The Sun News endorsement: Our three choices in the Myrtle Beach City Council race
Ten people are running for three Myrtle Beach City Council seats in the Nov. 4 election. The candidates in the crowded field have varying experience levels and differing grasps on big issues that matter most in this city of 40,000 that draws 18 million visitors a year to the South Carolina coast. It’s clear some would have a bigger learning curve than others on the Council.
The McClatchy South Carolina Editorial Board factored that into our endorsements in this race while interviewing all 10 candidates and independently researching them and their backgrounds. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 20, and the top three vote-getters will serve four-year terms.
Before we share our recommendations, here are the issues that shaped them.
Public safety is always a priority here, but perhaps never more so than now. Myrtle Beach had four high-profile shootings this year, two involving teenagers with guns. Even before the busy summer season, there were also multiple armed robberies and two police chases in the Myrtle Beach area.
Tourism is top of mind, too, especially after a summer when it fell. Recently released data show hotel stays dipped 2.1% from last summer and accommodations tax revenue sank nearly 9%.
We also don’t think the Council under Mayor Brenda Bethune is transparent enough. Too much of the public’s business is done in private. Several candidates complained that a recurring budget retreat is held two hours away from town, limiting public participation unnecessarily.
With this in mind, we leaned toward candidates with government experience and civic engagement who wouldn’t ignore the public’s concerns or sugarcoat the city’s problems.
With such a long list of potential picks, our research quickly cut it in half. Johnnie Bellamy, 76, offered general, uninspiring answers when we interviewed the candidates, and South Carolina voting records document that several haven’t voted regularly in elections. They show Terrance Butler, 38, voted once since 2012, and Sam Fresquez, 43; Doug Kelly, 57; and Kenya Staten Hennigan, 61, all missed numerous elections even though public servants should value voting.
In the board’s discussions, we gave consideration to Nick Vaugh, the youngest candidate at 38, and Myra Starnes, the oldest candidate at 73. Both are business leaders. He runs a hospitality group and she is a businesswoman who has operated tours in Myrtle Beach for some 50 years. He wants to establish a Department of Public Safety that unites police, fire, emergency services and code enforcement under one roof with one boss accountable to the City Council. She supports taking “a deep look into how the city’s books are handled.” Both ideas merit discussion.
Ultimately, however, we gravitated toward two City Council incumbents — who have 24 years in office between them — and a third candidate who spent 20 years on the council before retiring in 2023 to let other candidates have a turn. His candidacy this year underscores the need for experience.
Councilman Mike Lowder, 71, is the most impressive candidate on the ballot. He has been in office since 2009 and is running for a fifth term. He became a U.S. Marine sergeant and retired from law enforcement after stints with the Myrtle Beach police and the Horry County Sheriff’s departments, so his background is incredibly beneficial as the city seeks to protect public safety.
One idea that resonated with us was his call for a stronger housing task force that could improve coordination between the city, the county and private organizations. “Affordable housing isn’t just a social issue,” he said. “It’s an economic necessity. If first responders, teachers, nurses and hospitality workers can’t afford to live here, the entire community feels the strain.”
In answering questions about crime, economic development, homelessness and housing affordability and availability, he showed an understanding of complex issues, a holistic approach to problem-solving and a willingness to revisit and seek local and regional solutions. He also said the city should stop holding budget retreats two hours away and instead hold them in town.
“I’ve always worked to be a voice of common sense and reason on the Myrtle Beach City Council, and I’ll continue listening and responding to the concerns of both residents and businesses,” he said. He should get the chance.
Councilwoman Jackie Hatley, 57, merits re-election, too.
Her answers weren’t as specific or as strong as Lowder’s, but her concerns are the same as the public’s: safety, transparency and growth. She supports the installation of a more visible police substation on Ocean Boulevard, changes to improve traffic flow along the boulevard year-round and matching city funds of up to $25,000 for business improvements.
She also is calling for “an end to closed door meetings with select officials or bureaucrats.”
It would be easy to say that Lowder and Hatley should have done more to alleviate the public’s transparency concerns over the last four years, but we’ll hold them to their new pledges.
A 25-year hotel owner and operator, Hatley has held her seat for eight years and would continue to bring her experience and insights to vital tourism discussions. She told us that she sold the family hotel business after her mother and business partner died, all of which was hard on her.
“The past two years have been challenging for me personally,” she said. “But through it all, my commitment to Myrtle Beach and its residents has never wavered. My pledge to the people of this community is to always be honest and forthcoming, and to make the best decisions possible for our city.”
Our third recommendation is Phil Render, 71. A retired dentist and former dean of health sciences at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, he served on the City Council from 2003-2023 before stepping down to allow others to serve. After continuing to attend neighborhood and other public meetings, he realized he has more to offer the city.
His answers in our candidate Q&A were short but struck the right chords. He wants to “fully resource public safety and judiciously deploy law enforcement resources.” That was the extent of his answer to our question asking about his No. 1 priority for Myrtle Beach and why. Voters would have liked to hear more about his plans, but they also have a level of comfort with him.
Echoing other candidates, he said all of Myrtle Beach’s budget discussions should be held within the city limits. A self-proclaimed “sound fiscal conservative,” Render said he has concerns about the city’s rising debt and pledged to “carefully monitor budgetary issues in the future.”
In a separate endorsement, we recommended Mark Kruea for mayor of Myrtle Beach in the Nov. 4 election and explained why we think it’s time for a change at the helm. We think the combination of a new mayor and continuity on the Council would serve the city well.
The McClatchy South Carolina Editorial Board endorses incumbents Phil Lowder and Jackie Hatley and former Councilman Phil Render for the three Myrtle Beach City Council seats.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we do endorsements
Members of The McClatchy South Carolina Editorial Board interviewed and researched candidates running for mayor and City Council in Columbia and Myrtle Beach and in a special election in SC House District 88 in Lexington County in 2025. We based endorsements on our reporting and fact-checking — and on each candidate’s achievements, background, character, demeanor and experience.
The endorsements were made by South Carolina Opinion Editor Matthew T. Hall, a Columbia resident; Sherry Beasley, a longtime educator and Columbia resident; Toni Etheridge, a strategic advisor and writer who lives in Forest Acres; Paul Osmundson, a retired senior editor at The State and a Forest Acres resident; and Pat Robertson, a retired editor and outdoors columnist who lives in Blythewood.
If you have questions or comments about our endorsements, please email Hall at mhall@thestate.com.
