Lexington Town Council candidate Will Allen speaks to a crowd of supporters at Momma Rabbits Restaurant in Lexington. Photo Michael Reed.
A General Election for the Town of Lexington is rounding the corner on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Incumbents Todd Lyle, Kathy Maness, and Hazel Livingston are finishing their term, opening three town council seats. Additionally, Mayor MacDougall recently announced that he will not be filing for re-election, opening a seat for mayor as well.
MacDougall served as mayor for ten years. During his term, he oversaw Lexington’s downtown renovation and unsuccessfully attempted to push through the annexation of Smallwood Cover–a Lake Murray development with hundreds of homes, a hotel, and a town-owned conference center. Now he is now considering running for a seat in the South Carolina Senate in 2024.
In an interview with The State, he said, “There may be an opportunity in my short future that may have me stepping away. Instead of running again and then have the town go through a special election in less than a year, the right thing to do, not to run for re-election.”
This leaves three town council seats and one mayoral seat available. Eight candidates filed to run for town council. This includes Will Allen, Greg Brewer, Bennett Casto, Edwin Gerace, Matthew Graham, Todd Lyle, Jeannie Michaels, and Amelia Cherry Pocta. Casto has since withdrawn from the election. As for Mayor MacDougall’s seat, Hazel Livington is giving up her place on town council and running uncontested for mayor.
The Standard reached out to each of the aforementioned candidates for a Q&A on the upcoming election. Edwin Gerace, Matthew Graham, Todd Lyle, Amelia Cherry Pocta, and Hazel Livingston did not respond. Below are the other candidates’ responses.
1. What is your current profession?
Will Allen: “I am an owner of a local restaurant in Lexington. Prior to opening our family restaurant, I’ve worked in the hospitality industry in various capacities since 2010.”
Greg Brewer: “Retired from GE Electric Grid business.”
Jeannie Michaels: “I am currently a full-time Mom, wife, and Realtor with Exit Real Estate. I believe in smart, responsible development.”
2. Are you currently a member of any professional organization(s)? Have you ever been a member of any professional organization(s)? If so, which one(s)?
Will Allen: “I currently serve as the Executive Committeeman for the Lexington 1 precinct of the Lexington County Republican Party. In the past I have been a member of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and BNI, though I am not currently a member of either organization.”
Greg Brewer: “None Currently.
Formers include engineering ISA, ASME, MESA.”
Jeannie Michaels: “I am a member of the SC and the National Association of Realtors. I also am active in my child’s school and community organizations, including my church.”
3. Do you have a plan to alleviate traffic? If so, please expound.
Will Allen: “Primarily, I want the mentality of Town leadership to shift away from trying to be a tourist destination. We are fundamentally a “big small town,” and our neighbors appreciate that. I talk with hundreds of these neighbors every week, and I have heard many excellent ideas put forth. I look forward to exploring these from a fresh perspective. I want to have productive conversations with Lexington County Council and DOT to coordinate creative solutions to assess and ease this issue.”
Greg Brewer: “Yes. Many Options.
1. Do no further harm. Stop rushing annexations that raise density land grabs like 93-acrefailure this summer, when I founded SaveLexingtonSC (on Facebook) to raise visibilityand citizens’ voices to protect infrastructure first.
2. Update building and zoning ordinances for single, multi-family, and commercial and adopt the Lake Murray overlay to limit density and congestion.
3. Perform a legitimate Traffic Study via formal RFP to optimize traffic flow and safety.
4. Redirect downtown traffic and parking away from Hwy 1 on Butler and Maiden.
5. Distribute key businesses like grocery, etc closer to dense neighborhoods – For ex. Hwy1/I-20.”
Jeannie Michaels: “If elected, my priorities include aligning land use with infrastructure, seeking state and federal funding, and addressing traffic congestion. We need preemptive solutions to traffic issues and improved downtown parking. I’d collaborate with county officials, state officials, and the town staff to find traffic solutions, including expanding on the one-way street options and repairing side roads for better traffic flow. We need to balance growth with infrastructure improvements, share expenses with the county, and prioritize top-ranked public schools. I want to protect our property values by helping our town’s business community flourish. Downtown parking is crucial for growth. I would like to see a downtown low rise parking garage.”
4. Voters want transparency in elections. How will you be transparent?
Will Allen: “I fully support all efforts for transparency at every level of government. I would love to see itemized Town expenditures available for the public on the Town website. After all, it is never the government’s money. It is your money.”
Greg Brewer: “Key Proof Point Measures:
1. Follow state law and publish an itemized account of expenditures. Greenville and Columbia publish their expenditures online. Lexington does not publish them anywhere. That’s alarming. Communications of issues, considerations, plans via website, water bill newsletter, and surveys.
2. Publish trip reports for public-approved taxpayer funded meetings. Stop funding of the National League of Cities since no trip reports or benefits are disclosed to the public.
3. Present low, medium, high set of scope, pricing to value options for all new capital spend so citizens can provide feedback on spending options they most prefer.”
Jeannie Michaels: “I feel I am always transparent in my job and my life. I will take that into a position as an elected official. I want to hear the citizens and I want to listen and I also want the citizens to be well informed. I would like to allow our citizens to look at our budget. I would like to have more outlets where citizens can become informed about public meetings and events in the town.”
5. What, in your opinion, are the top three issues Lexington is currently facing?
Will Allen: “Preserving our liberty and God-given constitutional rights should always be the highest priority of any elected official. Secondarily, responsibly managing our explosive growth would be the next most pressing issue. Finally I support limiting oppressive sales and property taxes at both the Town and County level, along with limiting oppressive impact and license fees for small businesses.”
Greg Brewer: “Build on the good. Update zoning and building ordinances to decrease density and burden on roads:
1. Big Infrastructure lag (roadways, ditches/sidewalks, sewer) vs building and development. STOP over developing. BALANCE greenspace, park beautification with infrastructure.
2. We need a unified county strategy, which means the town needs to adopt lower density ordinances. Public bodies must work together for better school placements to lessen congestion.
3. Lack of Transparency on finances and capital expenditures. COMMUNICATE low, medium, high options for residents to take part.”
Jeannie Michaels:
1. “Improved Infrastructure: Residents often express the need for better roads, sidewalks, and public transportation options, along with improving our traffic flow and traffic concerns.
2. Enhanced Safety: Many would like to see increased police presence, improved emergency services, and better lighting in certain areas to enhance safety
3. Economic Growth: Stronger initiatives that attract businesses, create jobs, and boost the local economy. More Small Business Support. Support more Community Engagement: Encouraging greater participation in local decision-making and fostering a sense of community with more transparency. Tackle our town’s traffic concerns head-on!”
6. How do you envision the future of Lexington?
Will Allen: “With the right mentality on our Council, we can maintain the wholesome tranquility of a small town while properly managing our inevitable growth, and become a bastion of liberty in this great state.”
Greg Brewer: “Lexington is unique and I see us strengthening that as we grow. Our community is a buffer versus decline and decay we see in US cities. We will keep our small-town charm while attracting cultural, entertainment and recreational options.”
Jeannie Michaels: “I love living, working, and playing in The Town Of Lexington. We have raised our child here and we have supported our local schools. I have a vested interest in the future of our town. I feel like we have positive momentum but we need to make some hard decisions and come up with better solutions to continue our amazing progress that we have made.”
7. Do you see Lexington as a tourist destination? Please explain.
Will Allen: “Not in the slightest. That mentality from Council in the past has been resoundingly shut down by the vast majority of neighbors with whom I’ve engaged.”
Greg Brewer: “No. Lexington is our home. Lexington does not need to follow others’ recipe to decline. I intend to honor Lexington’s roots and my grandmother’s family of sharecroppers. I will work to enhance options for upscale and affordable dining, quality small businesses that uplift our community.”
Jeannie Michaels: “No, I do not see it as a tourist destination. I do see it as a place where people from other counties and cities will come and enjoy what our town has to offer. We have a great town and people will want to come visit.”
8. How are you funding your campaign? What percentage of those funds is from corporations?
Will Allen: “The majority has come by self-funding, though I have received numerous generous donations from friends and like-minded citizens, for which I am immeasurably grateful. My family business is the only ‘corporation’ that has donated, contributing $1,000 to the campaign.”
Greg Brewer: “100% SELF-FUNDED. 0% is from corporations.”
Jeannie Michaels: “I have put monies of my own into my campaign and friends and family have most graciously given. I am a huge proponent of small business in our town and some of those small businesses have given me support. I like to think they have supported me because of my knowledge and the fresh new insight that I can bring to the Town Council. I am going grassroots for a lot of my campaign and meeting citizens one by one and talking with them personally about what is important.”
9. How much are you budgeting to attain the office of Lexington Town Council?
Will Allen: “I would prefer not to spend more than $6,000 for the campaign. We are doing more with less.”
Greg Brewer: “$3000.”
Jeannie Michaels: “I am fiscally conservative and I will use what funds I have received along with some of my own personal funds.”
10. Assuming you win the election, what are your political goals after your time on Town Council?
Will Allen: “I do not have any political goals or aspirations, but I am happy to serve in any capacity the Lord wills! Every day I ask Him to open the doors He wants opened and shut the doors He wants shut. That is the reason I am running for Town Council – to serve the Lord by serving my community.”
Greg Brewer: “None. I plan a lasting impact that secures Lexington’s future. Let’s talk priorities 803-567-1224.”
Jeannie Michaels: “I have no political goals at all. I am running to serve the Town Of Lexington. If I am elected I will do the best that I can do for our town. I am a citizen of our town and I have a vested interest in our community.”
The General Election for the Town of Lexington will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
The Lexington County Office will be open for Early Voting from October 23, 2023 through November 3, 2023. You may cast your vote from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To find more information on the candidates, visit vrems.scvotes.sc.gov.
Camryn Hambrick lives in Lexington, South Carolina with her family and labradoodle, Bob Ross. Her writing has appeared in Interlochen Review and Fish Barrel Review. If you want to continue to see independent thought and reports please “like”, comment, share with a friend, and donate to support The Standard on this page to assure the continued availability of news that is ignored too often by the dominant media.
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