens, we were disappointed that both seemed more concerned with disparaging the current city leadership than with offering solutions of their own. And Stephens’ stated intention of running for the region’s new 7th Congressional District seat put his commitment to serving North Myrtle Beach in doubt.

But even if Ambrose and Stephens are discounted, North Myrtle Beach residents can vote on Tuesday confident that there are multiple strong candidates in each of the races.