Youth, experience distinguish candidates in West Columbia special election
Voters in West Columbia’s District 3 are voting Tuesday to fill a seat on city council.
The seat has been vacant since Casey Hallman resigned this past summer. The Gray Collegiate Academy assistant principal moved outside the city limits and had to give up her seat after 10 years on the council.
Running to replace Hallman in the nonpartisan race are former West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton, longtime city resident and small businessman George Crowe, and realtor Ashley Bennett Johnson.
The winner of the race will serve until the next regular election in 2025.
District 3 covers the northwestern corner of the city, including the Westwood Hills neighborhood. It is mostly north of Sunset Boulevard, west of Botanical Parkway and east of Interstate 26.
George Crowe
Age: 69
Occupation: Director of facility and ground maintenance, South Carolina State Fair
Education: Brookland-Cayce High School
Political or civic experience: Eight years on the West Columbia Zoning Board
Website: Facebook.com/GeorgeCroweWeCo
Why are you running for West Columbia City Council?
I am running to serve the people of the city I have lived in all my life and to preserve the city as a great place to work, live and raise a family.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the West Columbia City Council?
We need to address unacceptable and unsafe road and traffic conditions in our neighborhood and main streets. I plan to be a strong advocate for the community to make sure the Carolina Crossroads project — the widening of I-26 — once completed, is viewed as a success in our district with as little unnecessary disruption as possible. I want to build trust and integrity in our city council. I will be straightforward and transparent. This is how I’ve done business for many years and is how I think public servants should act. I also think public servants should work for the public good and always try to keep the cost to taxpayers as low as possible.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to the council?
I think I have the right experience as a lifelong resident, as someone who has raised a family here, and as a former small business owner. I will use that experience to bring progress to our long-term planning and help bring the improvements we are seeing in some parts of town to our neighborhoods and across our entire community.
What current practice or policy of West Columbia city government would you preserve or enhance? Why?
I would keep our “small town city” feel in West Columbia. We have a great police force and a very accessible city staff with a personal connection to the public. I think these are assets that will continue to set us apart.
What current practice or policy would you change? Why?
West Columbia has become a desirable place where people want to live, work and play. We need to maintain that desirability. We should never sell ourselves short, and we should really push for the new things people want along U.S. 378 — more grocery stores, dining, and shopping without having to travel to a neighboring city for those options.
How can West Columbia better handle the issues raised by the city’s growth?
It all points to improving long term plans and sticking to them. I’ve been in this community my entire life, and my 8 years of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals has given me insight about how things are done at City Hall, and I think I can help move these efforts forward right away. One goal I have is to expand the improvements some parts of our City have enjoyed throughout our entire community.
Bobby Horton
Age: 87
Occupation: Retired from SCANA
Education: USC Aiken
Civic or political experience: 12 years as West Columbia mayor; West Columbia city council, 1977-89
Website: None
Why are you running for West Columbia City Council?
My record of working with City Council and City to get things done that benefit our citizens and businesses indicates that my experience would be very helpful to the citizens in District 3. My leadership as Mayor shows that I know how to get things done working with City Council and City Staff. I have lived in West Columbia for 57 years and in District 3 27 of those years. I have been involved in public service 24 of those years.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the West Columbia City Council?
Determine how the city could improve the incentives for small businesses to locate in West Columbia. Contact and work with the proper DOT officials to secure repairing the streets in District 3. Address the need for increased safety on the streets in our neighborhoods.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to the council?
My experience in addressing the needs of our citizens and assuring small businesses that a visit to City Hall is a “one stop” shop.
What current practice or policy of West Columbia city government would you preserve or enhance? Why?
Continue the rapid response of our police department to needs of our citizens and businesses. Continue to adequately fund our fire department so that it retains the Class 1 rating, the best in the state.
What current practice or policy would you change? Why?
Not aware of any practice that currently needs changing.
How can West Columbia better handle the issues raised by the city’s growth?
By continuing proper long term planning which the city developed when I was Mayor. To extend the city’s tax base, and minimize property tax increases, growth is necessary but it must be controlled with proper long term planning for water, police, fire, and public works.
Ashley Bennett Johnson
Age: 34
Occupation: Regional Sales Manager and Realtor, Great Southern Homes
Education: BA in communications and public relations, College of Charleston class of 2010
Political or civic experience: Political newcomer
Website: Facebook.com/AshleyJohnson4District3
Why are you running for West Columbia City Council?
I would love to be the first to usher in a new generation of young representatives who care deeply about West Columbia and want it to be the best place to live, work and raise a family. If elected, I will use my energy and enthusiasm to advocate for residents and continue to enhance our great community. Being a parent of two young boys, I have a vested interest in strengthening the city’s partnership with Lexington 2 schools, keeping our neighborhoods as safe as possible and seeing the positive growth we want in our area that benefits our families.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the West Columbia City Council?
Improve communication and transparency, promote business development, support responsible growth.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to the council?
As a woman and mother raising a young family in West Columbia, I offer a point of view not widely represented on our council currently. Having worked in the real estate industry since 2011, I would like to use my professional experience to keep West Columbia on a path of responsible growth, while also preserving property values and quality of life for those who live here.
What current practice or policy of West Columbia city government would you preserve or enhance? Why?
Enhancing communication and transparency with West Columbia residents is vital. The community would appreciate being made more aware of proposed projects and be given the opportunity to provide input prior to a decision being made. This is only fair considering our residents are the ones who are directly impacted. With all of the technology and tools at our disposal, my goal would be to reach everyone so no one feels blindsided by the change.
What current practice or policy would you change? Why?
I believe zoning needs to be more selective and establish an ordinance restricting businesses of similar use from opening so close to one another. The U.S. 378 corridor consists of multiple dollar stores, oil change centers and vape shops. This does not allow existing businesses to thrive, attract new businesses nor serve the wants and needs of our community. I would love to help actively recruit quality businesses to fill our storefronts, which will in turn keep our dollars in West Columbia.
How can West Columbia better handle the issues raised by the city’s growth?
I think if we’ve learned anything from Lexington’s growth, it is that we need to be proactive versus reactive when it comes to our infrastructure being prepared to handle future growth. District 3 is flanked by the River District and Lexington, which have seen monumental growth in recent years. It is coming our way and we need to be prepared, keep the public informed and plan accordingly.
.jpg)