2/14/08
Race On!
Four to vie for seats on S’ton Town Council
By Cathy Gilbert

Ellen Ardis	Tony Junious	Seth Stewart	Ritchie Way

Four Summerton residents – two incumbents and two political newcomers – have filed to run for the three at-large council seats that are up for grabs on the town’s council. The municipal election will be held on April 1.

Two of the seats up for grabs are currently being filled by Ellen Ardis and Tony Junious. Ardis is completing her first four-year term, though she held two two-year terms from 1976-1980.

A Summerton florist, Ardis said she is most proud of the town’s accomplishments in improving its wastewater handling and of the major renovations that the downtown has undergone over the last several years.

“Our streetscape projects have given a much needed facelift to downtown Summerton and it is beginning to pay off in new businesses such as the Water Lily Gallery and the Too Cute children’s clothing store.

Ardis said she believed it was important for the Council to stay focused for the future as they anticipate major growth.

“It is vital that we remain a participating partner in all of the wonderful things that are about to happen to our area,” Ardis noted. “We need to make sure that we control our destiny to preserve the quality of life for our residents, both present and future.”

Ardis is a Summerton native and a graduate of Clarendon Hall and Central Carolina Technical College. She is single and a member of Summerton Baptist Church.

Tony Junious was elected in a special election last year to fulfill the unexpired term of Elease Solomon who resigned due to health issues.

A native of Summerton and a 1995 graduate of Scott’s Branch High School, Junious is a service manager for Praxair, a medical equipment supplier that serves Clarendon and many other South Carolina counties.

Junious is no stranger to public service as he served for six years on the Clarendon School District 1 school board. That affiliation has given Junious a special focus for the recreational needs of the town’s children.

“I am so proud that we have made such great strides in getting Wausau Park renovated,” he said. “Thanks to the Town Council, the basketball courts have been resurfaced and the Bank of Clarendon generously donated funds to provide seating around the park. The County Council has agreed to fund some picnic tables. We are so grateful for this facility.”

Junious said he recognizes the challenges that will come with the impending growth in the area.
“We are expecting a huge economic impact from this growth and I would love to see more residents and business in the town of Summerton,” he said. “Our most important goal is to provide a high quality of life for our residents and our business people.

Junious is married to the former Ryan Bell and the couple has four sons and one daughter. He is a member of St. John Holiness Tabernacle in Summerton. He serves on the board of a youth outreach program, “Setting the Standards” and is a member of the Parent/Teacher Organization at the Summerton Early Childhood Center.

Seth Stewart is a political newcomer with a long political legacy. Stewart is the son of Clarendon County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart, who served on the Town Council for 20 years prior to his election to the County Council.

A graduate of Clarendon Hall and the Citadel, Stewart said he is happy to be back in his hometown and is ready to serve.

“There is a lot of growth on the horizon and I would like to help prepare Summerton for that growth,” Stewart said. “I think we can help to enhance the lives of its citizens.”

A physical education teacher, currently assigned to a school in Colleton County, Stewart said that recreation and healthy lifestyles are of particular importance to him

“I want to be on the Summerton Town Council because I have a deep desire to bring recreation to the town,” he said. “It is a great way to keep kids out of trouble and help them get healthy and stay healthy.”

Stewart is married to the former Patty Kotula of Cleveland, Ohio and the couple is expecting their first child, a son, in just a few weeks. They are members of the Summerton Presbyterian Church.

The fourth candidate is Ritchie Way, also a Summerton native and graduate of Clarendon Hall. He also graduated from the University of South Carolina where he earned a business degree. He has served for 19 years as a revenue officer with the S.C. Department of Revenue.

Way said he was drawn to serve on the Town Council because he wanted to give the citizens of the town a voice on the Council.

Way also has a political legacy with the Town Council. His father, Vernon Way served with the Council until his death in 1991.

Way said he was most interested in development of the I-95 Exit 108 area and the revitalization of the downtown completed.

“I would like to see business move into some of the empty stores we have downtown and I would like to work to improve our medical services in the town,” he said.

Growth is also an issue for Way.

“We have got to be prepared for the economic development that is on the horizon,” Way said. “We need to be ready for the Beach Company when they come.”

Way is married to the former Cindy Ardis of Sumter and the couple has two daughters. They are members of the Summerton Southern Methodist Church.

Not running for re-election is Bryan Rembert, whose new job responsibilities will require him to be out of town a great deal preventing him from giving the necessary attention to the council.