Pine Ridge, SC (05/10/2021 Paul Kirby) – Pine Ridge’s current Mayor Pro-Tem Daniel Davis has filed to run for the vacant seat of former Mayor Robert Wells who resigned recently citing health concerns. Davis has served on Pine Ridge’s Town Council since 1995.
Davis, 59, has lived in the Mallard Trace neighborhood of Pine Ridge with his family since 1992. He is married to Theresa and the couple have a grown daughter Christine who is 28 years old.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Francis Marion University and earned his Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. He currently works at South Carolina’s Department of Disabilities and Special Needs as the Autism Division Director. There, he directs a staff that provides community residential services to adult men with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Davis attends the Second Calvary Baptist Church where he is chairperson of the church’s Deacon Ministry. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising and playing golf.
During a recent interview, Davis said that he first served on the town’s Zoning Board before running for council. He decided to take the step and run for council originally because when he moved here with his wife, he felt it was important to get involved in community affairs in the area they chose to live and raise their child in.
When Robert Wells recently resigned, Davis thought, prayed, and talked with his family and friends before deciding to run for mayor. He then made his decision to file saying, “As a member of the Pine Ridge Town Council for over 25 years, I have provided stable leadership as the Finance Chair and Mayor Pro-Tem. That stability and experience are more important than ever as the next mayor will be challenged with leading the council and community to refocus and coalesce around common community goals. I believe I am the right person to meet this challenge.”
Davis was asked recently what one accomplishment he and the other members of council have brought to fruition since he began serving that he’s the proudest of. In answer to that he said, “For the past 20 years, the Town has received stellar marks from independent auditors. We have demonstrated it is possible to be fiscally conservative and simultaneously support through donations, causes that directly benefit the citizens of Pine Ridge.
He provided a list of those who have received donations on behalf of Pine Ridge that include but are not limited to:
• Pine Ridge Senior Center – Meals on Wheels
• L C Lucas Memorial Golf Tournament
• Midland Girls’ Softball
• Midland Boys’ Baseball
• SAL Fishing – Epworth Childrens’ Home
• Pine Ridge Middle School - GOLD Sponsor
Later during the interview, Davis said that while sometimes difficult, public service is important to the development of one’s character; it provides an opportunity to be exposed to diverse ideas and work with others for the common good. He said he came to appreciate and value this perspective during his 13 years of military service to this country.
In the coming years, Davis says that he believes the Town must be mindful of how laws made at the county and state level will impact Pine Ridge as well as other small towns. Often, these laws roll responsibilities downhill to the lowest level of government, municipalities, and often, the leaders who make them have not fully investigated how the local governments will pay to implement them. This can be overly burdensome on local leaders and their constituents.
David said that the current council has already decided they will begin having a series of work sessions on scheduled Saturdays to discuss ideas soon. They will take measures to obtain public input to ensure decisions are not made in a vacuum, something people have openly complained about in the past.
In closing, Davis said, “We have enjoyed living in Pine Ridge. Our neighbors are great; many of us who raised our children here continue to live here. The area is conveniently close yet not to crowded.” He also said that Pine Ridge continues to have a “small town” atmosphere and the people who live there take pride in how their town looks. He also enjoys the fact that the community supports local causes such as the senior center, softball, baseball, and the library.
“I believe Vince Lombardi said it best,” Davis said in conclusion. “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. As the mayor of Pine Ridge, my hope is that this community can continue to work together for the greater good.”
The special election is June 15th, 2021. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Whoever wins the mayor’s seat will serve the remainder of Robert Wells’ term and will have to run again in the fall.
You can reach Daniel Davis by email with your own questions and comments at ddprtc95@hotmail.com. He says that he welcomes all questions.
