On November 21st, two days before Thanksgiving, Myrtle Beach residents head to the polls in the run off for Myrtle Beach Mayor.
The choices are between long standing incumbent, John Rhodes and local business leader Brenda Bethune.
5,800 people voted in the November 7th elections. Historical data shows that only 70% of those will vote again in a run off election. That history, however, does not factor in a run off occurring during a holiday season.
Based on public support, if voters do turn out, Mrs. Bethune has a good chance of winning the November 21st decision.
WHY BETHUNE?
This election has been highly focused on public safety and which candidate can competently run local government. Mrs. Bethune received 40% of the vote when those issues were considered by the voters on November 7th. She received the highest vote total of all five candidates competing.
Mrs. Bethune offers Myrtle Beach a “once in a generation” opportunity to pick itself up and be the city it was always destined to be.
Bethune will bring a carefully planned, “solutions-oriented” mindset for fixing the problems facing Myrtle Beach without all of the just-recent past, ongoing incumbent drama.
Myrtle Beach can once again become an inclusive city. Shady, back office deals for “insider elites” will cease. Mrs. Bethune will be a mayor for all of Myrtle Beach. Resident issues, small business owner issues, well-managed growth, and quality of life issues will become top priorities.
The unacceptable, ongoing behavior of city leaders mocking tourists, locals, merchants and county residents could soon be a thing of the past.