This North Myrtle Beach councilman plans to resign after nearly 20 years in office
City Councilman Bob Cavanaugh of North Myrtle Beach is planning to bid adieu to the area and leave his post with the city pending the sale of his house, he confirmed to The Sun News on Friday.
Cavanaugh’s term is set to expire in 2021, but he plans to relocate to Virginia to be closer to family. He will not resign until he’s able to sell his house, which has already been listed online. He expects to close in mid-October, but “when it happens, it happens,” he said.
Cavanaugh said the coronavirus pandemic was the catalyst that pushed him to leave. With lockdowns in place and tourism dropping significantly this year, certain plans to improve the city were put on hold and Cavanaugh made the decision to move closer to three of his four children in Richmond, Virginia.
“It’s been a good ride and I really have enjoyed working with (North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley) and the rest of council,” he said.
Cavanaugh has served as an at-large councilman in North Myrtle Beach for nearly 20 years, beginning in 2001. Before his stint in local government on the Grand Strand, he worked as an executive for General Electric.
While in North Myrtle Beach, Cavanaugh has been involved in many changes for the city. Along with being vital in the city’s development, support of veterans and adding an aquatics and fitness center at the beginning of his tenure, he supported the city’s motion to ban plastic bags in the municipality, though that has been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. He was also around during the city’s ongoing issue with an annexation the council initially thought was meant for commercial and residential expansion, but has since been conserved land.
He said he’ll remember the city’s evolution from the start of his term.
“When I came on council we were a small city with no growth plans and always a tight budget, but no growth,” he said. “We set up a pattern of improvement that has been really good.”
A special election to replace Cavanaugh will be scheduled if he officially files his resignation more than 180 days before the next municipal election in November 2021, according to North Myrtle Beach city codes.
