Local

Get caught up on local elections. Here's what you need to know

Stories by Sun News journalists, with AI summarization

Myrtle Beach's local elections revolve around selecting candidates for mayoral and city council positions. The articles together highlight the mechanisms influencing local governance and election processes, such as debates, eligibility requirements, and administrative structures.

Residents of Myrtle Beach can meet mayoral and City Council candidates through debates and public events happening close to the election date. Voters can choose from five mayoral and ten city council candidates for the upcoming election. Residency requirements for candidates come under scrutiny. For example, a candidate who had moved away returned to meet eligibility requirements. Such rules dictate that candidates must live in the city to run for office. Myrtle Beach employs a council-manager form of government, which contrasts with the electoral focus. The city manager, rather than the mayor, handles the city's administrative functions. This role is pivotal in managing everyday city operations and financial matters, as mandated by local ordinances. Currently, Myrtle Beach conducts elections using an at-large system, where council members represent the entire city rather than specific districts. Discussion about changing this system to district-based voting has occurred, reflecting ongoing debates about fair representation in governance.

The 2024 general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. By Joshua Boucher

NO. 1: CAN SC WORKERS GET TIME OFF TO VOTE? WHAT STATE RULES SAY FOR EMPLOYEES

Some states require employers give workers time off to vote on Election Day. Here’s how it works in South Carolina. | Published October 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

Voters go to the polls for Myrtle Beach elections on Tuesday . November 7, 2017. By JASON LEE

NO. 2: WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR MYRTLE BEACH TO IMPLEMENT VOTING DISTRICTS? HERE’S WHAT COUNCIL SAID

According to county property records there are no Myrtle Beach city council members who live in The Market Common. Here’s what it would take for the city to implement voting districts. | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

Voters go to the polls for Myrtle Beach elections on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Candidate filings just opened for the upcoming municipal election in November 2025. By JASON LEE

NO. 3: UPDATED: MYRTLE BEACH MUNICIPAL ELECTION FILINGS ARE OPEN. HERE’S WHO’S RUNNING

The filing period for municipal elections in the City of Myrtle Beach officially opened at noon on Friday, August 22. | Published August 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

The election filing period for the City of North Myrtle Beach opened on Friday, Aug. 22 and closes on Friday, Sept. 5. By Elizabeth Brewer

NO. 4: UPDATED: HERE’S WHO FILED TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH

North Myrtle Beach’s municipal election is coming up this November. | Published August 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

Candidates for Myrtle Beach City Council, top row, left to right: Councilwoman Jackie Hatley, Councilman Mike Lowder, Johnnie Bellamy, Terrance Butler and Sam Fresquez; bottom row, left to right: Kenya Staten Hennigan, Doug Kelly, Phil Render, Myra Starnes and Nick Vaugh.

NO. 5: MEET THE 10 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THREE MYRTLE BEACH CITY COUNCIL SEATS

The Myrtle Beach City Council race has 10 candidates running for three seats. | Published October 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew T. Hall

Myrtle Beach area polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 on election day. Announcements for the 2025 municipal elections have already begun. By Jason Lee

NO. 6: DOES SC LAW REQUIRE MYRTLE BEACH MAYOR & COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO LIVE IN THE CITY?

On Nov. | Published October 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

The welcome sign at the north entrance to Myrtle Beach, S.C. By Josh Bell

NO. 7: WHAT IS A CITY MANAGER AND HOW DOES MYRTLE BEACH’S IMPACT THE CITY?

Five mayoral candidates and 10 city council candidates are on the ballot this November in Myrtle Beach. | Published October 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

The City of Myrtle Beach is considering adopting a new logo, according to a presentation given on Tuesday morning by lead city spokesperson Meredith Denari. By JASON LEE

NO. 8: SEE MYRTLE BEACH MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES LIVE AT THESE DEBATES & EVENTS

Election day is less than a month away, and this year Myrtle Beach voters will decide between five mayoral candidates and 10 City Council candidates for three councilmember spots. | Published October 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

Shown are Myrtle Beach mayoral candidates, left to right, Mayor Brenda Bethune, Mark Kruea, Mark Struthers McBride and Eva Rigney.

NO. 9: THE SUN NEWS ENDORSEMENT: OUR CHOICE IN THE MYRTLE BEACH MAYOR’S RACE

In 1901, a year after Addie Burroughs, won a contest to give New Town, South Carolina, a new name, inspired by all the wax myrtle bushes in the area, the first hotel opened in Myrtle Beach. | Published October 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by The McClatchy South Carolina Editorial Board

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.