South Congaree, SC (Paul Kirby) - Bobby Porter, a candidate for Lexington County Council District 5, wants everyone to remember they still have a choice on November 3rd if they live in that area of the county. Porter is running for that council seat against Gene “Bimbo” Jones who was selected by voters to represent the Republican Party in Tuesday's contest. Porter filed as a Democrat but says he has always been very conservative in all aspects of his life.
The Lexington County Council member that held the District 5 seat for years is now retiring. Bobby Keisler has represented the people of the Red Bank and South Congaree areas since 2003. Known as “Gravedigger” because of what he does for a living, Keisler is revered in the area and has an unending love of the community and its people. There are other county council seats on the ballot Tuesday; however, all the incumbents in those districts have no challengers.
Porter is a general contractor who lives in the South Congaree area of the district. He is currently a member of the South Congaree Town Council and is their appointee to the Joint Water and Sewer Commission. He’s married to Jennifer who is a chiropractor that owns Premier One Spinal Care on South Lake Drive in Red Bank.
Porter is a graduate of Campbell University. He then earned his MBA from East Carolina University. He is a member of the Baptist Mens’ Association, works with The Laboring Few, and is a youth mentor with the YMCA. Porter said recently that he feels it’s important for all Americans to give back to their communities. If elected, he said this position on council will allow him another opportunity to contribute to the community and help his neighbors. He said during a recent interview, “I want to represent all of the residents of Lexington County Council District 5. I think that it's important that elected officials lead by example and listen to the constituent they represent.”
Porter believes one of the biggest challenges that Lexington County faces is its growth. He said that his experience in construction, infrastructure, and financial planning makes him the best choice to serve on council. “Strategic planning is so important as Lexington County moves into the future,” Porter said. “This county is continuing to grow and as leaders, I know we need to be proactive and not reactive in planning for that growth.”
He said as a member of county council he would rely heavily on projections and statistical data to help guide his decisions regarding how to vote in the future. He also said, “I think that any plan, any economic development, must include provisions for small businesses too. We also need to listen to the citizens of the county on the issues, especially regarding growth. We also have to protect them from any new taxes. This is a must while maintaining the highest level of county services possible. “Above all,” Porter said, “we have to continue planning, planning, planning for Lexington county’s growth. We can never let that outpace our infrastructure, schools, or critical services like law enforcement, EMS, or the fire service. We must continually evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, adapt our strategic plan, and use that to guide every decision we make.”
“I also believe that the COVID-19 pandemic should be one of the top priorities of our county leaders,” Porter said. “It has touched almost everyone and has fundamentally changed the basic fabric of our lives. It has not only affected many people’s health but also our schools, our businesses, and even how we socialize. We all need to work together as a team to get through these uncertain times,” Porter continued. “We’ve learned a lot since this started and will continue learning as time goes by. We already know that prevention is key and containing the threat is attainable if we all work together on this. The residents of Lexington County have done a great job so far but there's more to be done. This is going to take strong, proactive leadership and I believe that I am the best choice to help make those necessary decisions until this is controlled,” he concluded.
Porter says he welcomes calls from voters and would be glad to hear from them. “I am willing to listen now and certainly after I am elected.” You can reach Bobby Porter at (336) 442-3339. You can also email him at premieroneconst@yahoo.com.
留言