Lexington, SC 05/30/2024 (Paul Kirby) – Dr. Brent Munnerlyn, PharmD is running for Lexington County Council in District 3. He is challenging incumbent Darrell Hudson to represent the people who live in the west Lexington area and out Highway 378 to the edge of Lake Murray. This District includes some of the more affluent residents south of the lake.
Munnerlyn grew up in Lexington County in District 3, and attended Lexington District One schools from elementary through high school. He graduated from the University of South Carolina Pharmacy School and owns an independent pharmacy called My Pharmacy and Optical in District 3. He has built his practice and now has about 10,000 patients in and around the District 3 community and across the Midlands.
In the past, he managed the Health & Wellness business for Walmart across the midlands and other outlying areas. Responsibilities included managing the pharmacies, health care centers, and optical divisions that employed several hundred people. He was able to increase the company’s profits and grow top line revenue during his 10 years in this role. He put systems and standards in place that helped the company manage their costs and reorganized departments and stores that were underperforming. In this job, he was recognized for his work and was asked to come to the company’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas to help revamp benefit policies. During his time in Bentonville, he was able to identify a $82 million loss and also helped improve time off benefits for employees that they continue to enjoy today.
Munnerlyn also owns Munnerlyn Pyrotechnics. This business puts on large, professional fireworks shows like the one on Lake Murray, Peach Festival, Fort Jackson, Columbia Fireflies, Blowfish and the Town of Lexington. There are many others across the country. You can find out more about the professional display side of his business at www.munnerlynpyro.com.
His other fireworks business is geared toward retail customers. Munnerlyn has store fronts operating under the name Joe Dirt Fireworks, Sam Fireworks and Bada Boom Fireworks across the area that are dedicated to retail firework sales. This includes everything from sparklers to large mortar shells. He already has a large store front in Lexington County that’s easy to locate on Augusta Road (US Hwy. 1) just off I-26 at 4341 Augusta Road. He’s also opening a new store in the next few weeks at 5921 Edmund Highway, Lexington. This is near South Lake Drive (SC Hwy. 6) and Edmund Highway. You can find all his locations by going to the Joe Dirt webpage at www.joedirtfireworks.com.
“Fireworks is becoming a great business in South Carolina and across the US because of diversity. They are no longer just for July 4th and New Years Eve anymore,” Munnerlyn said during a recent interview. “There being used now more at weddings, family reunions, sporting events, concerts, corporate events, and gender reveal parties. The diverse cultures that now make up our nation also use fireworks to celebrate their own holidays and celebrations.” He mentioned as examples the Indian Festival of Diwali, Mexican Independence Day, Chinese New Year, and the Muslim Festival of Eid al-Fitr which celebrates the breaking of the month-long fast of Ramadan. “I take a hardline approach to the illegal immigration that’s happening on our southern border, but the people that I’m speaking of are legal immigrants that often-run small businesses in our communities. They should have a right to exercise their festivals and traditions within this law as long as they aren’t violating something like an already established noise ordinance. This should be handled on a case-by-case basis with laws that already exist. It should apply to all our residents and fireworks shouldn’t be limited to the two traditional holidays we celebrate as Americans. I believe Lexington County’s new fireworks ordinance is setting the county up for a lawsuit by other cultures being disadvantaged when trying to celebrate their holidays responsibly with fireworks.”
When asked why he was running for Lexington County Council, Munnerlyn said, “I find Darrell (Hudson) to be a person that makes decisions without thinking about how they impact others. I would say that the harm he does isn’t always intentional, however, I have addressed him in both a public forum and one on one directly before the county passed its fireworks ordinance. He talks with you, sometimes seems as if he’s agreeable or understands, but then votes with a very vocal minority that shows up at council meetings raising their voices over an issue that can affect thousands, and then votes for that minority that’s at these hearings. I find that the younger generation, working people, and very busy people simply can’t make these meetings, but they still should have a voice on things. He basically is neglecting to consider the district’s residents that cannot show up at a council meeting and weigh in on an issue. The multiethnic communities that are affected by the fireworks ordinance is just one of the groups that Darrell ignored. This is a prime example of the way that people are being discriminated against in Lexington County because of unnecessary regulations. But, after making the decision to run I am now seeing this same pattern of decision making occurring with development issues that are going to have a profound impact on our children’s future.”
When you listen to Munnerlyn talk, you immediately feel his energy and passion for people and issues. He’s extremely energetic and animated and willing to fight for what’s right and the truth. “I’ve already learned that some of the council members will sacrifice the truth to fit their needs and desires. I’m sorry, but at times the lies and slander are just too much. I come from a business culture where these types of behaviors are handled with terminations. In politics you can make up absurd lies and there is no legal recourse and for a person used to providing mutual respect it is extremely disappointing. I have aggressively addressed these false accusations and have been extremely passionate about calling out misinformation and lies. It is my hope that the people in Lexington will see how passionate I am about fighting for their rights and the future of our children.”
Regarding development, Munnerlyn said, “My patients have voiced their concerns with traffic and development. Having grown up here, I am extremely familiar with the stress that growth without proper planning has placed on our community. That very vocal group that I referenced earlier often takes their aggression out on developers and business owners in Lexington County. These are people that have built their business around developing in Lexington County. I have a firm view that our problems with development are rooted in current and previous council’s inability to properly plan for growth, and I hold a belief that our current issues fall on the shoulders of council and not persons trying to make a living providing homes for our community, just like Darrell’s home. For the record, I am not a developer or builder, I have no friends or family that are in that business and have no association with these people or their trade groups. I just have a keen respect for the fact they employee our citizens and are often our neighbors trying to run a business. They are hurt by unreasonable ordinances, especially those hurried up without collaboration under an improper use of “pending ordinance,” that are making it difficult or impossible to stay in business. Pending ordinances should be used in emergencies only. My campaign has been funded by me personally and the fireworks industry and we both look forward to continuing to support candidates that are pro-business and properly collaborate with businesses and the community in decision making.”
Munnerlyn continued by saying, “County Council members who stand up and accuse me of being funded by the Builders Association are just liars. I have never taken a red cent from a developer for my campaign. They have invited me to meetings to hear their issues and I am meeting with all stakeholders on all sides to understand the issues. If I receive any money from a builder through my online platform, I’d send it back! I have committed to not taking money from builders or developers so I can better represent the public and the best interest of all without prejudice. Developers and builders are businesspeople that enhance our commerce, and they deserve to be heard just like every stakeholder in this county so we can work together to develop sustainable solutions we can all work towards.”
“I also believe that we must hold developers and ultimately the new homeowners accountable for a portion of the infrastructure cost and that current taxpayers should not bear the upfront cost for growth expansion,” Munnerlyn Stated. “In addition, I believe that we must balance housing communities in such a way that we do not alienate young adults looking to move to Lexington County or senior adults that may be looking to downsize due to failing health, new priorities, or “empty nest” syndrome. Those people can’t afford and often don’t want a quarter acre of land to have to keep up. Sometimes, they just want a small 2 bedroom 1 & 1.5 bath home with almost no yard to maintain. Patio homes are out of the question in much of the county right now yet there’s still a demand for these.” He spoke about his own daughter that recently graduated from Clemson and became a teacher. “She wouldn’t be able to afford living in Lexington County if God hadn’t blessed our family so much financially over the years. Without parents to help, all our teachers will eventually have to move out of Lexington County and into neighboring counties. Think about our police officers too. They may have to live in other counties but will be forced to commute here for work, shopping, or entertainment. Basically, neighboring counties will reap the tax benefits from these folks, but we’ll still will have the strain on our roads and bridges with that traffic.”
Munnerlyn says that Darrell has been aggressive with ordinances that will increase the cost of construction in Lexington reducing access to affordable housing options. “I believe that we must have a balanced approach that allows for affordable housing. (note: not the same thing as low-income housing). Builders need to be held accountable to development standards and in doing so will be operating from no disadvantage,” Munnerlyn continued. “The standards need to be clear and allow for proper evaluation and decision making.”
Munnerlyn says he does agree with Darrell about one thing. “That’s the need for more interchanges off I-20. I’d like to work with our State and Federal officials to see several more. We need to work towards one at perhaps Calks Ferry Road and another at Mineral Springs Road, if possible, in the future.”
At this point in the interview, Munnerlyn pointed out one other half truth about him that his opponent is trying to use against him. “Darrell has pointed out that I am building a house off Corley Mill Road in Council District 8. This is true. What he leaves out is that I am building another in Council District 3. Both are already permitted through the county. The house in District 8 was really just a good investment opportunity but could become an avenue for a 2026 run in District 8 if I decide to keep the house and make it a home. It is going to a be nice home, but more than what Lindsey (his fiancé) and I need.”
Munnerlyn continued, “Another outright lie Darrell and his cohorts have tried to use against me is that I am behind the group Protect Lexington’s Future. This is a group headed up by others that has shown support for my candidacy. I have had absolutely nothing to do with this group although I do appreciate their support. I’ve told everyone, if Darrell or any member of that council can prove I’m behind that group, I’ll drop out of the race.”
In closing Munnerlyn said, “I look forward to bringing my experience running a large health care organization and managing over 600 employees and my history of operating successful businesses in Lexington County to council. I know how to bring people together to achieve goals that seem impossible and collaborate with stakeholders in an appropriate way to not alienate the levelheaded majority. Those that know me know I truly care about the community I grew up in and want to see what is best for all in the community.”
You can find out more about Brent Munnerlyn on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/voteBRENTMUNNERLYN. He can also be found on the internet at www.votebrent.com. Munnerlyn has a Meet & Greet scheduled at O’Hara’s on Main Street at 4:30 p.m. on June 4, 2024. The public is invited to attend this and interact with him exchanging ideas and their thoughts on the future of Lexington County.
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