Rockville Mayor Holst resigns, citing health; election July 15

After less than two years in office, the mayor of Rockville has resigned.

Libby Ambrose Holst cited health reasons in her letter of resignation. "I have been advised by my doctor for some time to relieve stress in my life," she wrote. "The stress of this position is more than I need right now in my life."

A special election will be held July 15 to find a new mayor for the 140-person town on the southern end of Wadmalaw Island. Until then, Mayor Pro Tem Zachary Nelson is in charge.

The filing period for interested candidates is May 9-19, according to Marilyn Bowers, executive director of Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, which agreed to take over Rockville's elections several months ago.

At that time, Rockville Town Council voted unanimously to change its election date to November of odd-numbered years to get on board with a statewide effort to establish a uniform date for elections. The change gave current council members an additional 17 months in office.

Holst was not present at the meeting.

She resigns about two months before her term was originally due to end, 19 months before the extended term would end. The election date change did not factor in to her decision to resign, she said.

Mayor of Rockville was the first public office Holst had held.

"I've never dreamt of being mayor of anything," she said Monday.

She was asked by some of the townspeople to vie for the position against her sister-in-law, Babs Ambrose, who was up for re-election in the summer of 2006, Holst said. The reason, according to Holst, was that she is more opposed to commercialization than is Ambrose.

Holst wishes she could finish the term, she said. "The stress is something I think I can deal with but my blood pressure is showing me I can't. I've got to try to relieve any stress that I've got right now."

In addition to high blood pressure, Holst recently suffered a transient ischemic attack (sometimes called a mini-stroke) and in 2007 was in three car accidents, she said.

She'll use any extra time she has to get her house and yard in order; her yard is currently the worst in Rockville, she said with a laugh. She will continue to attend council meetings in an effort to keep Rockville "a sleepy little town."

Nelson said he and other council members will miss having Holst at the helm.

She motivated and inspired the council, and went above and beyond the call of duty, Nelson said.

Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.