5/10/07

Minus a Mayor
Summerton Mayor Phillips to step down effective June 30
By Brian Jarvis

BRIAN JARVIS/Manning Times

The Summerton town council wished their best to Mayor Beth Phillips following her resignation Tuesday.

Summerton Mayor Beth Phillips officially resigned at Tuesday’s council meeting, citing both her need to pursue out-of-town business interests and Summerton’s need for a mayor who can “sit in the seat.”

“During the last six years, I’ve been part of many wonderful changes in Summerton,” said Phillips, reading aloud from a prepared statement. “It has been my pleasure to serve with the dedicated and talented members of the council. It was indeed an honor to have been called ‘Mayor’ by the citizens of our town. With our current leadership, the administration of Rebecca Rhodes and the continued support of Santee Lynches Regional Council of Governments, I know that we will continue to prepare our town for the future while preserving the charming character for which it is known.”

Abruptly halting her second term a year after her re-election, Phillips’ resignation will go into effect June 30. Councilmember and Mayor Pro-Tem Ken Wells will serve as acting mayor until a special election tentatively scheduled for Oct. 30 pending approval by the S.C. Election Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Town administrator Rebecca Rhodes said the resignation would not affect the town negatively and that she had total faith in Wells’ ability.

“Ken is very capable. He’s good at handling documents and will keep Summerton running smoothly,” Rhodes said.

Phillips did not endorse a replacement nor did any councilmember voice their intent to vie for the job – at least not yet. According to election guidelines, any resident can run providing they file a petition by the specified deadline signed by five percent of eligible voters.

In other business, the council:

Denied a request to re-zone property located at 6 N. Dukes St. from Residential to General-Residential for a proposed duplex.

Denied a request to re-zone property located at the corner of Main and Windham streets from Residential to Neighborhood Commercial for a proposed office building.

Gave first reading approval for the 2007-08 budget.

Next week: A closer look at the legacy of “Madame Mayor”