Candidates file for county council

Four Horry County residents have filed as candidates for the November election, challenging what they say is an “out of touch and unresponsive” Horry County Council. Candidate filing for the 2026 S.C. election has ended.

The four, Genesis Bordner of Surfside Beach (D5), Kristi Burch (D2), and Chris Hennigan (D7) of Myrtle Beach and Dylan Thompson of Conway (D11), are running as Forward Party candidates, choosing it over a Republican Party that has dominated the Council for two decades.

The Forward Party is the fastest-growing political party in South Carolina, having elected candidates in Charleston, North Charleston and most recently in Georgetown. Forward candidate Jay Doyle was elected mayor of Georgetown by a wide margin in November. (Southcarolinaforwardparty.com).

The candidates, all long-time Horry residents, represent a broad collection of knowledge and experience. Thompson is a former minister. Bordner is a businesswoman and music educator. Burch brings an MBA from Coastal Carolina and years of business experience. Hennigan is a local businessman and brings 10 years as a member of the County Planning Board.

Dylan Thompson, a candidate for Council District 11, said the dominant issues this November will be making growth pay for itself, addressing affordable housing for working families, and protecting land and water resources that make Horry County worth living in.

“Right now, development here is out of control, and we have a County Council that has failed to manage it.

“This Council has been controlled by a single party for 20 years,” said Thompson, “and that has been plenty of time to get a handle on development. But it hasn’t.

“It’s paid more attention to real estate developers than it has the residents of Horry County. And we’re seeing the result of that in overcrowded schools, bumper-to-bumper traffic, and severe flooding when storms hit.

“We’ve got to do better, and I have no doubt that the three other Forward candidates and I will be a giant improvement over councilors that have served double-digits terms, on average, in time on the Council. They’re just not paying attention to those who live here.

“Together, we ought to be able to make Horry County a place that works for all the people who live here. That’s what this campaign is about. It’s not about right vs. left. It’s about making sure Horry County stays beautiful and affordable for the people who call it home,” he said.

All four candidates have begun to reach out to Horry County residents and are planning door-to-door campaigns until November to introduce themselves and get the word out.

Here are brief bios of each of the candidates.

Genesis Bordner —Candidate for Horry County Council District 5

Genesis Bordner comes from a family rooted in service—engineers, veterans, nurses, and postal workers who helped build and maintain the systems that keep America running. From an early age, she developed a deep respect for hard work, resilience, and the people who keep communities connected.

Her path was far from easy. Genesis experienced homelessness at just 14 years old. But she refused to believe that the American Dream couldn’t be here. She fought her way through college—often sleeping in her car and working overnight shifts while attending classes during the day. Through grit and determination, she earned three degrees and built a career as a professional musician, educator, and small business owner.

That journey led Genesis to build her own business and purchase a home in Surfside Beach, South Carolina – the most beautiful place on earth. She lives there with her partner and her functionally adopted son.

Genesis Bordner is running for County Council because she believes regular people are being left out of the decisions that shape their lives. Across Horry County, families are being squeezed—homes flooding, schools overcrowded, roads failing, costs rising, and wetlands disappearing.

She is committed to leadership that prioritizes everyday residents and stands up for the future of this community.

Kristi Burch — Candidate for Horry County Council, District 2

Kristi Burch is a District 2 native who never left. She lives five blocks from where her grandmother’s home once stood, rooted in the same community she has spent her life serving.

Kristi graduated from Myrtle Beach High School and earned a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics and a minor in Practical Politics from Meredith College in Raleigh. She later earned her MBA from Coastal Carolina University with a concentration in commercial real estate and development. Her career has centered on small business and amusement management — giving her a practical understanding of what it takes to build and sustain a community.

Beyond her professional life, Kristi has dedicated herself to active community service — leading in education, youth development, faith, and civil rights advocacy. She brings that same commitment to everything she does.

She decided to run because unchecked growth has left District 2 residents dealing with clear-cutting, flooding, crowded intersections, and strained healthcare access. She believes District 2 deserves to be built with intention — not left to absorb the fallout of poorly managed expansion.

She is running to bring real accountability to District 2, fighting for residents’ quality of life, infrastructure, and affordability. For the first time in twenty years, District 2 voters have more than one choice in November.

Chris Hennigan — Candidate for Horry County Council District 7

Chris Hennigan for County Council

“My name is Chris Hennigan, and I am proud to announce my candidacy for the District 7 County Council seat.”

“I am a lifelong resident of Horry County—specifically District 7, by way of Bucksport, South Carolina. This isn’t just where I live… It’s home. It’s where my wife and I have built our life and raised our family. Our daughters, Cecily and Heleina, are now pursuing their paths in Nashville, Tennessee, and our son Isaac is in Charleston, South Carolina. Everything I value started right here in this community.

I’m a proud alumnus of Conway High School and Coastal Carolina University, and today I serve as the general manager at The Track Family Fun Park in Myrtle Beach. But more importantly, I’ve spent 10 years serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission—where I listened, learned, and made decisions that didn’t just affect me, but impacted the lives of people across Horry County.

And that’s exactly why I’m running.

I believe there is a real void in representation on our current council. There is a lack of diversity in perspective—and more importantly, a lack of voices representing everyday working people. The very people who wake up early, work hard, raise families, and keep this county moving forward… deserve a seat at the table.

Right now, too many decisions are being made without fully considering how they affect the people who live here day in and day out. That has to change.

If elected, I will be a voice for the people of District 7—not just in words, but in action. I will be present, accessible, and committed to making sure that every decision is made with the community in mind. I will work to bring transparency, accountability, and real representation back to this council.

This role is about service—not status. It’s about listening before leading, and standing up for the people who feel unheard.

But I can’t do this alone. I need your support, your voice, and your vote.

Together, we can bring stronger representation to District 7… and move Horry County forward.”

Dylan Thompson — Candidate for Horry County Council District 11

Dylan Thompson is a third-generation Horry County native from Conway and a candidate for Horry County Council District 11. His great-grandparents farmed tobacco in the Loris area. His father covered this county as a reporter for years. Dylan spent nearly a decade in ministry, walking alongside families through their hardest moments. “That work taught me how to listen before I speak,” he says, “and how to lead without a personal agenda.”

That rootedness shapes everything about his campaign.