Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune wants to focus more on crime, improving downtown

Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune is running for reelection to continue her efforts to address crime, diversify the economy and redevelop downtown.

Bethune is facing off against four challengers that have said they are unimpressed with the way she is running the city. The nonpartisan election is Tuesday.

A Myrtle Beach native, Bethune became the first woman to lead the city when she beat incumbent John Rhodes during a runoff election in 2017. She owns multiple businesses in the city, including beer distribution company Better Brands.

When Bethune filed for reelection in August, she touted the city’s downtown revitalization project as one of those accomplishments along with what she called an “ongoing effort” to improve public safety and add more police officers.

“We’ve always offered great things for our visitors,” she said. “Now it’s time to really invest in our human infrastructure and give our residents a lot to be proud of.”

Bethune said crime has reduced by double digits each year in the last four years. There is not one specific thing that led to that, she said, but instead pointed to numerous reasons: expanding the police force, investing in a drone system and installing over 2,000 cameras in the city.

She said those investments are important because “the police can’t do it alone” and adding those components reassures the residents that we are watching and solving crimes quickly.

Bethune has also been very vocal about her support for I-73, an interstate highway that would connect the Grand Strand to I-95 near Latta and Dillon. She told The Sun News the interstate project would be a game changer for the city as it continues to grow.

“It’ll impact us greatly, especially when it comes to public safety during Hurricane evacuations and reentry into the city, but also to diversify our economy,” she said. “We have not been able to diversify our economy because we don’t have an interstate connection.”

She also spoke of the Gold Cap Ambassador program, which she said has been helpful in making improvements to the city’s downtown area. The program, which launched in 2020, was implemented to provide daily, year-round hospitality, outreach, cleaning and safety services in areas east of Kings Highway between 21st Avenue North and 14th Avenue South. It is operated under parent company Block by Block and managed by the city’s Downtown Development Office. It costs the city almost half a million dollars.

“You go down to Ocean Boulevard today, compared to years ago, and it’s the cleanest its ever been,” she said. “They are working hand in hand with our police department, our business community, and really being the liaison between the business community and our visitors.”

Bethune has almost 40 years experience with managing businesses, which she said you need in this position to be successful. She added that knowing how to operate a large organization, building relationships and being a team player has made all the difference.

“We have a city council that works very well together,” Bethune said. “We’re committed to this community. Every single one of us views ourselves as a public servant. This isn’t just a job for us.”

Bethune said she is just as committed now as she was when she first got on council. She will continue to work hard to make the city a better place for all the residents, she added.

“I love to see the progress that we’re making,” she said. “I love to see the changes that are coming to Myrtle Beach. They’re transformational changes that are going to make a difference for generations to come, and that’s what excites me.”

This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 12:00 AM.