

37
www.MountPleasantMagazine.com|
www.ILoveMountPleasant.com|
www.BestOfMountPleasant.comfeature
Riley pointed out that he also worked well with
Richard L. Jones (1984-1991), Cheryll Woods-Flowers
(1992-2000), Harry M. Hallman Jr. (2000-2009), Billy
Swails (2009-2013) and current Mayor Linda Page, who
was elected in 2013.
“Linda has been terrific. It’s amazing the consistent
quality of leadership the people of Mount Pleasant have
elected. It’s been a huge benefit to our region,” Riley
remarked.
And who was the best mayor of Mount Pleasant
during Riley’s time at Charleston’s helm?
“That’s not for me to say. They were all great. Mount
Pleasant and the whole region is blessed,” he said. “Mount
Pleasant has always had a great Town Council and a great
group of public servants.”
Though he never lived in Mount Pleasant, Riley’s
family played a role in the early growth of what would at
one point become the fastest-growing municipality of its
size east of the Mississippi River. His father, “somewhat
of a developer,” convinced nine other people to help him
buy and develop the land that eventually became Cooper
Estates, off Johnnie Dodds Boulevard on the southwest
side of Mount Pleasant.
Despite its incredible growth in recent years, Riley
doesn’t think Mount Pleasant will ever pass Charleston,
North Charleston and Columbia to become the largest
town in South Carolina.
“The land acreage just isn’t enough. It’s constrained
geographically by Francis Marion National Forest and
the Wando River. Even if the population becomes more
dense, I don’t think it will become so dense to make the
population that large,” he commented.
G. Magrath Darby
1960-1976
Cheryll Woods-Flowers
1992-2000
Harry M. Hallman Jr.
2000-2009
Billy Swails
2009-2013
Johnnie Dodds Jr.
1976-1984
Richard L. Jones
1984-1991
Linda Page
2013-Current
Mount Pleasant
mayors who
served while Joe
Riley was mayor
of Charleston
“Mount Pleasant will be charming,
beautiful and livable,” Riley said.
Photo by Jess Wood Photography.