Surfside Beach Town Council candidates address issues before election

Surfside Beach voters head to the polls Tuesday to elect their mayor and four town council members in general and special elections set to be held simultaneously.

In the general election, Mayor Doug Samples is seeking his fourth term on the council and his second term as mayor, in a race with councilman Bob Childs, who is also running for the mayoral seat.

Incumbent council members Mark Johnson, Mary Beth Mabry and Randle Stevens are all vying to keep their seats that expire in May. But also joining them on the ballot are former Councilwoman Vicki Blair, Surfside Beach Board of Zoning Appeals Chairman Ron Ott and his fellow board member Holly Ann Watson, senior citizens committee chairwoman Wanda Spannuth and political newcomer Stanley Wrobel. The four-year terms will expire in May 2020.

In the special election, Surfside Beach Board of Zoning Appeals member Tim Courtney, senior citizens committee member Steve Shore, Blair and Wrobel are vying to fill the open seat and unexpired term left behind by the late Councilman Ralph Magliette. The term expires in May 2018.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. for the nonpartisan election.

Running for mayor

Bob Childs

Age: 75

Address: 311 14th Ave. N.

Occupation: retired after 37 years with the Architect of the (U.S.) Capitol

Family: wife, Nancy, and three children

Civic and political experience: six years on Surfside Beach Town Council, two of those as mayor pro tem; also served on the board of directors of the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments

Military experience: none

Contact information: 843-655-3219

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

The one issue that is very important to the residents and visitors is the update and safety concerns of U.S. Business 17 and Frontage Road. We are presently working with SCDOT (S.C. Department of Transportation) and GSATS (Grand Strand Area Transportation Study) to resolve the situation. I do not want to minimize beach renourishment, but that project seems to be on track.

Doug Samples (incumbent)

Age: 62

Address: 714 Hollywood Dr. N.

Occupation: mayor for the town of Surfside Beach; retired from public service after 15 years with the U.S. Department of the Navy and 15 years with the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments; retired from self-employment; six years as a South Carolina-licensed property manager

Family: wife, Julie Samples, married 35 years; daughter, Kathryn (Katie) Samples, 28 years old

Civic and political experience: volunteer with the town’s stormwater committee 2000-2002; elected to Surfside Beach Town Council in 2002, 2006 and 2010; elected mayor of Surfside Beach in 2012; seeking re-election; volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and the Muscular Dystrophy Association

Military experience: no active duty; served as a civilian with the Department of Navy 1976-1991, starting as GS-4 (general schedule) and ending as GM-15; stationed for duty in San Diego, Calif., Seattle, Wash., and Washington, D.C.; Secretary of Navy Scholarship, attained Masters Degree Public Financial Management at American University, Washington D.C., 1984

Contact information: 843-833-2429 (cell), 843-913-6111 (town hall), dougsamples@yahoo.com

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

We have put town business in order. This enables us to maintain the quality of life we expect. Public safety is local government’s primary purpose for being and we deliver that. Retention of experienced staff, improved public infrastructure (roads, stormwater management, beach renourishment) are essential to our “family beach” atmosphere and image, support our tourism industry and will encourage business investment on U.S. Highway 17. We must continue to build upon our positive working relationships with Horry County, municipal partners, and state agencies. Keeping our town “The Family Beach” is and will be the greatest issue and priority.

Running for council seats

Vicki W. Blair

Age: 61

Address: 1315 N. Poplar Dr.

Occupation: regional program manager, SC DHEC

Family: husband, Robert Blair

Civic and political experience: 2008-2012 – Surfside Beach Town Council (underground wiring sub-committee, public safety sub-committee, co-chair of Surfside Drive redevelopment sub-committee); past chair of Surfside Beach Planning and Zoning Commission; president of Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach Board of Directors; past president of Leadership Grand Strand Board of Regents; recently appointed to the Horry County Higher Education Commission; finance committee chair of Surfside United Methodist Church; graduate of the S.C. Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government; graduate of the CDC Public Health Leadership Academy

Military experience: none

Contact information: 843-995-0661, topey1vb@frontier.com

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

I think one of the biggest challenges facing Surfside Beach, as in most small communities, is to keep our town viable. Our elected officials must stick to the core mission; ensuring that essential services are delivered in the most cost effective ways, maintaining infrastructure, focusing on business retention and expansion, and taking care of our assets and investments all while keeping taxes as low as possible, since a low tax burden is the hallmark of limited government. Basically, we must live within our bounds and utilize constraints to not grow the town budget beyond the core mission.

Tim Courtney

Age: 53

Address: 1416 S. Poplar Dr.

Occupation: retired police officer/EMT-critical care

Family: married with two girls ages 9 and 15

Civic and political experience: Surfside Beach Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals; 25 years of government service as a police officer, EMS director/EMS coordinator, instructor of EMS/Haz-Mat and marine operations

Military experience: none

Contact information: 843-945-9083

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

We need to conserve on spending and prepare for upcoming capital projects. We need to stop tax increases. And it's imperative that we improve our business district on U.S. 17 and create incentives for new businesses and attractions for our local tourists.

Mark Johnson (incumbent)

Age: 57

Address: 123 Harbor Lights Dr.

Occupation: agent of Carrie Johnson Insurance

Family: married to Carrie Johnson for 32 years; three children; six grandchildren

Civic and political experience: member of NewSpring Church; member of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina; member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina Board of Directors; graduate of the Municipal Association of South Carolina Elected Officials Institute; former member of the Surfside Beach Planning and Zoning Committee; Surfside Beach Town Council member 2008-present.

Military experience: none

Contact information: 843-446-8955 or email surfsidemark@frontier.com

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

The biggest issue currently facing Surfside Beach is protecting our biggest asset, the beach. We must make sure we have the adequate funding in order to participate in the upcoming beach renourishment project, which has been moved up a year to this upcoming fall. We need to protect the funds we currently have on hand and find ways to add to those funds to equal $1.2 million. We can do this by several means, starting with tightening our overall spending. We should also look at other potential funding sources including, but not limited to, the pier enterprise fund.

Mary Beth Mabry (incumbent)

Age: 70

Address: 517 Fifth Ave. N.

Occupation: retired realtor in this area

Family: four grown children

Civic and political experience: Serving on the town’s finance committee, organizational committee, public information committee (FEMA); currently serves as the liaison for the Surfside Beach Historical and Preservation Society; and served as mayor pro tem for two years

Military experience: none

Contact information: marybethmabry@gmail.com, 843-455-9729

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

Our number one issue is to maintain strong fund balances that will insure that all the other number ones can be accomplished. This approach insures that we continue to prepare for beach renourishment, stormwater management and providing the best in public safety. It is important that we maintain/market our town that makes us a desirable travel destination attracting visitors that add to our economy without draining our resources. This is the best way to increase revenue and protect our residents’ investment in the Town of Surfside Beach.

Ron Ott

Age: 67

Address: 722 Seventh Ave. N.

Occupation: retired tool and die-maker

Family: wife, Doris; daughter, Jennifer; son, Ronald; grandson, Ian

Civic and political experience: 10 years serving on the Surfside Beach Board of Zoning Appeals, six years as chairman; political experience - none

Military experience: none

Contact information: 843-446-3929

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

The town of Surfside Beach needs to recruit new revenue sources to help fund our necessary public services, police, fire, and overall town management. We cannot expect parking revenue to continue to fund the future inflationary costs of these public services.

As a member of our town council, I would like to provide guidance for procuring business sources for our U.S. 17 business corridor. As an established municipality we should explore every venue of opportunity to offer better trusting relationships. A correlation between government and business that can protect a business’s cost of investment to build in our community.

Steve Shore

Age: 67

Address: 611 First Ave. N.

Occupation: retired

Family: wife, Corky; six-year-old Maltese dog named Ollie; three sons; one daughter; nine grandchildren

Civic and political experience: 35-plus years in business, owner; working on town volunteer committees

Military experience: Vietnam veteran, U.S. Navy

Contact information: 843-213-1048 (home); 336-880-0065 (cell); email - catchupi@aol.com

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

There is more than one issue facing Surfside Beach. As for handling them – one at a time, as priority needed!

Wanda J. Spannuth

Age: 66

Address: 116 Harbor Lights Dr.

Occupation: retired

Family: married; three daughters; five grandchildren

Civic and political experience: has served on the Ralph Magliette Surfside Beach Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, the Point-in-Time homeless count (an annual homeless assessment reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development), personnel and diversity committee for The Hickman (a senior living community in Pennsylvania), Brandywine Psychiatric Hospital Advisory Board, Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging Board of Directors; Pennsylvania State Ethics Committee for Older Adult Protective Services, Child Protection Advisory Committee

Military experience: none

Contact information: 484-269-3003, junewoods@me.com

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

Issue: Residents and business owners have lost faith in town government, citing restrictive ordinances.

Solution: Quarterly meetings with residents/business owners, listen to concerns, develop a strategic plan to resolve issues, when possible report back to residents/business owners.

Randle M. Stevens (incumbent)

Age: 66

Address: 412 First Ave. N.

Occupation: independent businessman, real estate broker since 1983

Family: wife and daughter

Civic and political experience: four years on Surfside Beach Town Council

Military experience: U.S. Navy

Contact information: 843-455-6776

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

Issue: economic development and diversification of the Surfside Beach economy.

Solution: bringing in new business and small manufacturing along U.S. Highway 17. Further developing a business-friendly environment in Surfside that produces the revenue stream that Surfside needs to renourish our beaches and protect our number one asset, our beach. The emphasis in economic development and diversification of the Surfside Beach economy and developing a working relationship of cooperation with local business provides the revenues needed for beach renourishment, better quality police and fire department, better parks, sanitation, roads and infrastructure and a higher quality of life. Business is golden.

Holly Ann Watson

Age: 62

Address: North Oak Drive

Occupation: retired road builder, truck fleet owner, truck shop owner, property/casualty insurance salesman

Family: married, no children

Civic and political experience: 8-year member of the Surfside Beach Board of Zoning Appeals; S.C. notary public; ordained minister

Military experience: sergeant in the South Carolina State Guard

Contact information: hollyannwatson.com; hollyawatson@gmail.com; 843-238-5513

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

Over-regulation. Residents need contractors in our town to do their repairs and the cost should be as low as other areas/towns. Our sign ordinance is cumbersome and hard to understand. Our tree ordinance has residents baffled as to what they can/cannot do. The permitting process for any changes to a home or any other type of repair is not understood by residents, some even require a Conway permit and some residents fear the process so they do no repairs or upkeep. I will work on streamlining and condensing ordinances and negotiate to get homebuilders and remodelers back into town.

Stanley J. Wrobel

Age: 66

Address: 629-B Third Ave. S.

Occupation: retired from the New Jersey Transit

Family: wife, Cloie

Civic and political experience: Career in public transit spanning 44 years; retired as deputy general manager of bus operations; responsible for the maintenance of a fleet of over 2,100 buses with an operating budget of over $250 million

Military experience: Vietnam veteran, U.S. Navy

Contact information: 843-808-9054 (home); email - stanw629@twc.com

Question: What do you think is the biggest issue facing Surfside Beach and how would you handle it?

After attending many council meetings and speaking with many residents and business owners, there is a need to review and update several ordinances to allow property owners (to) maintain their properties and have a bigger voice in their community.

I would initiate the review process by getting a consensus on council to address the issue. I would suggest that a property owners’ advisory group be formed to provide input. I would also suggest that the planning and zoning and business committees be involved; followed by several community workshops, followed by the normal ordinance adoption process.

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Surfside Beach Town Council candidates address issues before election."