This SC councilwoman won’t seek re-election. Is it because of DUI charge?
North Myrtle Beach City Councilwoman Nicole “Nikki” Fontana announced she would not seek re-election days after a DUI arrest, adding the charges had nothing to do with her decision.
Fontana, 51, made the announcement on Friday via her “Politically Unplugged With Nikki Fontana” podcast. She was arrested with a DUI charge on Aug. 30, according to arrest records. Before breaking the news, she told listeners they would be “very wrong” and “an idiot” to think that the announcement had something to do with “anything that has happened recently.”
“I don’t let anything bring me down, no one is going to bring me down” she said. “If anything, I just rise up like a phoenix every single time.”
She said it is “very disheartening to work with people you can’t trust,” referring to an “awakening” that began when she joined Councilman Fred Coyne in voting against ousting city manager Mike Mahaney, who is currently running for mayor.
Mahaney ultimately was voted out in 2024 over claims he had not made efforts to hire a grants coordinator, despite multiple request from council members. Mahaney had been working there since 2010.
Fontana has represented the Windy Hill ward since 2013. Jeri McCumbee and Jolene Puffer will compete for her seat. The deadline to file a campaign for council was Friday at noon.
The councilwoman was arrested in the 500 block of 48th Avenue N. in Myrtle Beach around 11:40 p.m., when officers stopped her GMC Yukon for its license plate sticker, which had expired in February, according to the police report.
When speaking to Fontana, the officer noted that she had “red glossy eyes and slurred speech,” the police report claims. The officer had her come out of the car and perform sobriety tests, which she agreed to, the report continues. Upon showing signs of impairment during the tests, Fontana was placed under arrest.
Fontana, who has retained an attorney, said on the podcast that some details about the incident haven’t been released yet, but that people are “assuming things.” She said she will speak further on the incident at a later date.
This story was originally published September 7, 2025 at 10:11 AM.
