Real estate executive, businessman, and entrepreneur is running for Lexington County Council District 4 seat being vacated by retiring Debbie Summers

Lexington, SC 05/28/2024 (Paul Kirby) – Lexington resident Doug Leonard is running for Lexington County Council in District 4. This covers the Springdale and the Kittie Wake-Lexington areas of the county. The representative for that area now is Debbie Summers. Summers’ term expires on December 30, 2024, and she is set to retire after 20 years of faithfully serving the citizens of Lexington County.

Leonard has been married to his wife Susan for 38 years. Together they have four grown children and nine grandchildren.

Except for a few work-related moves, Leonard has lived in Lexington County since 1964. He is in real estate now and owns the Charis Real Estate Group out of Lexington. One of his real estate clients said of Leonard, “Doug is a caring person of impeccable character. He is honest and trustworthy, incredibly patient and remarkably knowledgeable. We will recommend him highly to anyone for future real estate needs.”

Over his lifespan, Leonard worked in contract negotiations and operational management for several Fortune 500 companies. Some include managerial roles at Pepsi, Mobil Oil and Southeastern Freight Lines. He writes on his website, “I have found that hard work and continued education are key components to continuous development as a professional.” He attended Midlands Technical College, the University of Wales, the Disney Institute, the American Management Association and Qualpro Quality Process Control/Statistical Process Control training.

As to the issues facing Lexington County in the future Leonard wrote on his website at www.votedougleonard.com, “I have observed challenges that need addressing. There are individuals who seek to undermine our way of life, both nationally, at the state level, and on the county and city levels as well. We need leaders who prioritize the interests of citizens’ rights over personal gain.  People who are committed do the “right thing” regardless of what is politically correct. People who believe in stewardship, transparency, accountability and protecting the rights of citizens in governance.”

He says that if he’s elected, he is committed to being a responsible steward of the resources of the people of Lexington County. “I believe in working in the full light of day to ensure transparency in all expenditures. I plan to work collaboratively with all stakeholders for the betterment of Lexington County,” he said. He believes in reducing taxes, the bureaucracy of government, increasing efficiency of the way the county is run, and above all, upholding the rights and freedoms of EVERY citizen.

Leonard says that his number 1 priority when serving on county council is public safety. He believes in decreasing response times and feels as if personnel will help with this. He’d like to see the fire service increase the number of firefighters on each truck so that when crews arrive, they can begin fighting fires. Currently, it takes approximately 15 minutes to get enough trucks and manpower on scene before they can begin attacking a structure fire. In closing on that subject Leonard said, “We need efficient emergency response times, ensuring that help arrives swiftly when it's needed most.”

As he continued his list of priorities, Leonard said that roads and drainage would hold the number 2 spot on his list. “Our roads are the arteries of our community,” he said. He continued by pledging to prioritize road maintenance, fixing 30-40% of our county-maintained roads that are currently in disrepair. He also said he’d like the council to consider road capacity along with the building permits for an area already issued. “I will link the pace of development with the capabilities of our infrastructure without creating more bureaucracy/ red tape or a long approval process,” he concluded.

Leonard, like most all Americans, does not like taxes although he knows that for the government to provide things like public safety and improved roads and drainage they need a steady revenue stream. “Taxes should be fair and transparent,” Leonard said. “I'll work hard to reduce any unnecessary tax burdens and regulations and foster a culture of stewardship of taxpayers' dollars. After all, it is your money that you worked for. Even though you can look up the county’s revenues and expenditures on their website, I will work hard to ensure that all these are easily understood. You shouldn’t have to have a degree in accounting or an MBA just to understand how your money is being spent,” he concluded.

During a recent face-to-face interview at a local eatery, you get the impression that Leonard is a smart businessman who has a great deal of training and practice in the management of large operations. Now that his children are grown and out of his home, he has found not only the time but also the desire to share his experience with his neighbors in Lexington County. His excitement is palpable, and he would appreciate your vote on June 11th to get started once sworn in next January of 2025.

You can learn more about Doug Leonard and contact him by email through his website at www.votedougleonard.com. You can also follow his campaign on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Votedoughleonard. You can also contact him by phone at (803) 360-3782 or by email at votedougleaonard@gmail.com. He looks forward to hearing from you.