Charleston Metro Chamber Political Action Committee announces Charleston City Council endorsed candidates

CHARLESTON, SC  –  The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee (CMCC PAC) is pleased to announce its endorsement of Aubry Alexander, Jimmy Bailey Jr., Bill Moody, Marvin Wagner, Keith Waring and Gary White for Charleston City Council.

In order to be considered for the CMCC PAC endorsement, candidates had to complete a questionnaire which indicated their views on key issues facing the City of Charleston. Questions included views on the completion of I-526, the extension of the Glenn McConnell Parkway and the construction of the cruise ship terminal, among others. Candidates were chosen for endorsement following an extensive review of questionnaire responses.

“All of the candidates that the PAC voted to endorse for the City of Charleston have business-friendly views and are aligned with Chamber priorities,” said David Hand, CMCC PAC Chairman. “This will be a year of transition for the City of Charleston with Mayor Riley stepping down. Each endorsed candidate recognized that the changeover will be a challenge for the incoming Council and indicated that they are prepared for working with a new Mayor on all of the current issues the City is facing.”

In addition to aligning with the Chamber on issues, each candidate was endorsed based on his experiences as well:

• Aubry Alexander, who is running in District 9, has been on numerous committees since he was elected to office in 2007 and was also named Mayor Pro Tem for 2010. Throughout his time on Council, Councilman Alexander has demonstrated a pro-business approach to his decisions and has maintained a positive relationship with the Chamber.
• Jimmy Bailey Jr., who is running in District 3, is a lifelong Charlestonian. He has managed large scale community associations, including the Kiawah Island Community Association, for the last 11 years. His experience includes managing budgets in excess of $10 million and managing major infrastructure projects. Bailey has a pro-business philosophy and is focused on constituent service.
• Bill Moody has been the Councilman in District 11 since 2011 and has served on the Human Resources Committee and the Real Estate Committee as well as chaired the Traffic and Transportation Committee and Ways and Means Committee. Moody is a Past Chairman of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
• Marvin Wagner has been the representative in District 5 since he was elected in 2011. He has served on various committees since he was elected, and has steadily maintained views that are aligned with the Chamber.
• Keith Waring, who is running in District 7, has been on Council since 2011. He is currently on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and was the Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors from 2002 to 2003. He has been a member of the City of Charleston Planning and Zoning Board, and has served on a number of committees since his 2011 election.
• Gary White is running in District 1 and has been on Council since 2007. Similar to the other incumbents, White has served on a variety of committees. Additionally, he has maintained a positive relationship with the Chamber while serving on City Council.

The City of Charleston is facing a difficult transitional year in its governmental structure with Mayor Riley retiring. There are a number of impressive candidates running for City Council, and the Chamber’s PAC Board believes the six candidates chosen for endorsement are the best candidates for the open seats due to their experience and willingness to vote in a business-friendly manner.

The CMCC PAC, established in September 2000 as the political arm of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, is a non-partisan political action committee organized to support candidates at the local level who contribute to the region’s economic vitality and prosperity.

For more information about the CMCC PAC, visit www.charlestonchamber.net/pac.

About the Chamber: With 1,600 member organizations representing 125,000 professionals, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce serves as the collective voice of the business community, and a catalyst for advancing the region’s economy and enhancing members’ success through Advocacy, Innovation, Talent and Business Advancement. Visit charlestonchamber.net.