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BY EMILY COLLINS, PAIGE MARSHALL,

LEIGHANNE MARTIN AND MARY BLAKE MULLINS

 

The year is 1975. Gerald Ford is president, James Burrows Edwards is governor of South Carolina and Joseph P. Riley has just begun his first term as mayor of Charleston. Fast-forward 40 years. Riley has transformed the then peninsular-isolated city into a booming collection of downtown neighborhoods and suburbs. He expanded the infrastructure and helped Charleston become the thriving metropolitan tourist area that it is today.

      After 40 years under Riley, Charleston will elect a new mayor this fall. Challenges are inevitable for a new leader, particularly when following in the footsteps of a popular and legendary mayor—one of the longest serving in the nation. But with the city growing and flourishing, this may be a near-perfect time for someone new to lay the foundation for his own legacy. And a big part of that legacy is likely to be shaped by Charleston’s millennials.

      “I think in some ways it’s not how the millennials will be affected by a new mayor, but how they will influence a new mayor,” predicts City Councilman Mike Seekings, a Charleston native, attorney and, as of April, a rumored candidate for Riley’s office. “That generation will really drive the debate, will drive the leaders and elected officials with what they need, what they want and what they believe to be practical.”

      The issues affecting millennials and, in turn, the entire city include gentrification and urban development, efficient transportation from downtown to the suburbs, the revitalization of West Ashley and maintaining the balance between residents and visitors.

      Robert Behre, a political reporter for the Post and Courier, believes the biggest challenge will be stepping out of Riley’s shadow. He compares the next mayor to the football coach who followed Paul “Bear” Bryant, who won six national titles coaching for the University of Alabama. Despite the fact that Bryant’s successor won a national championship, no one remembers his name. “Even being great is not necessarily good enough,” explains Behre. “You’re always going to pale by comparison.”

      Seekings, however, feels that the city is ready for change. “I think the timing is good,” he says. “Because Charleston is changing, the demographics are changing, the people who are living here and working here are not the same, are not bringing the same skill sets as the people who lived here 20 or 30 years ago.

       “Whoever the next person is needs to understand where they are, where we are as a city and what’s worked, and then build on that,” Seekings adds.

       Riley has been a democratic mayor in a primarily conservative state. “He’s built coalitions and worked with every segment of the community and done his best to make sure that each segment of the community was treated fairly, was treated equally, and was given the service that any resident of the city expects and deserves,” says Seekings, “and he's done very well with that.”

      Leon Stavrinakis has a few ideas of his own for Charleston if he wins. “My plan is practical and straightforward: Fix our streets. Tackle traffic. Improve the schools. Keep people safe. Keep taxes low. And demand excellence in everything we do,” the Post and Courier quoted Stavrinakis as saying.

      Regardless of who wins, Riley told the Post and Courier what he believes the next mayor needs to be able do: “effectively lead, motivate, inspire those people to achieve excellence for the city.”

 

Growing Pains

One of the most pressing issues of the upcoming mayoral race is the concern of over how to develop Charleston—do we continue to build up the city and its suburbs, and where do we draw the line?

      “There’s real attention right now politically and locally as far as how we should grow,” explains Behre. “Downtown has come back, it’s very popular. James Island is doing well, and people want to live there. People want to live close to their jobs and close to the good restaurants.”

      The problem, however, is that the demand for convenient downtown locations has created a surge in housing prices, and affordable housing is becoming difficult to find. Without a leader who can drive a balance in housing options, Charleston will become “this sort of economic monoculture where it’s only affluent people,” predicts Behre, “and Charleston’s never been like that in its 300-year history.

      “Charleston is now in a prosperous era unlike anything we’ve seen since the Civil War,” Behre adds. This gentrification is already starting to force people with low incomes off the peninsula, a trend that will continue without more affordable housing.

      Seekings agrees that rising housing prices are changing the city’s racial and cultural landscape. “Call it gentrification, call it affordability, call it whatever you want,” he says. “I think we’ve all worked really hard on making Charleston affordable, but the inevitable byproduct of the growth and popularity is that we’ve lost a diverse group of people, and that’s something that will have to be addressed.”

      The Gathering Place, an apartment complex and retail center being built on Maybank Highway, has created controversy in the James Island community. Many are angry, citing that the 280-unit apartment complex will create unimaginable congestion, something that is already an issue on James Island, while others have opposed the removal of trees from the construction site.

      “People move to James Island for breathing room between houses and for the beautiful tree-lined roads,” wrote James Island resident Alan Laughlin in a letter published in the Post and Courier. This “breathing room” and nature is beginning to disappear as the island continues to be built up, he argued.

      Riley has faced his share of development issues during his time in office. He implemented policies that created Charleston Place and Waterfront Park, and he helped revitalize King Street—a move that ultimately transformed Charleston from what Behre refers to as “kind of a slummy city” with nice areas here and there to the famously charming city it is today.

      Many feel the Maybank Gathering Place illustrates the need for the next mayor to reform the approval process for big development projects in the future and to create a policy governing the development of Charleston—what needs to be done and how much is too much?

      Another project that has sparked recent controversy is the Sergeant Jasper site near where Lockwood Boulevard turns into Broad Street. The plan was to demolish the current 225-unit apartment building and replace it with three buildings containing 454 units as well as a grocery store and parking garage. Like the Gathering Place project, the plan raised concerns over traffic and the loss of trees and green areas.

      Opponents say the project, which included two four-story buildings and one seven stories, would change Charleston’s skyline drastically. The project was pulled in early March due to a major opposition from the public, but new plans are in the works. According to a recent Post and Courier article by Behre, Mayor Riley “praised the company for listening to residents’ concerns and revising its controversial plan.” The new plan would erect a building six stories taller than the current one, a height many believe this is still too tall.

 

Bridging the Divide

Charleston has gone from a peninsula city to one that stretches across the river and into the suburbs. But many have realized that is not a sustainable model due to traffic and accessibility. Seekings says he would like to see a mayor who can lead the effort to make the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) easily accessible and push for a trolley system in Charleston.

      “The old saying is that everyone in the city should be able to walk or bike to City Hall to see the mayor, but right now you can’t,” says Seekings. “If you live in West Ashley, you can’t do that; if you live on James Island, you really can’t; obviously, if you live on Daniel Island, you can’t do it. But I think we’ve scattered the city a good bit; we have to figure out a way to connect it—affordably ... Because sooner or later we’re just going to be in full gridlock.”            

      Seekings believes that providing safe and efficient regional transportation will be the top issue facing the next mayor. “Charleston is growing, and it’s going to continue to grow regardless of what we do,” he explains. “We have to grow with it. We have to provide proper roads and efficient transportation for the people who live here and the tourists who visit.”

      He also believes that for the city to sustain itself, it must tap into the revenue stream that comes from the five million visitors instead of relying solely on property taxes and business licensing fees. “We will overburden the people who live and work here if we don’t,” says Seekings. “And if they can't afford to stay, that will be a bad thing.”

 

Shifting West

When Katherine Anderson was born in West Ashley’s Crescent neighborhood 30 years ago, Riley had already served as mayor for an entire decade. Now, a generation later, as the city prepares for the upcoming mayoral race, many issues are on the minds of millennial voters like Anderson.

      Riley, who did so much for the development of downtown, has recently been focusing on outlying areas, which are likely to increase in importance and influence for potential mayoral candidates.

      “If you add up the number of residents and voters that live on James Island, West Ashley and Daniel Island, they far outnumber the residents and voters downtown,” says Anderson. In fact, there are 60,000 voters in West Ashley compared with 30,000 downtown.

      Anderson, who attended Ashley Hall and graduated from the College of Charleston in 2008, is an active member of the West Ashley community. She’s the president of the Avondale Civic Club and says that while a new mayor isn’t likely to affect her professional life as an accountant, it will definitely affect her role as a community activist. She has built strong contacts in the mayor's office over the years and is worried that she’ll have to start over once the new mayor takes office.

      Since Anderson is a resident of West Ashley, she would like to see a mayor who is from the area so that he or she would have a better understanding of what needs to be done there.

She believes that State Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, a mayoral candidate from West Ashley, would be a good leader. She has had direct contact with him over the years, as he worked with Riley to push the state to build a median on Highway 17 in Avondale, a spot with several bars and restaurants where several pedestrians have been struck by traffic over the years.

      Regardless of the outcome, Anderson says she’s “eager to see what a new mayor has to offer. It is definitely time for some fresh eyes.”

 

 

Where Do We Go From Here?

 

As Riley steps down after 40 years, Charleston’s
next mayor will have some very big shoes to fill

Keeping The Peace

Mayor Riley is no stranger to walking a tightrope. Yet, in his almost 40-year term, he has managed to keep calm and carried on.

    In February, Michael Butler, the newly elected mayor of Orangeburg, S.C., met with Riley to gain some insight into his new role as mayor. In an article published in The Times and Democrat, Butler claims Riley told him to, “Stay focused on a mission and be truthful to the citizens you serve.” Riley does, in fact, practice what he preaches. He never seems to lose his effervescence despite the lengthy list of uphill battles he has faced as mayor.

     From the police to the port and even the partying, Riley has struck a balance that not only enables the city of Charleston to thrive, but to flourish. A stroll from Upper King Street to Lower King reveals the drastic transformation from an impoverished area to a boulevard lined with internationally acclaimed luxury hotels, boutiques and restaurants.

      Off King Street and into the historic residential neighborhoods, Riley has recently faced what seem to be his final struggles as the chief executive of Charleston. The residents of historic boroughs and homes have been invaded by two uninvited nuisances: pollution and partying.

      Riley has heard from those concerned about the growing cruise industry in Charleston. Opponents cite the ships’ pollution and the toll that more tourists would have on the city’s aging infrastructure. Preservation is no joke to Charlestonians, as both historic and environmental groups have attempted to persuade the city to block expansion of the cruise terminal. However, proponents say the $39 million venture could be lucrative to the city.

      At his final inauguration, Riley claimed Charleston was a “working city, not a gated community.” When discussing the matter with The New York Times, he said that Charleston is “not a theme park,” adding, “One of the authentic parts of Charleston is that we are an international port.”

            It seems soot and visitors are not all residents are complaining about. Since the development of the upper peninsula as an entertainment district in the past few years, Riley has received complaint after complaint of drunken behavior and door steps and yards littered with red Solo cups, cigarettes, used condoms and needles.

      Despite Riley’s efforts to minimize these problems, disputes regarding the cruise ships and partying on Upper King still go on and will be challenging for the new mayor going forward.

      From the water in the harbor to the streets and sidewalks that line the peninsula, Charleston is going through transition and change, but the city remains a coveted destination. With Charleston’s steady accolades from magazines and organizations as one of the top destinations not only nationally but internationally, the tourism and the partying are likely to increase with time. But Riley will have to trust that his successor will be able to preserve the city he worked so hard to build up.

     “Keeping the balance downtown between residents and tourists and the balance between residents and college students, those are sort of the delicate situations that the mayor has managed pretty well, but I think will be challenging going forward,” says Behre.

     With the passing of the torch, Seekings explains his hope for the next mayor. “I think that ultimately whoever gets elected mayor next is someone who can get the following message out: Sure, it’s been a 40-year great ride and there’s still uncertainty out there, but we as a city will be fine moving forward. We need to take what Joe Riley and his team have done over the last 40 years, honor it and then build upon it. “

 

 

Who will fill Mayor Joseph P. Riley's 40-year seat?

Charleston Then and Now

                   

The city has flourished under Mayor Joseph P. Riley over the past 40 years. Here’s a look at what life was like when he took office compared to when he’s leaving it. 

Who's In the Running?

Leon Stavrinakis, Democrat from West Ashley

PROFESSION: Lawyer at and owner of Stavrinakis Law Firm

PRIMARY ISSUES: Traffic, crime, education

EXPERIENCE: Charleston City Council, state legislator

 

Ginny Deerin, Democrat from West Ashley

PROFESSION: President of Lewis Walton LLC, founder of multiple nonprofit services

EXPERIENCE: Joe Riley’s former campaign manager, former candidate for secretary of state

 

Paul Tinkler, Democrat from West Ashley

PROFESSION: Lawyer and owner of Paul Tinkler Law Offices

PRIMARY ISSUES: Revitalization of West Ashley and James Island, transportation, safety, affordable housing

EXPERIENCE: Charleston City Council

 

John Tecklenburg, Democrat from West Ashley

PROFESSION: Commercial Realtor

PRIMARY ISSUES: Education and youth programs, public transportation, preserving historic architecture, affordable housing

EXPERIENCE: Director of economic development for the City of Charleston

 

William Dudley Gregorie, not declared, from West Ashley

PROFESSION: State director of housing and urban renewal

PRIMARY ISSUES: Affordable housing, Safety

EXPERIENCE: Charleston City Council, state director of housing and urban renewal, acted as mayor for city of Charleston while Riley recovered from a surgery

 

PHOTO COURTESY MCKENZIE EDDY

BY MARY BLAKE MULLINS

 

Thirty-seven years ago, Debra Matthews moved her family from New York to Charleston to be closer to her aging parents. Once settled, she applied to temporary services, got a job in the city planning department and was asked to help out for a little while across the street at City Hall in the mayor’s office. Within a few days, she found her calling when she was asked to stay on full time as secretary to the newly elected Mayor Joseph P. Riley.

      More than three decades have passed, and Matthews still sits at her desk in City Hall, behind the door that reads “Mayor’s Office” in gold cursive letters. She has been a first-hand witness to almost all of Riley’s 40-year term and has come to know the mayor as not just an employer but as a friend.

      As Charleston prepares for a new mayor, Matthews offers insight on the type of legacy the new mayor will have to live up to, though she doubts there will be anyone like Riley.

      “It’s been a very interesting experience working for the mayor,” she says. “He’s great to work for. He is energetic, he’s a businessman, he’s a man of vision. He doesn’t sit still for a second—he’s like a dog with a bone.”

      Matthews paints a picture of Riley that is both admirable and even touching at times, as she recounts her three favorite memories during her time as secretary:

 

1. Christmas Day, 1981

“Mayor Riley is a kind, thoughtful person. After I moved to Charleston, I got pregnant with my third child while working in the mayor’s office, [so] I went on maternity leave at the end of November,” says Matthews. She had just begun working there, she adds, “And on Christmas day, he came to my house and brought me a gift. While I was out on maternity leave! I mean who does that? So I thought that was very thoughtful of him and very kind.”

 

2. April 6, 2000—“Get in Step” march

“Another thing I admire is his courage. There was a big issue with the Confederate flag, with it flying at the State House. Several citizens from Charleston marched from here to Columbia to speak to the governor at that time to ask to have it taken down or be flown elsewhere. The mayor marched with these people. There were several people who did not think he should have, but he did it anyway, and I think that was quite courageous of him.”

 

The Best Seat in the House

 

Riley's longtime secretary weighs in on the source of his success

3. September 22, 1989—Hurricane Hugo

“He took control. He really was a great leader, getting the city organized and at ease while this was happening. My mother lived in West Ashley, right over the bridge, and she was taking care of her father, who was ill. We were told by the emergency preparedness people to leave and find shelter, but my mother was very religious and said, ‘Oh, God will take care of me. We don’t need to leave.’ And I said, ‘Of course you do,’ but she wouldn’t listen. Then Mayor Riley got on television and told everyone who was near bodies of water to leave and emphasized how important it was to find shelter. So she did. She said, ‘Well, if Mayor Riley says I need to go, then I’m going.’ When Mayor Riley said she needed to get out, she did, and he saved her life.”

    

Looking back, “it really is amazing,” she says. “I’ve been working here 36 years in October and to work in one place for so long, it had to have been, it should have been, and it was—working for a great person and a great leader.”

 

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBRA MATTHEWS

 

Debra Matthews and her longtime boss, Mayor Joe Riley

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