Just about all of the focus in Charleston politics of late has been on the November race for mayor as candidates vie to replace longtime incumbent Joe Riley, who is retiring after 40 years. But there are six other races that are important too — half of the seats on city council.
As best as we can tell, three attorneys are challenging three incumbents in city council races around town. Three other incumbents don’t seem to have candidates looming, but with filing not until the end of the summer, they’re not safe yet. Here’s a look at who seems to be running so far in 2015 as odd-numbered districts are up for election. (We’re told by sources that all incumbents plan to file for reelection):
Voters wait in a past election to vote.
District One (Daniel Island, Ansonborough, French Quarter): Incumbent Gary White, a banker, is being challenged by lawyer Shawn Pinkston, one of several Republican candidates in 2013 for U.S. Congress.
District Three (West side of peninsula, eastern part of West Ashley): Incumbent James Lewis Jr. does not appear to have an opponent yet, but insiders say at least one challenger is looking closely at how to win the seat.
District Five (western fringes of West Ashley, Johns Island): Accountant Marvin Wagner so far apparently faces on challengers, but insiders say the district might be attractive for a fresh candidate to take on the first-term incumbent.
District Seven (West Ashley, between U.S. Highway 17 and St. Andrew’s Boulevard): Incumbent Keith Waring, like his father before him, likely won’t face a challenger in this majority minority district.
District Nine (West Ashley, Northwoods area): Incumbent Aubrey Alexander, a Realtor, will face Peter Shahid, a Charleston native who practices law downtown.
District Eleven (West Ashley south of Highway 17 and parts of James Island that are in the city): Incumbent Bill Moody will face West Ashley attorney Catherine LaFond, known throughout the county as a past candidate for the Charleston Water System board of commissioners.
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The most recent Statehouse Report commentary focused on state Sen. Chip Campsen’s efforts to broaden the discussion about offshore exploration for oil and gas. Campsen noted that there are dirty onshore effects — metal spaghettis of pipes to build refining infrastructure — that make the whole issue unattractive. See more here in “Recovering oil or gas would have dirty onshore price.”
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