26 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com our town The November 2023 elections for the Town of Mount Pleasant weren’t as close as other parts of Charleston County, or even high in voter turnout, but they could eventually prove to be the most significant for area residents and leaders. On the table is a long-standing issue: whether to limit future growth and development in a drastic fashion, or to let the market continue to decide. And in the next year or two, the four newly-elected members of the Mount Pleasant Town Council — and the five who are finishing their terms — are not only readying to continue the battle for managing growth, but to make decisions that will likely signify a major turning point in the area’s long-term direction. “Mt. Pleasant growth is part of a three-pronged issue: traffic, attainable housing and growth management,” said Town Councilman Howard Chapman, who was decisively re-elected to a second term with 7,090 votes. “And in the coming year, all the members of council are going to play a major role in solving this issue.” Councilwoman Laura Hyatt, also re-elected to a second term having received the second-highest tally of 7,842 votes, added that in the past four years, the council has helped slow area growth from “about 4.5 percent to under 2 percent.” But first-time elected Councilman Daniel Brownstein, with 6,643 votes, pointed out that the area has grown so much and so fast in the last 20 years that “now we are trying to play catch-up with our roads, parks and first responders.” And Jake Rambo, who polled more votes than any other candidate with 7,980 to easily win a second term, said that planning the future of Mount Pleasant growth is going to Election Recap Growth management a major concern in Mount Pleasant election BY L. C. LEACH III Howard Chapman. Laura Hyatt
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