Outspoken Horry County planning commissioner announces run for school board
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An Horry County planning commissioner with a record of voting against rezoning requests from developers and resisting some growth in the county has announced her run for school board.
Pam Dawson, District 6 planning commissioner, filed paperwork Friday to run for the District 6 school board seat in the June 14 primary ahead of the Nov. 8 general election.
District 6 covers Carolina Forest, Socastee and St. James and is currently held by Helen Smith, who has announced her run for Horry County Schools chairman this election cycle.
Dawson said her experience on planning commission and other community groups has prepared her for the kind of long-term strategic approaches Horry County Schools could benefit from, specifically as the county grapples with major growth and development.
The number of people moving to the area is putting a strain on schools in Dawson’s district and across the county. In fact, five schools could be equipped with extra modular classrooms to accommodate that demand.
“Our goal is to produce citizens who are well-rounded and grounded in good educational principles and practices,” Dawson told The Sun News. “I think the environment in which they learn is very important, and in order to do that effectively, we have to be able to address the physical and environmental needs of our constituents.”
This is Dawson’s first time running for public office.
Along with the Horry County planning commission, she has served on the Horry County Parks and Open Space Board, the Greater Burgess Community Association and the Prince Creek West Road and Parks Association.
School board members are paid around $20,000 per year for their service.
