Meet the candidates for Loris City Council

By Kaye Collins

The Loris Chamber of Commerce organized a Meet the Candidates forum on Monday, October 20, held at The State Theatre. Candidates vying for Loris City Council discussed their backgrounds and motivations for seeking office, followed by a chance for attendees to engage in one-on-one conversations. The evening’s moderator was attorney Maria Elias-Johnson from the Loris Law Firm. She introduced the four candidates in attendance and posed questions to them throughout the one-hour forum. Samantha Norris, the Executive Director of the chamber, streamed the forum live on Facebook for those unable to attend.

“Tonight’s event is an opportunity for our community to get to know the individuals who are stepping up to serve,” Elias-Johnson shared. “This is not a debate, it’s a chance for each individual candidate to introduce themselves, share their vision and connect with the community in a positive and respectful way.”

The first speaker was Joshua Franklin, who started by expressing his gratitude to all attendees for participating in the forum. “I am running for Loris City Council to enhance communication and improve the organization of the city’s operations,” he stated. With a background in IT Project Management, and experience in operating a small business, that knowledge could be utilized to help the city. He is confident that the city can create jobs on a larger scale by bringing in more businesses. He shared that he has seen how hard all of the city workers are working for the city and I want to help find ways to make it easier for them to perform their jobs.

Candice Grella had organized materials to help convey her vision for Loris’ future. She began by introducing herself and clarified that she is not a politician. “I’m just a regular person, a mom and a proud Loris resident who loves this town and wants to see it thrive,” she said, “I’ve faced a lot of adversity in my life but I am stubbornly determined to do whatever I put my mind to.” She shared that the difficult situations she experienced made her tougher, more compassionate and more determined to help others reach their dream.” She poses to make creative solutions make city life a little better for those who live here. She says she will roll up her sleeves, listen to people and get things done. She concluded with, “The government should work for the people not the other way around.”

Marshall Russell took the podium and introduced himself, “I’m running for city council because I want to make a difference.” He said there are a lot of things the city could do. He was born and raised in Loris, for 17 years he was committed to the police force for Loris and Horry County. He was the chief of police for Loris before retiring. He stated if elected to office they serve the people, listen to people and do what needs to be done to make the city of Loris a great place to live and work. He shared if he is not sure of a response to a citizen’s concern he will do all he can to provide the answers. He said he wants to make Loris like the Loris High School Lions motto to ‘ROAR’ with pride.

Carroll D. Padgett, Jr. stated he has lived and served in Loris for 52 years with Loris being his hometown and has raised his family here. He graduated from the University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina Graduate School and studied law at the University of South Carolina Law School and after that he practiced law in Loris for 10 years. He worked for the Solicitor’s Office for two years and returned to Loris in private practice for 43 years. He was the City Attorney for Loris and enjoyed every minute of his time spent serving the city of Loris. “I worked with people who love this city,” said Padgett, “I love this city, and I made it my home.” He worked as an attorney for Loris Community Hospital for over 30 years. He was also appointed as the Chief Associate Probate Judge. He brings much experience with him to the city. There are many things that need to be done and things that have to be done. He shared that while on council the old Loris High School was torn down, the many decisions made to safely remove the debris, “I hated to see the old high school go,” he said, “it is now available for sale in hope to bring beautification to our city.”

Four of the seven candidates were present at the meeting: Joshua Franklin, Candice Grella, Carrol D. Padgett, Jr., and Marshall Russell. The three candidates who were unable to attend due to prior commitments were Lamar Jordan, Andrea Coleman, and Kelli Gerald, all of whom expressed their regrets and a desire to participate in the meeting.

Andrea Coleman has served on the Loris City Council for four years and is now seeking re-election for another four-year term. “I decided to run for council four years ago to become more engaged in my community,” she remarked. During her tenure, she has worked under two different mayors and participated on various committees. Currently, she holds the position of chairperson for the Buildings and Grounds and Personnel and Finance Committees. Previously, under the former mayor, she chaired the Public Safety and Buildings and Grounds Committees. “I bring with me a strong sense of right and wrong,” she expressed, “and I approach this role with an open mind, as I have never held a public office before.” One of our greatest achievements has been our collaboration with public safety to ensure the safety of our citizens. The acquisition of the old high school property and the careful removal of the buildings, along with the implementation of proper procedures to preserve the plaques, has been a significant effort, particularly for those working in city hall to ensure compliance with all standards. “I am eager to hear from the citizens,” she stated, “and I encourage them to voice any concerns they may have or to ask questions if they are unclear about how things operate.”

“My reason for running two years ago was to make a difference and to be an active participant in ensuring that the needs of our citizens and city are met,” said Gerald, “I believe in working together to produce positive results because collaboration is paramount.” She entered office believing that effective communication and open dialogue with all citizens’ breeds trust and will continue to maintain that stance now. “I will continue to work with my fellow council members to problem-solve and work towards efficient short and long terms plans for our city’s improvement.” She is chairperson for the Recreation Department Committee and a member of the Personnel and Finance Committee, and the Public Safety Committee. “I am proud of our dedication to ensuring that the demolition project of the old Loris High School was successful,” she expressed, “I am also extremely proud of the positive rapport that I continue to develop with citizens, because being approachable is significant.” Gerald has addressed a resident during council meetings who came forward with a persistent water problem on the street she lived on. Gerald she collected information and reached out to the appropriate departments to address the concerns.

Although Lamar Jordan was unable to attend the forum his statement is, his reasons he is running for a seat on the Loris City Council to be a strong voice for the citizens of Loris. “I am running for Loris City Council because I believe our community deserves leadership that puts people first, every time,” said Jordan, “I want to ensure our resources are managed responsibly, our neighborhoods are safe and opportunities for growth and development are accessible to all.” He is committed to listening to the concerns of the residents of Loris, assuring transparency and making decisions that strengthen families, support local businesses and build a brighter future for the city. “With a heart for service and vision of progress,” Jordan explained, “I am ready to serve and represent the people of Loris with integrity, accountability and dedication.” His hashtag is #Lamar4Loriss. Jordan owns Safe Hands Daycare, he helped the community come together for Christmas providing name brand shoes to needy children. He and his staff have fed the community several times each year to pull the community together.

The municipal election will take place on Tuesday, November 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The West precinct can be found at the Loris Public Safety Building, while the East precinct is situated at Loris Elementary School. Please remember to bring a photo ID to cast your vote.