Skipper Elected to Chesnee City Council in Special Election
In a special election held recently, small business owner Monica Skipper has been triumphantly elected to the Chesnee City Council. The news marks an important shift in the political landscape of this small city, located in northeast Spartanburg County.
Candidate Overview
Skipper, originally from North Carolina, moved to the city 17 years ago and started The Red Shed Market, a specialty gift shop, in 2020 on Highway 11. This special election marks Skipper’s very first time holding public office. Monica Skipper emerged victorious, receiving 24 votes while her competitor Rosemary Nichols, a retired educator, got 14 votes. Write-in candidate Jeremy Miller gathered 16 votes.
The vacant council seat was previously occupied by Doug Pye, who stepped down earlier in the year. Despite the low number of votes cast, less than 60, there will be no runoff election as Chesnee elects by plurality.
Skipper’s Vision for Chesnee
Skipper is scheduled to be sworn into office on the 9th of September and is eager to utilize her new role to boost the economic prosperity of her adopted hometown. The newly elected council member expressed intense optimism about the city’s potential for economic rebound.
Upon her winning, Skipper expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am grateful for everyone who voted for me and excited to get started soon. There’s been more interest in things happening in town and we hope to build more foot traffic and bring more money into our town.”
Plans for Improvement
One of Skipper’s primary objectives is to secure grant funding that would bolster the business district. Despite the city’s struggle in recent years to revitalize its downtown, the introduction of at least two new businesses in recent months hints towards a positive shift. Skipper plans to capitalize on this momentum and hopes to usher in additional interest from new restaurants to the city, thus adding to the existing few retail businesses and restaurants.
Reaction from the Competition
Rosemary Nichols, although defeated in this special election, pledged her commitment to remain active in the town where she owns multiple rental properties. Upon reflecting on the election process, Nichols highlighted the need to increase the accessibility of voting precincts within Chesnee city limits, suggesting a more central location such as a church to encourage more citizens to vote.
As Chesnee prepares to welcome its newest council member, Spartanburg County and the community at large eagerly anticipate Skipper’s contribution to the city’s future development.
