Cayce official won’t seek reelection following months of tension on city council
Tim James, the mayor pro-tem of Cayce, won’t seek reelection in November, he announced on social media Thursday.
James, who started his current run on council after being elected to represent district one in Cayce in 2020, made the announcement following months of tension among city leaders and high job turnover for some of Cayce’s top positions. Since July of last year, the city has seen two police chiefs, two city managers and its finance director leave.
“God has blessed me with health and a heart for service, and I firmly believe that as long as we are able, we should serve others. For me, holding public office has always been about stewardship, not ownership — and part of stewardship is knowing when it’s time to pass the torch,” James said in a Facebook post.
The move comes after the city’s five-person council has gone back and forth over $44,000 in accommodations tax funding since June and as tensions between council members and the city’s longtime Mayor Elise Partin have increasingly grown more tense. The council voted 3-1, with the city’s longtime Mayor Elise Partin dissenting, to send all of its acommodations tax money, funds pooled from taxes on hotels and overnight stays, to the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
The move snubbed the two other local tourism-boosting organizations that had applied for funding: Experience Columbia and Capital City/Lake Murray Country. The city council has subsequently argued over whether to approve the chamber’s budget for spending the money, with Partin complaining the organization isn’t clear with how it uses the funds.
James, who also serves as president and CEO of the chamber, recused himself from the vote. He was called on by Partin, during a July 8 council meeting, to leave the dais and answer questions about the group’s proposed budget in a tense moment between the pair.
“I don’t think that’s proper for me to do tonight, Mayor,” James said after Partin requested James answer questions following a presentation by a different employee of the chamber.
“It’s perfectly legal ... I’ve checked with the Municipal Association attorney, you’re perfectly fine to stand up for your chamber,” Partin responded.
It’s unclear whether the tension on council played a part in James’ decision to not seek reelection. He didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
James, who grew up in Cayce and began his law enforcement career with the city in 1983, had previously served as a councilman from 2010 to 2015 before moving to Florida for a job. When he moved back to Cayce, he was reelected in a special election in 2020.
James announced in March that he will leave his position at the chamber at the end of 2025.
“Cayce is undoubtedly stronger because of his leadership and commitment,” City Councilman Hunter Sox said of James in a statement. “It’s been an honor to serve alongside him and learn from his example. Tim is a true public servant and a proven leader — I have no doubt he’ll continue to make a difference wherever he’s called to serve next.”
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM.
