Candidates quick to file in Darlington mayor’s race
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Darlington citizen Curtis Boyd (with City of Darlington Clerk/Treasurer Gloria Pridgen) files for mayor.
The filing period for Nov. 5 elections opened last Thursday, and two candidates promptly filled out their paperwork, paid the $355 filing fee, and set out to challenge incumbent Mayor Gloria C. Hines.
Darlington City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Bruce filed on Friday morning. Bruce says her campaign will focus on healing racial and economic divides and bringing citizens together to work for a brighter future.
“Being on City Council for the last four years, I feel that there is a divide in the city. There seems to be some distrust among the citizens, so I hope to secure the trust of the citizens and bridge those gaps that keep us from making a better Darlington,” says Bruce. “We need to see one Darlington and move the city forward in a positive direction.”
Darlington businessman Curtis Boyd filed just past noon on Thursday, moments after the filing period opened. Boyd’s unofficial campaign for mayor began in October 2018; in the interim, numerous signs and vehicle wraps have kept his face and campaign slogan (“Some things are worth fighting for”) in the public eye.
“(I’m running) to make a difference,” says Boyd.
“Everybody uses the word ‘change,’ but I think we need more of a movement forward…things need to progress forward and not backward, and we’ve not been seeing that.”
Darlington City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Bruce files for mayor.
On the campaign trail, Bruce plans to push greater community involvement, more citizen participation, and improved transparency. She says that, if elected, she would hold quarterly ‘state of the city’ meetings where residents can discuss problems and brainstorm solutions with their elected representatives.
Boyd says he plans to talk about ways to clean up our streets, sewers, and storm drains. He also wants to encourage citizens to take pride in their homes and businesses and keep them in good shape – which, he says, would make the city more appealing to potential new businesses and residents.
“To bring more business, we’re going to have to bring more people back in,” says Boyd. “Our population is decreasing, so we’ll work to bring that back up and bring in the younger generation that’s going to spend money, live here, and support Darlington.”
Both candidates cited persistent stormwater and flooding issues and economic development as priorities. Bruce said that although the city’s infrastructure financing is currently “maxed out” to repair and improve these problems in the southwest Darlington area, she pledged to research viable financing methods and work with city staff to identify and secure further funding.
Mayor Gloria Hines. Photos by Samantha Lyles
“We can’t just stop with southwest Darlington, because the water problem affects the whole city,” said Bruce.
Boyd also voiced support for investigating new financing and funding methods to build up the downtown area and remove blight properties. Specifically, Boyd said the city’s elected government could do a much better job of partnering with local business and industry to accomplish these mutually beneficial goals.
In other races, Darlington City Council member Bryant Gardner filed for re-election to his at-large seat. As of Monday, Aug. 5, only one other candidate, Winfred Herrington, has filed for an at-large Darlington City Council seat. Bruce says she plans to also file for re-election to her council seat at a later date.
Mayor Gloria Hines has filed for re-election, but opted to discuss her campaign and goals at a later time.
In Society Hill, two candidates have filed for Town Council seats. On Aug. 1, Charles W. “Chuck” Baker and Jimmy Scott Dixon both paid the $209 filing fee and officially became candidates.
The filing period for Darlington County elections ends Aug. 15 at noon. For more information, contact Darlington County Elections and Registrations at 843-398-4900.
