GOOSE CREEK, S.C.—It was standing room only as dozens of people gathered inside the Berkeley Electric Coop
building in Goose Creek to hear Goose Creek mayor, Michael Heitzler, and his challenger, Jerry Tekac discuss key issues impacting the city.
For more than 30 years, Heitzler, a retired educator and school principal, has served as the longtime mayor of Goose Creek. He’s run unopposed since 1998.
Local banker and current city councilman, Jerry Tekac, is now challenging Heitzler, hoping for a shot at being the city’s newest mayor.
Former Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash moderated the forum, and it was hosted by Goose Creek 9/12. Each candidate was given fifteen minutes to introduce themselves and discuss their plans for taking Goose Creek into the future.
Jerry Tekac, a father of two children who lives in Crowfield, was first to speak.
Jerry Tekac: “We need commercial activity to pay the bills.”
While taking to the microphone, Tekac commended Heitzler and other city staff for making Goose Creek a great
place to live; however, he believes the city gets an “F” for failing to make it a great place to work.
“I’ve spoken to many, many business owners in this community since I’ve announced my run and even before as a banker; it seems to them and it seems to me is that we make it a little difficult for businesses to come here,” Tekac stated.
According to the city councilman, 27% of the city’s revenue is generated by businesses largely through licenses and permits.
“Their voices are not heard. Unless they are a business owner who lives here, they really don’t have much of a say,” stressed Tekac. “They have asked, and I believe they deserve, an opportunity to have a voice on how we move forward in our city.”
Until about a month ago, Goose Creek was debt free. That changed when city leaders borrowed $7.5 million to build two new fire stations for residents. The total price tag for the new fire stations is approximately $13.4 million.
“How are we going to pay for them? That’s approximately about $600,000 a year for our debt payment,” informed Tekac. “That doesn’t include the 12 firefighters we have to hire—that’s another $600,000 a year, over and over again.”
According to Tekac, the only way to raise money to cover the city’s long term costs is to either raise taxes or decrease services. If elected mayor, he is proposing that the city increase its commercial activity by attracting more businesses to the area.
“Remember every dollar you spend in the city comes back to you with our local options sales tax,” Tekac told the audience. “So as you spend money in our city, you’re going to get tax relief on your tax bill.”
A hospital is presently in the works at the corner of Highway 17A and 176. In the future, Carnes Crossroads will also have 4,200 additional new homes. This added growth, Tekac explained, will cost current homeowners in the end if Goose Creek doesn’t become more “business friendly.”
“We’re a city of 36,000 folks as we speak right now. We are the 12th largest city in the state. We are a thousand residents behind Spartanburg. That’s hard to fathom,” stressed Tekac. “If we don’t establish and encourage more commercial growth in our city, we can only decrease services or raise taxes. I don’t want a big box retail coming in but I would like a restaurant coming in. I would like an office building to come in. I would like the hospital to come in. We need commercial activity to pay the bills.”
Michael Heitzler: “I have brought in hundreds of businesses along the last three decades.”
Current mayor, Michael Heitzler, addressed the audience Thursday immediately after Tekac.
“I’m responsible for everything good. I’m responsible for everything bad,” said Heitzler.
The mayor stated that in his role he believes it is his job to preserve the past, protect the present and plan for progress.
“I have preserved the past. I think I have preserved the past better than any other mayor in the state, maybe even the whole country,” said Heitzler. “I have researched, discovered, and shared the legacy of Goose Creek. I’ve published five books, dozens of articles. I give lectures. I give tours. I’ve erected 23 historic markers.”
Heitzler also gave himself an “A+” when it comes to preserving the present.
“I think what a mayor should do when it comes to preserving the present, is of course, balance the budget, but you have to have all the infrastructures in place, the laws, etc., and after all that’s done Goose Creek has now emerged as the best place in South Carolina to raise children,” said Heitzler.
In 2011, Businessweek named the city the best place in the state to raise children.
“Not only are we the best place in South Carolina to raise children but we haven’t raised property taxes in 35 years, and we’re not going to raise property taxes,” stressed Heitzler.
According to Heitzler, the city has created a future plan for the city that he carefully reviews with different neighborhoods every two weeks.
“We have a one year. We have five years, and we have 20 year goals,” said Heitzler. “The one year goals has to do with improving roads, developing downtown Goose Creek, improving the golf course, hiker/biker trails.”
Heitzler says the city’s strategic plan has been honed by hundreds of business people, residents and professional consultants.
“Our plan does not sit on the shelf and collect dust,” added Heitzler.
When it comes to his challenger’s claims that the city is not business friendly, Heitzler says that’s simply not true.
“As the man with the till in leading the city, I have brought in hundreds of businesses along the last three decades,” stressed Heitzler. “If you re-elect me, I’m going to bring in more. But I’m not going to be out there trying to introduce myself to Mr. Applebee’s. That’s a waste of time. Mr. Applebee’s knows where I am. Mr. Longhorns knows where Goose Creek is. They know what the medium income is. They know how many cars drive by their potential place of business. They know all those facts. They’ll come here when we’re ready.”
Voters will head to the polls on April 8th to determine if they want to keep the longtime mayor around or give the new guy a chance.
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