Myrtle Beach city residents clearly wanted leadership change this election cycle.

Incumbents Wayne Gray, Randal Wallace, and Mayor John Rhodes will no longer be at the helm on January 1, 2018.

Gray, perhaps sensing the public mood, chose not to run this Fall.  Wallace and Rhodes equally succumbed to the will of residents who are tired of the ongoing drama associated with this now former regime.

The Biggest Loser

Perhaps the biggest loser in this election, however, was the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC).   MBACC has for many year been politically active.  Mailers put out by friends of MBACC put the TDF directly on this year’s election ballot.  Incumbents, who all supported the MBACC status quo, felt the sting of those choices.

In doing so,  the TDF will now be accountable to a more sophisticated group of officials who understand the full dynamics of how new media works.  Candidates, who ran this cycle, less and less used TV and radio, and more so turned to Facebook to get out a complete message.

MAYOR BETHUNE IS  MEDIA SAVVY

GRACEFUL AND POISED RESPONSE FROM A TRUE LEADER

When John Rhodes dropped tens of thousands of dollars in last minute direct mail with false claims about Bethune,  she took to social media with a powerful, yet graceful, measured response.  Her reply immediately went viral with over 6,000 views.

Residents got a clear glimpse of Bethune under pressure.  Bethune is a candidate with the gravitas to lead.

Compare Bethune’s timely, tough, but graceful response to both the city’s response and MBACC’s response to last year’s Fathers Day shootings.

After this home run response, locals are asking our team:

SHOULDN’T BRENDA BETHUNE BE RUNNING MBACC MARKETING?

With results like these,  she certainly has our vote.