Surfside Beach Mayor Deaton gets challenger

Surfside Beach Mayor Allen Deaton will have at least one challenger -- Town Council member Doug Samples -- during the town’s April 3 election.

The deadline to file for the election was Friday. Deaton and Samples were the only candidates for the mayor’s seat as of Thursday. Town officials could not be reached Friday for the final information.

Deaton, who took over as mayor in May 2008, said he has reached about 75 percent of his goals in office and is seeking a second term to complete those goals.

The goals, he said, have included town’s underground wiring project along Ocean Boulevard, storm water infrastructure improvements and upgrades to the park systems and the tourism marketing strategy.

“A lot of positive things have occurred in this term,” Deaton said. ``I’m very proud of the progress that has been made.”

If re-elected, he said he would focus on continuing the improvements that are already under way and progress the relationship between residents, businesses and the tourism industry.

Samples, a current council member whose term expires in 2014, could not be reached for comment.

As of Thursday, five candidates had filed to run for three open council positions. Incumbents Bob Childs and Mark Johnson both filed for re-election, but Vicki Blair had not as of Thursday. The terms of council members Ann Dodge and Rod Smith do not expire until 2014.

Childs, who is retired, said he serves on the council as a way of providing community service. He previously worked in the office of the architect of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

He pointed to the underground wiring project, the expansion of the Horry County library there and the redevelopment of Surfside Drive as projects he has helped orchestrate during his term.

“I feel that there are still a few things left to do. I’ve seen a lot of progress made in a short time,” Childs said.

Johnson could not be reached for comment.

Newcomers in the town council race include Mary Beth Mabry, John Ard and Marty Rhoades.

Mabry, a realtor, joined the race because she has strong budgetary concerns, she said. She served on the town’s election commission and beautification committee before deciding to run for council.

Mabry said her motto is “learning from the past, taking care of the present and preparing for the future.” She wants to build a better coalition between citizens, businesses and visitors, she added.

Ard is disabled and a former construction worker. He said the issues of renovating the town’s pier and parking concerns within the town would be two of his main focuses if elected.

He chose to run because he believes he can help lead the council in a new direction, he said, adding he hopes to build a better relationship between citizens, businesses and council members.

Rhoades also said the council could use a change in order to help better guide the town in the future. An automotive technician who has served on the town’s planning commission, he said he would like to make the town more appealing to younger people and keep it “family-oriented through the use of improved town facilities for recreation.”

He also pointed to improving the pier and opening lines of communication between local government and businesses as issues he would emphasize if elected.