A candidate forum hosted by the Cayce Avenues Neighborhood Association featuring mayoral candidates Mayor Elise Partin and Abbott “Tre” Bray got a bit heated Oct. 5.

Bray asserted that Cayce is not business-friendly and harped on taxes and Cayce’s council-manager form of government and what he says the city has strayed away from. Partin continued to defended city’s current and forthcoming businesses and the town’s friendly customer service.

In addition to the mayoral candidates, Cayce City Council candidates for District 2, also answered questions, with Marie Brown and Byron Thomas taking part. Mayor Pro-Tem James “Skip” Jenkins wasn’t in attendance but sent a statement.

Questions were gathered from neighborhood association members, Facebook and Cayce residents, with Kaye Jones, second vice-president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs SC, moderating.

Mayoral candidates at odds

For almost two hours, incumbent Partin and Bray, a Lexington County School District 2 School Board member, answered questions and offered quick rebuttals. 

Both candidates gave their opening statements, with Partin going first. 

“Fifteen years ago you elected me mayor for the first time,” she said. “I’ve always worked hard to give you my best. I’m proud to say Cayce is thriving. The quality of life is the best in the Midlands all the while having the lowest taxes in the region.”

Partin emphasized the city’s perfect AAA credit rating as a testament to the financial management under her watch.

“Some people are going to discount these accomplishments and paint a different picture,” she said. “All I ask is you look at the records. I’m not a politician. I’m a public servant.”

Bray followed, emphasizing his Cayce roots.

“I grew up here in the Avenues. I know what it takes to create an organization with culture, continuous improvement, and community and customer service. Cayce needs this culture to achieve its fullest potential,” he said. “The No. 1 concern I hear is the city is not business friendly. I’ve talked to numerous business owners who feel undervalued. We will find ways to lower barriers for businesses instead of squeezing the current ones we have.”

Bray also commented on the tax burden, which he claimed has “increased by 114%, 16 times more than West Columbia’s increase during the same time.”

“We will increase revenue opposed to increasing millage rates,” the challenger said.

Moving into the questions, Bray said town parks need improvements, claiming that families travel to West Columbia’s Carraway Park. 

“Our parks need an upgrade,” he posited. “Families are moving here left and right. Our parks are nowhere near the same neck. Cayce residents are driving to West Columbia to go to their parks.”

Partin noted a new park in Churchill Gardens and the upgrade to Guignard Park, with Bray saying there have been “some improvements” but a lot more are needed.

When the topic of hospitality tax funding came up, Bray said he would like to “see the hospitality funds being used citywide and pushed out to Edenwood, Moss Creek, Churchill Heights. Those parts feel left out.”

“We need to become a customer service culture at the top,” he said. “I have spoken to business after business frustrated with Cayce.”

Partin disagreed.

“We do have a culture of community service and you guys call and tell us all the time,” she said. “Our team is customer service friendly.”

The Frink Street corridor was also broached, with both candidates agreeing there’s a lot of potential and business opportunity in the area.

“Frink Street is the original heart of the city. State Street and Frink Street are important parts of the city and we have made lots of strides and grants are making a difference in making buildings attractive. Sidewalks are coming,” Partin said.

“Frink Street is bordered by a railroad, rail yard and 12th Street,” Bray said. “It’s prime property for a small business hub zone. Walking down Frink Street, businesses have been disappearing lately.”

Public safety became a point of contention.

“The city is doing really well in certain areas. It’s lost 19 officers and police staff this year,” Bray contended. “That’s a lot. We’ve got businesses selling instead of working with [the city]. Cayce is a wonderful city made of wonderful people and there is absolute room for growth.”

“Let’s be accurate. Only seven vacancies in the City of Cayce police department and largely because the state departments bumped up salaries so that pulls from everywhere, not just Cayce,” Partin rebutted.

Bray encouraged people to look on any of the Avenues or Cayce neighborhood Facebook groups and search for “riverwalk” and there will be people saying they don’t feel safe.

“Go ask the people,” he challenged.

Partin pushed back.

“Just the constant attack on public safety,” she said. “We have one of the best police departments in the Midlands with a response time of two minutes and nine seconds for distress calls. Cayce is a top destination for police recruits.”

Bray also took aim at how much Cayce is operating the way it’s supposed to within its council-manager form of government, bringing up the topic a couple times.

“I 100 percent support the city manager. It is not under the mayor. It is under the council,” he said. “Council works together in their meetings to determine objectives for the city.”

He added that it’s important that no one is micromanaged.

 “That is the form of government we have,” Partin said. “If you look at 95 percent of votes taken, almost all the votes we’ve taken have been unanimous. Because we have created a culture, we have kept the best.” 

She pointed to Cayce Police Chief Chris Cowan choosing to come to Cayce.

Another topic debated was vacant and abandoned homes in the area.

Bray suggested updating ordinances so vacant properties are not sitting for “six, seven years.”

“Reduce Cayce-wide ordinances and re-engage councilmen and have you have input with your council to work on ordinances that affect you directly,” said Bray, who suggested monthly meetings with council and residents.

“We talk about those things,” Partin rebutted. “We have a code enforcer officer, admin, police officer talk through things to make sure we do those well.”

When it comes to non-owner-occupied ordinances, Partin said they just ask people to register so they know who to get in touch with for safety reasons. 

The issue of homelessness also found the two at odds.

“This problem has increased drastically over the years,” Bray said. “I attribute a lot of it to the lack of cop cars patrolling but also the Soda City Connector [public bus] is an easy way for the homeless to hop on a ride and come hang out here.”

“Homelessness is a national issue, not Cayce specific,” Partin contended. “Homelessness is not a crime and our team does a great job at connecting the resources needed. If you feel unsafe, contact us.”

Council candidates address concerns

Brown and Thomas, director of outreach for Rep. Joe Wilson, took the stage before the mayoral candidates.

Brown addressed a question about having a West Columbia P.O. Box listed. 

“I have had that P.O. Box for a long time. It’s a way to control my mail,” she said, giving the crowd her address in Cayce along with those of relatives in the city.

Thomas addressed how his job working for the local U.S. Congress member would impact his role on council.

“First, I checked with ethics and I was A-OK. Joe Wilson is my boss and I’m proud to be his Director of Outreach. However this is my campaign and my race,” said Thomas, asserting Wilson has no influence over his campaign. 

One of the topics they were asked about was repaving roads in the area.

“We should have better service when it comes to our streets,” Brown said. “It’s not as bad as I’ve seen it. Hopefully it gets better.”

“The only thing I can think about is our relationship with the county and [the state Department of Transportation],” Thomas said. “When I’m elected as city council member, I’ll make sure our relationship is as good as it can get.”

The two emphasized the focuses of their respective campaigns in closing statements.

“I want to stress to young people the importance of voting,” Brown said. “A lot of young people feel, ‘What’s the use?’ I want to educate, educate, educate. Make things better than what it is now.” 

She also alluded to needing to address urban decay.

“I’m passionate and hungry and motivated to turn this city into a better city,” Thomas said. “I had opportunities to move from this city and take job offers that paid me more money, but the thought of leaving this community was too much for me. You will see my energy all around.”

“It has been my privilege and Honor to have served the citizens of Cayce since 2010,” Jenkins said in his provided statement, noting accomplishments such as working to upgrade local parks and infrastructure, including efforts to rename a park after the city’s first Black City Council member. “This is the city that I was born and raised in, so my goal has always been to make the way of life better for everyone!”