Chapin, SC (Paul Kirby) – The residents in the municipal limits of the Town of Chapin must be happy with the leadership that’s been at the helm at the town hall in past years. No one filed to run against the incumbents even though one current member wanted to retire.
Both Councilmembers Mike Clonts and Kay Hollis have filed for re-election. Each has served on the council faithfully for years. Kay Hollis had said she wasn’t running for re-election again so she could enjoy her family and get some rest. When the last day of the filing arrived, no one had filed to run so Hollis agreed to serve another four-year term.
Mike Clonts is retired, and he and his wife are very involved with their grandchildren’s daily lives. He seemed reluctant to run again and filed later during the period to see if any other candidates were out there ready to take the mantle. Since no one volunteered, Clonts threw his hat in the ring again.
Chapin is one of the fastest growing communities in Lexington County and the Midlands. The decisions made by the council and mayor can have an impact on what that area will be like years from now. These seats are open, and several candidates would bid public service farewell if someone was waiting in the wings to take their place.
One area leader has privately said many now serving would like to see younger candidates run for office. This would foster new, more progressive ideas about how things should be done. With the actual town limits of Chapin still only a few miles in diameter, the people who live inside the town are beginning to reach an age where they want to retire and take it easy. Most of the young working professionals and more recently retired folks live outside the town’s boundaries closer to the lake.
The election is scheduled for November 5, 2019. Someone with good intentions could run a write-in campaign and have a chance at winning. If history is a good indicator, that isn’t likely to happen.
