Meet the five candidates running for Forest Acres City Council
Five candidates are running for Forest Acres City Council in the city’s May 13 election.
The election comes at a time when the city near downtown Columbia is experiencing significant growth and development. The Richland Mall, long a centerpiece of the city, started demolition in March 2024 to make way for new apartments and retailers. In August, Forest Acres announced that a six-acre park will also be put on the mall’s property.
Three challengers (Rob Acuff, Ellis Creel and Paige George) and two incumbents (David Black and Haskell Kibler) will look to secure one of two available council seats. The candidates with the two highest vote totals will win election barring the need for a runoff, joining two other council members and a mayor in leading the city with more than 10,000 residents.
Early voting for the election has started and continues through May 9 at the Richland County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 2020 Hampton St. in Columbia. The hours for early voting are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Forest Acres has a list of polling places for election day on its website.
The State sent the candidates a questionnaire about their goals and how they would handle the position if elected to the city council. Their responses are listed in alphabetical order.
Rob Acuff
Age: 60
Occupation/place of employment: IT Professional / Richland 2 school district
Education/school: Associates Degree in Business Management and Marketing / Midlands Technical College
Political or civic experience: None
Campaign website: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574640359896
Why are you running for city council?
I would like to make a difference for the future of Forest Acres.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be your first year on city council?
To protect our tax dollars. To keep our city safe. Make sure every voice is heard.
Major developments such as the ongoing demolition of Richland Mall to make way for a new park are reshaping Forest Acres. As a city council member, how would you make sure you are catering to the needs of those who want to see these developments continue while balancing the needs of those who desire for the city to remain a small town?
It’s the people of Forest Acres that give Forest Acres the small town feel but our people love to have new food, shops and parks in our city too.
David Black
Age: 48
Occupation/place of employment: Turf Specialist – Carolina Vistas
Education/school: The Citadel
Political or civic experience: 16 years Capitol Hill Staffer in Washington, D.C. and four years on Forest Acres City Council
Campaign website: davidforestacres.com
Why are you running for city council?
I have had the honor of serving on Forest Acres City Council since 2021. As a third-generation resident of Forest Acres I want to give back to the community where I was raised and continue to ensure it is a city that our residents can be proud to live, work, and play in. During my nearly four years on Council, Forest Acres has continued to prosper by attracting dozens of new businesses; making investments in public safety; increasing park space; remaining fiscally responsible; improving relationships with county and infrastructure partners; and starting the redevelopment of Richland Mall. I’m seeking another term on City Council to continue to represent this great city and keep moving Forest Acres in the right direction.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be your first year on city council?
I want to ensure our city continues being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars. We received another independent clean audit for our last fiscal year. We also should work with our FAPD to provide them with the proper resources to ensure the safety of our officers and residents. In addition, focusing on reducing speeding in our neighborhoods should be a top priority. We need to continue our campaign to reduce the “doughnut holes,” which are the houses within our city limits that are un-annexed to Richland County. Reducing these means a more accurate census count, which affects state funding and grants. It would also enhance our ability to provide even better amenities, improve walkability, and increase efficiency with city services.
Major developments such as the ongoing demolition of Richland Mall to make way for a new park are reshaping Forest Acres. As a city council member, how would you make sure you are catering to the needs of those who want to see these developments continue while balancing the needs of those who desire for the city to remain a small town?
I am very excited for the mall redevelopment. I am proud of the work we accomplished over the last four years to secure a developer, develop and finalize a design, and begin demolition. Richland Mall is an example of balance – retail and residential space paired with park space. We should continue following this model for future development by investing in parks, while also attracting unique shopping and dining. I value our community’s input and look forward to hearing from residents at future public forums on the mall and park redevelopment.
Ellis Creel
Age: 42
Occupation/place of employment: Palmetto Computer Consulting
Education/school: S.C. Governor’s School for Science & Math / Midlands Tech
Political or civic experience: Almost a decade of service on the Forest Acres Planning Commission (currently serving as chair), prior fundraiser for Make-a-Wish, and former vice-president of the Friends of the Metropolitan Child Advocacy Center
Campaign website: creelforcouncil.com
Why are you running for city council?
With my role at Palmetto Computer Consulting (PCC) I assist businesses and nonprofits in finding ways to make technology work for them. In a rapidly evolving environment, I think that’s a skill Forest Acres could use on council. I have an extensive history with this city: Until recently, my wife served on the Election Commission, I volunteer on the Planning Commission as chair, and my sister-in-law (who recently passed) worked for the city. This is the first place I’ve found since moving from Hemingway, South Carolina that feels like home. I am committed to teaching my young son about the power of public service by example, particularly to the place you call home! I want to make sure that our citizens have the best services, our local businesses can thrive, and that we continue to build a wonderful, connected, independent city here, especially with the $100 million dollar investment in the redevelopment of the mall.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be your first year on city council?
First, ensure the Richland Mall redevelopment fits the content and character of our city.
Second, I want to work with Columbia Water Department and our citizens to address the chronic neglect to our water infrastructure. We have road issues, however the leaks are fueling the problem and eroding our roads.
Third, I would focus energy on creating community-building spaces and activities. Having heard from over 600 homes in my canvasing thus far, these could range from community gardens, seed libraries distributed around the city, a dog park, and/or an art crawl. Utilizing funds from our H-tax, which will grow as the mall redevelopment continues, there should be resources to make Forest Acres an even more desirable place to live, work and raise a family.
Major developments such as the ongoing demolition of Richland Mall to make way for a new park are reshaping Forest Acres. As a city council member, how would you make sure you are catering to the needs of those who want to see these developments continue while balancing the needs of those who desire for the city to remain a small town?
The Richland Mall redevelopment won’t just include a beautiful park, it will encompass new retail, premiere multi-family housing, and a grocery store and maybe even a brewery. This is an amazing place to live, and I want people to be able to experience it and fall in love with it the same way that I did, 20 years ago.
Forest Drive is a corridor for I-77 and Fort Jackson residents to enter and leave Columbia. We’re at a crossroads, literally and figuratively. Forest Acres has a unique opportunity to continue to make this a city where people want to stay for a bit instead of just pass through. The tax dollars from successful businesses and new residential spaces can financially support the increased demand for services. Forest Acres is debt-free with low taxes, and we can wisely allocate increased funds to these new city centers. Our police department and sanitation department are second to none, and I want them to have the support they need to continue their incredible service.
Our citizens deserve true community spaces. That includes a park that’s large enough to host events that all ages can enjoy, a plethora of retail, a grocery store, and perhaps even a brewery. By being aware of our demographics, and making a place that can embrace the range of ages in our community, we will become stronger. From grandchildren to grandparents, I want to help facilitate a gathering environment where we can all thrive.
Paige George
Age: 45
Occupation/place of employment: Attorney / Law Office of Barry B. George
Education/school: B.S. in Computer Science, Furman University; Master’s of Engineering, University of South Carolina; Juris Doctor, Charleston School of Law
Political or civic experience: Candidate for South Carolina House of Representatives, 2010; Candidate for Forest Acres City Council, 2013
Campaign website: paigegeorge.com
Why are you running for city council?
I love Forest Acres and have lived here all my life. Forest Acres’ beauty and the people that live in Forest Acres truly inspire me. While our city may be small, I know it can achieve great things. I want to be a part of Forest Acres’ continued growth — building a Forest Acres that’s safer, stronger, and more connected.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be your first year on city council?
I feel that Forest Acres could be better served by stronger communication with those that provide Forest Acres with its utilities and roads — specifically the City of Columbia and the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Fostering those relationships to benefit the citizens of Forest Acres would be my top priority.
Parks and public spaces should reflect the pride we have in our community. Forest Acres is family-friendly. I would like to see more sidewalks so that families can safely travel to the beautiful parks in our city. I would also like to explore the possibility of adding bathroom facilities at these smaller parks to accommodate those citizens that are not closely situated to one of our parks.
Major developments such as the ongoing demolition of Richland Mall to make way for a new park are reshaping Forest Acres. As a city council member, how would you make sure you are catering to the needs of those who want to see these developments continue while balancing the needs of those who desire for the city to remain a small town?
Forest Acres may be a small city, but we can still be mighty. We need to make sure that the growth does not negatively affect our citizens on a day-to-day basis. This can be done by restricting the hours when demolition can occur. We all want to preserve the beauty of Forest Acres so that we can enjoy it. Pollution, whether it be air or noise, needs to be minimized. If efforts are taken to minimize the noise and keep our air clean, I believe that we can continue to enjoy the small town feel and attract others to enjoy our small town. That would, in turn, allow Forest Acres to benefit from the growth by increasing our revenue which can go back into our great city. Growth is inevitable but if we are thoughtful, careful and measured in our planning we can ensure that the City of Forest Acres continues to remain the city we know and love.
Haskell Kibler
Age: 44
Occupation/place of employment: Commercial Real Estate / Wilson Kibler, Inc.
Education/school: Bachelor of Arts / Hampden-Sydney College
Political or civic experience: Forest Acres City Council
Campaign website: votekibler.com
Why are you running for city council?
I am running for re-election because I love serving our community and am proud to call Forest Acres home. Since being elected in a special election in 2021, it has been my honor to serve the residents of Forest Acres, providing leadership and guidance to help our city remain the best place to work, live and raise a family. We have the best parks, schools and services. We also have low crime and great neighborhoods that support our thriving shops and restaurants. I am committed to preserving Forest Acres unique charm while addressing the evolving needs of our community. During my time on city council, I have championed initiatives to enhance public safety, advocated for our local non-profits, completed Gills Creek Memorial Park, and secured grant funding to study our primary roads. I am excited to continue working hard for our residents to make sure Forest Acres stays the vibrant, thriving city we’ve all come to enjoy and call home.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be your first year on city council?
If I am re-elected to city council, three priorities I plan to focus on are to finalize plans for the Richland Mall redevelopment and new mall park, elevate our Forest Acres identity, and improve connectivity.
Major developments such as the ongoing demolition of Richland Mall to make way for a new park are reshaping Forest Acres. As a city council member, how would you make sure you are catering to the needs of those who want to see these developments continue while balancing the needs of those who desire for the city to remain a small town?
The Richland Mall redevelopment is a generational project that will transform a blighted commercial corner in Forest Acres. Richland Mall was a 930,000-square-foot enclosed mall that failed long before the retail industry changed. With the evolution of retail, the Richland Mall site will now have a combination of retail, apartments and grocery store; along with a new five-acre city park. This redevelopment will compliment other successful commercial areas in the city. I envision the mall site transforming into a vibrant village center where residents can gather, connect and enjoy time together. This vision includes grabbing coffee at the development and taking a walk through the new mall park or meeting friends for dinner and listening to live music from the park amphitheater. These activities, among others, are missing in Forest Acres and would enhance our small town feel. The future is bright in Forest Acres, and with the support of our residents, I hope to continue the momentum that has been built during my time on city council.
