Frustration brews in South Congaree amid council dysfunction, police turnover
Since military veteran James Galluzzo moved to South Congaree in 2018, he’s said he’s noticed a lack of organization and effectiveness in local government.
“There is a lot of frustration right now the town government,” Galluzzo said. “It stems from some issues with the current administration, the town administrator, the police chief, some ongoing challenges with staffing and finding people responsible and capable to conduct the business of the town day-to-day.”
A small of just over 2,300 people to the southwest of Columbia, South Conagree has its own mayor, town council and police force.
On May 14, police chief Carl Quinlan was let go after three months, replacing a chief that himself retired after just a year following a car crash. The department’s website lists only two current staff members.
On May 19, four members of the town council voted to strip their fifth member, Mayor Cindy Campbell, of the ability to preside over Town Council meetings. In a statement provided by the town’s Public Information Officer Ashley Hunter, the town said the move was necessary for the council to operate smoothly.
“The 4-1 decision is intended to preserve professionalism, dispel ongoing misinformation, maintain orderly public meetings, support town employees in carrying out their duties without undue interference and ensure that Council meetings remain focused on conducting official town business in an effective and respectful manner,” the statement reads.
Galluzzo, the chairman of the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals, said he was supportive of Campbell and accused other council members of exerting too much power and harming the town’s development with complacency and self-interest.
“I think the mayor is trying to do the right thing, there are several of us that are supportive of her initiatives,” Galluzzo said. “You just have to look at the same five families that run this town and want to control and are just afraid of change because it’s not in their best financial interests.”
In 2024, just 357 votes were cast in April municipal elections out of 1,384 registered voters according to a Lexington County election report, a turnout rate of 25.79%, far below the state’s 75% turnout that fall. Under new South Carolina law, South Congaree’s next elections will be held in Fall 2027.
Jamie Lucas, a South Carolina native who does not live in South Congaree, but served as police chief from 2001-2002 and maintains close connections in the area, said the community is a strong one, troubled by a lack of communication between citizens and officials.
“They have wonderful people there that work very hard to have and provide for themselves and I see so much potential and always have seen so much potential,” Lucas said. “The impression that I get from talking with individuals that still live in the town and also with what I read in the news is there’s a transparency issue.”
Lucas said he feels if citizens felt more able to voice their concerns to the council, things would improve.
“With public service comes a great responsibility and that is to let your citizens and the town people know and your business owners to be open and transparent about what’s going on,” Lucas said. “I know it might be uncomfortable, but that’s the expectations and rightfully so.”