Cayce hires new city manager after losing two in the last year
The city of Cayce has hired a new city manager, just over a month after its former city manager announced plans to retire less than six months into the role.
Officials for the city of a little less than 14,000 people tapped Michael Conley, who’d been serving as the deputy city manager, to take over as the city’s top administrator during an early morning council meeting Monday. The vote to appoint Conley as city manager was 3-1, with Mayor Elise Partin dissenting. Councilman Byron Thomas was not at the meeting in person and, therefore, was not able to cast a vote.
“The city has been blessed to have many great internal and external candidates with many great strengths. I believe that for the good of the organization, we had a candidate that had great strengths in supporting staff who are then able to support our citizens. ... Having said that, Mike knows that I will support him 100% and I look forward to our discussions as a team as we move forward,” Partin said during the June 23 special called meeting.
The city had narrowed down the decision to three candidates, city spokesperson Ashley Hunter told The State. Cayce will have to hire a deputy city manager, which will be Conley’s responsibility, Councilman Hunter Sox explained.
Conley started as the city’s assistant city manager, under former city manager Tracy Hegler, in May 2022 after working in various municipal roles across the Columbia area since 2006.
“Michael brings the exact kind of leadership Cayce needs right now. At this pivotal point in our city’s growth, we’re focused on being business-friendly, building strong partnerships, and driving forward economic development and revitalization. Michael not only understands that direction — he’s already been helping execute it,” Sox said in a statement.
“We are excited to have a qualified internal candidate that could be chosen. In a time of many opportunities for our city, Mike will keep a momentum that reflects that which was encouraged by citizens, business leaders and our previous city manager,” Mayor Pro-tem Tim James said in a statement.
The hiring comes on the heels of the retirement announcement of former city manager Jim Crosland, who was hired as Irmo’s new town administrator after announcing his pending retirement. Crosland was the second city manager to leave the city in less than a year and one of a number of top department heads to either leave Cayce or announce plans to in recent months — two police chiefs have left since July of last year and the finance director’s departure was announced during a May council meeting.
The city hired Conley more quickly than it filled the police chief position after Chief Herbert Blake left after three months on the job following staff’s accusations that he created a hostile work environment. After more than three months, Cayce announced the hiring of Bruce Wade, who had been the assistant police chief for the city of West Columbia, to fill the chief position.
The council’s vote was only to appoint Conley and to direct staff to negotiate a contract with him so it’s not immediately clear how much he will make in the role. Crosland made $160,000 annually in the role, with a $6,000 vehicle allowance.
Conley takes over as the city’s top administrator, responsible for leading the city’s more than 200 employees and overseeing day-to-day operations, at a time when Cayce has been mired in controversy and turnover. On top of noticeable turnover in some of the city’s leading jobs, city council infighting over everything from where to send accommodations tax money to when to enter executive session has made headlines in recent months.
The city’s mayor Elise Partin has been at odds with other council members — over things like the ‘mutual separation’ with former city manager Tracy Hegler or which organization to send accommodations tax money — and openly disagreed with city staff about where funds came from for staff retention bonuses during a June council meeting.
This story was originally published June 23, 2025 at 9:46 AM.
