7 in running for 3 seats in St. Stephen council race

ST. STEPHEN — Voters in this tiny, northern Berkeley County town head to the polls Tuesday to fill three seats on Town Council.

Seven people, including three incumbents, are vying for three at-large seats in this rural hamlet some consider isolated from the growth enveloping southern parts of the county.

Almost all of the candidates said the town needs to do something about its appearance, bring in new industry and crack down on crime.

"My goal is to always be a good steward of the town and its resources," said Councilman Robbie Ballentine, who was first seated in a special election last August. "The town is progressing. ... I would like to see the main street revitalized."

Incumbent full-term Councilman Louis Brown's top concern is recreation and getting a new ball field.

"A big facility for recreation would attract people from all over the rural areas," he said. "We have nothing to really offer our youth to keep them here ... or keep them busy to stay out trouble."

Political newcomer Shellie Johnson said the toughest issues facing the town are jobs, crime and recreation.

"We need to develop a strategic plan for long-term growth," she said. "We need to get people more interested in what's going on."

Randy Knight, another political newcomer, said he has the time now that he is retired to devote to trying to make the town better.

"We are isolated up here in northern Berkeley County," he said. "We need something in here to help stimulate the economy. There are too many drugs around town, and the appearance of the town needs work too."

Councilman John Rivers is seeking re-election to the seat he has held since 1983 to continue improvements to city services and strive to bring in new jobs.

"The lack of jobs, the lack of new businesses, growth in general," he said when asked about the toughest issue facing the hamlet. "That would keep young people instead of them having to leave to survive."

Political newcomer Bettye Shealy, who also serves as president of Berkeley County Historical Society, said it's time for a change.

"We are a small town, and we don't have a lot of industry on our end of the county. I would like to see the town revitalized and cleaned up. It has a lot of history. I would like to see us preserve what we have and not lose the small-town atmosphere."

Roderick Sumpter, who served six months on council in 2006, wants to be re-seated because he believes the town needs to be revitalized.

"Old houses need to be town down," he said. "They are eyesores. There is too much old stuff here. When you spend $100,000 for a house and three houses down you have a boarded-up house, it brings the value of the town down.

The top three vote-getters will be seated. One poll at the American Legion Hut at 180 Ravenel Drive will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The town of 1,776 residents, as of the 2000 Census, has about 875 registered voters, according to Berkeley County Elections and Voter Registration office.

Reach Jasiri Whipper at 745-5863 or jwhipper@postandcourier.com or Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@postandcourier.com.