According to the Nichols Town Clerk, Lawson Battle will be sworn in as the new Nichols Mayor and one new council member will be sworn in with a team of seasoned veterans on Jan. 5, 2009.
Lawson Battle was elected Mayor of the Town of Nichols, 173-60, over James C. Little, in Tuesday's election. Little had served since 1996.
Battle said previously that his campaign slogan was “A New Mayor for a Great Town.” The life-long resident of Nichols said he was running for Mayor because he believed it is time for a change in Nichols. "Time for more energetic and aggressive leadership to bring new growth and new opportunities to our town.”
The 31-year-old, fifth-generation local businessman said the town has a good police department but that he wants to provide better protection for citizens by networking with Marion County law enforcement, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol. “We need a stronger emphasis on improving and enhancing our downtown and our business community,” he said, adding that working with county officials, the legislative delegation and other sources to seek assistance and grants to improve should be done to keep from putting unnecessary tax burdens on citizens.
As mayor, Battle said he pledges "an open, honest and frugal town government." Nichols has a strong mayor-weak council form of government.
Elected to serve with Battle were incumbents Michael Elliott, Tommensia Floyd and Kathryn McCormick, along with newcomer Verna Nance.
Nance said in a pre-election interview that she has always been interested in politics and that "Restoring opportunities and needed services in the community" is something she plans to focus on. “We need a healthcare facility, a grocery store, and, for example, a dollar store. “What I would like to do is bring the community together,” she said, adding that recreation for children, attracting new businesses, and restoring the town’s tax base are needed.
Nance said he perused her education in New Jersey, where she worked 32 years in various capacities in state government, which helps her bring “a wealth of experience and insight to this endeavor .."
McCormick will begin serving her third term on Nichols Town Council and is a banking official at First Citizens Bank in Nichols. Floyd has 28 years experience on Nichols Town Council and said she wants to continue working for the citizens.
“The wellness park, upgrades to our water and sewer system and lighting for our parks are things that I’m proud of,” she said, adding that the citizens of Nichols are like a family. Drawing more residents to the area and continuing to keep the town’s neighborhoods safe are also a focus of hers, she said, and the citizens need more places to shop in town, which will help the economy. “I’m proud of Nichols and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” Floyd said.
Michael Elliott completed his first term on council and was reelected for his second.
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