Prediction for Pelion, harmony as mayor and several council members quietly change

Pelion, SC (Paul Kirby) Without the need to even hold the election, Frank Shumpert is the new mayor of Pelion after the retirement of Barbara Hartley Carey. Shumpert owns the largest business in Pelion, the IGA grocery store, and his family has run a business, and sometimes several of some sort, over more than 125 years. He is also heavily into farming. Shumpert’s oldest son Daniel is also on the Pelion Town Council.

Shumpert is known as an even-handed businessman with a good education and lots of common sense. He’s no newcomer to politics, having served in several other positions including a stint on Lexington School District One’s Board of Trustees.

Starr Hartley Corley, an incumbent, will keep her council seat as no one filed to run against her. Newcomer to office Larry Sossman, an entrepreneur businessman, takes the open seat that was vacated when another councilmember who held it moved.

Pelion is a peaceful little town, and for the most part so is their government. I would expect no fireworks from this hardworking, even handed council.