Letter from SI voter: Desperately Seeking Leadership

Our goal at SI Community Impact is to get information out to islanders about what is happening on Sullivan's Island and the impact of it all on the entire community.  To that end, we have encouraged islanders to send us letters and other information to post on SI CI. Our hope is that SI CI can become a forum for islanders to communicate with each other about significant issues in the community. 

SI CI does not plan to endorse a candidate for mayor, but we are happy to post letters and candidate endorsements sent to us by other islanders. Particularly as we enter the last weeks of this critically important mayoral race, we encourage islanders to write letters about the candidates and issues of concern to you. 

Below is a thoughtful letter from islander Ed Allen, endorsing Pat O'Neil for Mayor of Sullivan's Island. 

Karen and Barbara

sicommunityimpact.com

Here is Ed's letter:

At the December 3rd  town hall meeting to meet the mayoral candidates, Jerry Kaynard's sudden "man of the people" comment that he would like to have a town hall meeting for every issue was completely opposite to his track record. 

This is the man who fought tooth and nail to prevent a good faith petition for referendum (the ultimate town hall), and stated in an open council meeting that there was "a presumed majority" on that controversial issue when clearly there was not. He also once condescended at a Town Council meeting to point out that the council was allowing citizens to speak on a controversial issue at a time when it was not required to do so. The issues here aren't important, but rather the lack of real regard for an opposing view.

Conversely, from the time he took office on council, Pat O'Neil has regularly provided me (and I'm sure many others) with email updates on town matters and public safety issues, and solicited my opinion. He's the only council member that has ever done that. 

He has always been open and willing to not just hear but actually consider my opinion. At the December 3 public forum, Pat had the humility, without prompting, to openly state he wished he could  take back his vote to accelerate the process for passing ordinances. 

That is leadership, and what this town desperately needs. It doesn't matter how many meetings someone has sat in or with whom, it's how well one represents constituents that measures leadership.

I am encouraging all SI Community Impact readers to please vote for Pat and begin the process of restoring the trust in Council that only Pat was willing to admit does not exist. We are all neighbors and we want a Mayor and a Town Council that will really welcome and value our thoughts on what is in the best interests of this special place we love.

Edwin H. Allen - 956 Osceola Avenue - Sullivan's Island,
 SC 29482 - 843.883.8109