IRMO, S.C. — Friday is the last day you can vote early in the Lexington County municipal elections. One of those races is for Irmo mayor.
In the Town of Irmo, there are two candidates running for mayor: Bill Danielson and Barry Walker. They tell News 19 that locals have expressed concern about roads, water payments and speeding.
Incumbent mayor Barry Walker is running for re-election, and mayor-pro tem Bill Danielson now wants the mayoral seat.
Here's why they say they're running:
"To contribute to the community, to give to the community that's been so good to my family, and that's why I'm running again, for probably the last time. I'm running for this term to finish what I started," Walker said.
"My plan was never to become mayor, but after three and a half years of serving the citizens of the community and seeing the kinds of things that have been going on, and I just felt like it was time to step up," Danielson said.
Walker said in a new term, he'd be focused on the new town hall building, finishing the skate park and dog park and creating a roads and beautification committee.
"I will continue the process of building the committee process, getting more citizens involved with different things, aspects of the town," Walker said. "But more importantly, we have some projects that we need to keep our focus on. One of them is the widening of Broad River Road."
Danielson said as mayor, he'd be aimed at increasing police presence, hosting monthly or quarterly informative town meetings and strengthening education programs.
"I will focus on getting our new comprehensive plan in place, which will help us, and it'll help the folks. It'll help the citizens because they'll have feedback," Danielson said. "We've hired experts to do that, and that'll help us with future plans, zoning, annexation, how this town grows."
If you'd like to vote early, depending on where you live, go to the Lexington or Richland County Elections office. Election day is Tuesday November 7, 2023.