Elections
Member of town study group mounts primary challenge in District 6
Stella Mercado faces two challenges in a bid for a second term on Georgetown County Council from District 6. She says she is up to both of them.
The first is a Republican Party primary challenge from Bill Ringer, a retired business executive who was part of the Pawleys Island Litchfield Municipal Study Group.
Ringer lives in Litchfield Country Club, where he serves on the board of the property owners association. He is also on the board of the Litchfield Beautification Foundation that raises funds to maintain the landscaping along Highway 17.
“District 6 deserves strong, responsive representation,” Ringer said in a statement after filing to run in the June 9 primary. “I will work to ensure that Georgetown County delivers the level of infrastructure, and responsible growth that District 6 residents expect and deserve.”
Ringer said this week he stepped down from the study group “to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
He supports the effort to form a town in the 29585 ZIP code that started three years ago in reaction to county land use decisions.
“If it weren’t for land use, I wouldn’t be running,” Ringer said.
The proposed town’s primary services would be planning and zoning.
“My main thing is giving people the right to vote up or down on the issue,” Ringer said.
The group is preparing petitions to the S.C. Secretary of State’s Office to hold a referendum. The process stalled when Sheriff Carter Weaver declined to guarantee that he would provide law enforcement for a new town at the current level, a requirement for incorporation.
This week, Weaver endorsed Mercado’s re-election bid. “She is a proven leader who stands with law enforcement, prioritizes public safety, and works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all residents of Georgetown County,” he said in a statement.
Mercado doesn’t support incorporation.
“I’m not interested in an extra layer of government or an extra layer of taxes,” she said.
The citizens group Keep It Green has criticized Mercado for her votes on land use issues, saying they will lead to increased population density on Waccamaw Neck.
“I stand by my votes and accomplishments,” she said, adding that those include a cut in the number of multi-family units on Waccamaw Neck from 16 units an acre to 5 units.
“Both of my competitors are talking about the same thing I’ve been talking about: responsible development and smart growth,” Mercado said. “They can talk about it, but I’m doing it.”
Vincent Davis, president of the Pawleys Island Civic Club, is running for the District 6 seat as a Democrat.
Ringer said he supports the county’s current effort to update the zoning ordinance to comply with the future land use plan, but added “I’m not convinced that the wishes of the constituents were fully considered in that.”
He has worked with the county and supports its staff.
Incorporation, which includes no municipal property tax, would be a partnership with the county, he said.
