Six running for three seats on Pamplico Town Council

There are six candidates running for three seats on Pamplico Town Council. Members serve four-year terms.

Three are incumbents: Cynthia Parks, Lucius B. Eaddy and Thomas Benton.

Challengers are Harriet Cox, Frank M. Munn Jr. and Ricky A. Hardee.

Parks, 57, is seeking her third term on town council because she enjoys working and seeing the changes taking place in her hometown. She has been involved in parks and recreation.

“We’ve made a lot of improvements in that area,” she said, “but I would like to see some more things done. Pamplico is a small, close-knit town that I want to see grow. I just want to be a part of this growth and improvement and continue to do what God has blessed me to do.”

Parks has worked with children in summer programs. She wants to see more recreation programs to keep them busy.

“I see our children as our future,” she said, “and, right now, we don’t have anything for them.”

Benton, 53, is serving out the term of a council member who moved. His goals are to make sure everybody is treated fairly and to see the town move forward.

As far as issues are concerned, he said, “We need new business and industry to come in. I’m going to work as hard as I can for that.”

Eaddy has served on town council for 29 years.

“I don’t want to get involved in all of that,” he said when asked questions similar to the ones posed to the other candidates.

Munn, 59, served on the Florence County District 2 School Board for 10 years. He ran for town council 30 years ago and was defeated by one vote.

“I want to be a part of what is going on,” he said. “I hope the town is going to take off with this new (proposed Santee Cooper coal-fired) power plant (in Kingsburg) that is coming. I really think the town is going to boom in the next few years.”

Regarding issues, Munn alluded to finances.

“We’ve got to tighten down some things,” he said. “We can’t take every grant and then match funds with it. The town just doesn’t have the money for that.”

Cox, 62, said she has “forever been a resident of Pamplico.” The retired teacher lives in her homeplace.

“I love my town and I’m proud of it,” said Cox, who taught physical education and science for 28 years. “I have an interest in recreation, particularly getting new tennis courts here.”

Cox is interested in downtown progress and new employment. She wants to see the proposed Santee Cooper plant become a reality.

Regarding issues, she said, “The downtown needs to open up its doors for small town businesses. I would like to continue uplifting our little town and get those tennis courts. I know if Santee Cooper comes, they can help us.”

Cox has never run for elected office before. She’s been retired for five years.

“I’m a civic person who enjoys participating and being a part of a small town that I’m proud of,” she said. “I just enjoy being a good citizen.”

Hardee, 50, is a Pamplico native who is running so he can “try to give back a little something” to a town he wants to see grow.

“We’ve lost jobs in the last several years and our tax base is pretty close to zero,” he said. “We really need to replace these jobs for our people.

“I want to try to help bring in some industry. We’ve got that power plant that is hopefully coming and I hope some other businesses will spring up because of it.”