Letter to the editor: Sumter City Council members committed to representing people who elected them

I apologize for not writing this letter sooner, but a recent experience reminded me of my intention to speak up.

While I still own a business and property in Sumter, I moved to an adjacent county last year. Because of a controversial project, I have since found myself taking a crash course in local politics here. In an attempt to better understand the dynamics, I spoke with a longtime resident who expressed deep distrust of this county's administration and elected officials. He shared a story about an entire community speaking out against a proposed development, only for council to approve it anyway. That conversation reminded me that I had never written this letter.

In September of last year, I assisted some friends in organizing opposition to a proposed zoning variance that would have allowed a new Dollar General to be built at the corner of Wedgefield Highway and Deschamps Road. Residents banded together to speak out against the proposal, and it was not approved. However, what I most want to recognize is what I heard from City Council during that meeting.

Before the Dollar General proposal, another somewhat contentious zoning variance was up for approval. Following public comment, Councilwoman Lynn Kennedy made a motion to approve it. During further discussion, council members realized that the councilman representing the area was not present and had been expected to provide feedback from his constituents. Councilwoman Kennedy withdrew her motion, and council voted to defer the matter until the absent councilman could be consulted.

I found it commendable that, despite being only one motion and vote away from approving the project, council chose to pause the process and allow for more direct feedback from residents and their representative.

When the zoning variance for the Dollar General came up, public comments were followed by discussion among council members. During that discussion, both Councilman Colin Davis and Councilman Gifford Shaw stated that, while they personally did not object to the project and hated to turn down new business for Sumter, their responsibility was to represent the will of the residents. That will had been made abundantly clear, and they therefore could not vote to approve the variance. I believe the variance was voted down unanimously.

Those statements were refreshing to hear and very much appreciated.

During my involvement with the Dollar General proposal, Councilman Davis also expressed how glad he was to see the public attending meetings because it made him feel that their work mattered. After the meeting, I also received a message from Councilwoman Kennedy thanking me for participating.

We all know the old saying that you don't know what you have until it's gone, and I certainly miss having confidence in my elected representatives. Politics is messy, and there are many, often conflicting, interests to weigh when making decisions. But in that meeting, I saw a City Council committed to doing its job and representing the people it serves.

I wanted to take the time to recognize and thank council and to encourage residents to participate in local government, because the decisions made at that level really do matter to the community.

NICOLE BAILEY

Former Sumter resident