Susan Grissom Means won’t seek re-election to Myrtle Beach City Council

After serving nearly four terms on Myrtle Beach City Council, Councilwoman Susan Grissom Means says she will not seek re-election this fall.

Means, 69, said Sunday in a room of about nearly 50 city staff members and City Council during the first night of the annual budget retreat that she won’t be at next year’s retreat.

“I think 16 years is probably long enough for most council members,” she said Monday. “It will be good to get other people involved.”

Means said she plans to stay involved in city affairs, possibly serving on one of the city’s many boards or committees – after taking a break.

Means was elected in 1999 and sworn in in 2000. Her term expires in January.

Former Councilwoman Mary Jeffcoat, who most recently has worked with the homeless coalition New Directions, said she intends to run for City Council in the fall. Jeffcoat served on council from 1983 to 1991.

The terms of councilmen Philip Render and Michael Chestnut also expire in January. Chestnut also joined council in 2000. Render joined council in 2004.

Both said they intend to run for re-election.

Means, daughter of former Mayor Robert Grissom, said she is most proud of fighting to move overhead utilities underground. The final section of Ocean Boulevard – from Second Avenue North to Ninth Avenue North – is undergoing streetscape improvements that include burying utilities and is scheduled to be complete in 2017.

“[A Grissom] has been in public service from 52 out of the past 54 years,” Councilman Randal Wallace said. Grissom served 12 years as a city councilman, 12 years as treasurer and 12 years as mayor. “I think that’s the biggest impact of one family for all of Horry County.”

Means, who is retired, said she has a few things she’d like to accomplish during the rest of her final term, but declined to say what those were.

“I like to think I’ve been a person to do the best that I can do, in all situations,” she said. “I’ve tried to be as fair as I can be.”

This story was originally published April 13, 2015 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Susan Grissom Means won’t seek re-election to Myrtle Beach City Council."