What Lexington voters should know about the candidates before Town Council special election
A mid-term vacancy on Lexington Town Council means voters across the town have the responsibility of electing a new representative.
Councilman Steve Baker resigned in February after six years on the council. Baker moved to Florida after getting a new job.
The candidates to replace him include a former council member and a former member of the Donald Trump administration.
The State asked each candidate about their platform, their qualifications and what they want to do on the seven-member town governing body. Their full responses are below, edited lightly for readability.
Election Day is Tuesday, May 2. The candidate who gets the most votes in the at-large, town-wide race will serve on the council until 2025. The mayor and three other council seats will be up for a vote in the regular election this November.
Constance Flemming
Age: 65+
Occupation: Retired public school music teacher
Education: Lexington Rosenwald, Lexington High School (‘70), Howard University (‘75)
Political or civic experience: Poll manager, Registration and Election Board member, SC Arts Commission Board member and Southern Arts Federation representative, Friends of Lexington County Museum (member and President), one term on Town Council
Campaign website: none
Why are you running for Lexington Town Council?
To serve and address the needs and concerns of the Citizens of the Town of Lexington.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the Lexington Town Council?
1. Amplify support for our public services and the persons who perform these services. 2. Single-member Districts versus the current At-Large system in reference to the growth.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to the council?
Having served on the Council before, and having taught school in The District, Lexington School District One for 35 years provides me with some unique skills, personal and professional. Also, I’m a native Lexingtonian who has lived through many of the changes that have taken place in the Town.
What current practice or policy of Lexington town government would you preserve or enhance? Why?
Continued support for our various protective services, especially in regards to our Community Policing done by our well trained Police Department.
What does the town of Lexington need to do differently?
Due to the growth element, the idea of Single-Member Districts should seriously be explored.
This is a special election. If elected, would you seek a full term after the current term expires?
I’m not able to answer that question at this point. It would be based on what we could accomplish within this time period for the benefit of the citizens.
Edwin Gerace
Age: 53
Occupation: Owner/operator, Giraffe Marketing LLC
Education: Bachelor’s Degree, College of Mount St Joseph, Cincinnati
Political or civic experience: Appointed to Town of Lexington Advisory Board, 2000-2002; Appointed to Student Advisory Council for Lexington Elementary School, 2011-2013; Appointed to Parental Advisory River Bluff High School, 2018; Appointed to Town of Lexington Planning Commission, 2002 to 2011; Appointed to USA Pickleball Ambassador, 2020 to Present; Chairman of Columbia Home and Garden Show, 2 years; Regional VP for SC REALTORS Association; Disaster Relief - Mobile AL, 2005; Disaster Relief - Columbia SC, 2015; Mentor Children Lexington 1 Elementary Schools, 2016 to Present; Transitions Community Events with F3, 2016-2018; Can Drive for LICS with F3 Lexington, 2018 to Present; Lexington Kids Day Volunteer, 2010 to Present; Charity Fundraiser for Special Olympics, 2021; Charity Fundraiser for “Luke Strong” (Lexington child); 2022 Charity Fundraiser for Cancer of Many Colors, 2023
Campaign website: EdwinGeraceForTownCouncil.com
Why are you running for Lexington Town Council?
I’ve lived in Lexington and raised a daughter in this community. It’s a place I continue to enjoy and cherish. I am not a career politician, nor do I want to be! My top goals will be:
1) Work for traffic improvements in Lexington. Residents and business representatives I’ve spoken with feel we need to address repaving, intersections and traffic flow. I want to work with the council to seek funding sources for these projects. Roadwork is expensive. I found out last week it costs approximately a million dollars to asphalt just 3 miles of road in our town. I want to use my sales and marketing experience, as well as Planning Commission tenure, to advocate with the council regarding critical traffic improvements. We must address these issues aggressively because traffic impacts our current and future economy.
2) Protect and support small businesses: Small-town business growth impacts the quality of life in Lexington. I want to maintain and protect our existing businesses. Small businesses make up at least 44% of local economies. Because of this we must continue to encourage smart growth with small businesses. In the past, we had a community forum and I will strongly advocate to bring this program back. I would like to bring this back.
3) Lastly, I’m running to capitalize on, maintain and grow our recreational spaces because they are a hallmark of our community: Virginia Hylton Park, the Amphitheatre, Gibson Park and Character Park are great recreation facilities in Lexington. We need to capitalize on this. Residents have asked me to champion and explore how we can grow our recreational opportunities for today’s youth. Examples are basketball courts and frisbee golf. I worked with the City of Cayce to create a pickleball facility a few years ago. We utilized grants of over $500,000 to revitalize existing parks. This is going to be a game-changer in Cayce and will generate revenue plus add a quality-of-life component for its citizens. I believe the same effort can provide results for Lexington. At the end of day, COMMUNITY MATTERS. It is critical to continue to monetize and grow these facilities, to enhance and improve life in Lexington for current and future.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the Lexington Town Council?
My personal objectives would be: Meet with all parties which impact traffic in Lexington and create a task force to work with the existing Town Traffic Committee to help plan, implement and create possible solutions. Increase the activity of the Advisory Board to help advocate for the town by talking to small businesses. 1st project for them to learn from beginning to end what is required for a small business to startup in Lexington. Explore issues, find solutions and foster stronger relationships with business owners. Investigate and learn more about Virginia Hylton Park revitalization. See if there are ways to utilize grants like Cayce to create new recreational opportunities for Lexington youth.
What unique skills or life perspectives would you bring to the council?
I have over 15 years of experience with community outreach projects, school improvements and municipal experience. Those experiences have taught me how Lexington works. I have been involved in product sales at all different levels of my career for over 30 years. This experience has also taught me the value of communication and consensus building. This gives me the tools needed to hit the door running.
What current practice or policy of Lexington town government would you preserve or enhance? Why?
The Town of Lexington Business Development Department policies are working to protect the town’s integrity. We need these policies for this protection. But I would like to learn more about these practices and policies. Are there ways to see if we can streamline the process and make it easier for everyone involved?
What does the town of Lexington need to do differently?
I would encourage Town Council to allow me to work with the Advisory Committee to understand their goals and work to engage them more. I want the Traffic Committee to communicate more with residents. Over the last 18-24 months the business environment has changed and I would like to see if procedures are aligned with the current business environment. In the early 2000s I was appointed to the Town Advisory Board. I believe they are under utilized. This board could become a more integral voice. These citizens are passionate about the town and we need to engage them to help find solutions and keep everyone talking.
This is a special election. If elected, would you seek a full term after the current term expires?
For the last 40+ days, I have been talking to residents and business owners in Lexington. I’ve listened to them, and I know they are also passionate about our town. If I am elected, I would definitely run again to continue to make Lexington the best I can.
Matthew Graham
Age: 36
Occupation: Self-Employed/Palmetto Renovations of Columbia, Inc.
Education: Some College
Political or civic experience: Treasurer for Five Points Association, Columbia, SC
Campaign website: mattg4lexsc.com
Why are you running for Lexington Town Council?
To effect change from within the community. I feel as though I have a strong connection to Lexington, and understand many of the intricacies involved in multi-governmental and inter-agency coalitions. I have a heavy focus on relationship building with the Town of Lexington officials, as well as the larger industries such as Lexington Medical Center. I also have a strong connection with many of the mom and pop shops around town, and understand the strains that owning a business can take on its owners and employees. I come from a small business background, and feel motivated to share my experiences with the community.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the Lexington Town Council?
Citizens Safety; Transparency, Infrastructure Repair
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to the council?
Business Advice; Extensive Construction Knowledge, Financial Management Advice
What current practice or policy of Lexington town government would you preserve or enhance? Why?
Currently, the efforts made by our local traffic engineers are proving to be less effective than what the community currently needs. Also, school and police funding are lacking. There are plenty of tax dollars available to combat these issues. However, we need to work on ensuring that these funds are allocated in such a way that they support the root of these issues instead of glazing over the problem. Further, support for our animal population, as well as the our great citizen warriors who fight to protect and improve the lives of our extended family members need to be fully supported with the backing of their elected officials.
What does the town of Lexington need to do differently?
Make transparency a priority, ensure taxes are properly introduced and laid out to improve the town and its citizens. We would like to see a strategy to minimize traffic accidents and improve the infrastructure that is so important to steer into a more prosperous future. Businesses are imperative for job safety and job diversity. Many individuals look to live here from all over the US and abroad.
This is a special election. If elected, would you seek a full term after the current term expires?
Yes. I have every intention to continue to serve in Lexington as long as there is a need, and so long as I feel compelled by my community to continue to serve as their representative.
Gavin Smith
Age: 30
Occupation: CEO and Founder of the Gavin James Group (Marketing and Public Relations Firm); Communications Director for cybersecurity firm PC Matic.
Education: White Knoll High School Graduate (2010); Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Management from the University of South Carolina (2016); Masters of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, Georgetown University (2021)
Political or civic experience: Executive aide, Office of Governor Nikki Haley; Field Director for Newt Gingrich’s 2012 Presidential Campaign in South Carolina (I was the youngest staffer across any Presidential campaign in 2012); Midlands Region Field Director and Deputy State Communications Director for Donald Trump’s 2016 Presidential Campaign; National Press Lead for Donald Trump’s 2016 Presidential campaign; Received a Presidential Appointment at age 24 from President Trump and was appointed Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor and Deputy Communications Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Served on staff and volunteered for many local campaigns such as Senator Katrina Shealy, State Representative and now Congresswoman Nancy Mace, and more; Director of Public Relations for the Miss South Carolina Organization; Capstone Advisor and Mentor at Georgetown University
Campaign website: gavinforlexington.com
Why are you running for Lexington Town Council?
All my life, I wanted to be a doctor and help people. That is, until I took organic chemistry and quickly found that medicine likely wasn’t in the cards for me. Shortly after, I was lucky enough to earn an internship with then Gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley. Following her 2010 victory of 2011 Inaugural, I joined her team and learned through my work with the constituent services staff that when government does its job – government can help people, too. This is why I’m running - to simply help people. From the big issues such as traffic congestion and parking, to more nuanced issues I’ve learned about from voters over the last several weeks such as limited handicapped parking downtown, business licensing issues, and more. In addition to this, I’m running because I believe it is time for young people to get involved in government at all levels. We must begin stepping up to serve our communities, and to bring fresh perspectives and new ideas. It is critical to get young people involved, and I want to be a part of that initiative to bring more young leaders into the fold.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year on the Lexington Town Council?
My top priorities are those of the people. I’ve spent the last three months knocking on doors nearly everyday, and the top three issues I hear over and over from Lexingtonians are related to (1) traffic congestion, (2) lack of parking in downtown Lexington, (3) overdevelopment in our Town. I will work to resolve these issues for the people of Lexington, and because these three issues are their top priorities - they’re mine, too.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to the council?
First and foremost, I was born and raised in Lexington. I went to our schools, I know how far our community and its growth has come, and I know our people. I am a proud Lexingtonian who wants to serve the community I grew up in, and I’d like to do my part in making our Town an even greater place to live, worship, work, and raise a family. Additionally, I am the youngest person running. I bring fresh perspective, new ideas, and energy that I believe we need in our Town as we begin the critical task of engaging with and bringing young leaders into the mix. Further, I am the only candidate running who has experience working at the County, State and Federal levels. This is very important because to get anything done as it relates to traffic in our Town, we must bring County, State, and Federal partners, who own the overwhelming majority of roads in our community, to the table. I have strong relationships at each of these levels of government, and I will lean on my relationships and experience navigating the County, State, and Federal levels, to deliver meaningful solutions to people of Lexington.
What current practice or policy of Lexington town government would you preserve or enhance? Why?
As I talk with residents in our Town, I frequently hear complaints regarding how the Town communicates with citizens and business owners. As a public relations professional, I will immediately go to work with staff to understand how we communicate with these key publics, and work to divulge a strategy that will streamline and better our communications. As part of this strategy, I plan to make myself more readily available to members of the public by hosting “open door after four” office hours twice a month so that members of the public can come and speak with me about issues they’re facing. Additionally, I’ll lead an initiative to bring Town Council to neighborhoods in our community for listening sessions. Rather that expecting citizens to come to us at Council meetings, I will insist that we conduct a series of listening sessions with neighborhoods and other community groups in our Town – to ensure we’re hearing directly from the people who elected us to serve on their behalf.
What does the town of Lexington need to do differently?
The Town of Lexington is a great place to live, work, worship, and raise a family. But, to keep Lexington the great place we’ve all come to know and love, I believe we must listen to the concerns of the people, and do something differently as it relates to traffic congestion, lack of parking in downtown Lexington, and overdevelopment in our community.
This is a special election. If elected, would you seek a full term after the current term expires?
Yes, but I am a firm believer in term limits and I commit to not serving more than two full terms.
