8 IslandVibesIOP.com NEWS ON-DEMAND CARE WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH CALL OR TEXT (843) 242-7362 OR VISIT THEISLANDDR.COM | 103 PALM BLVD, SUITE DR. SCOTT SMITH EVERYONE IS WELCOME $50 FOR BRIEF VISITS | $95 FOR EXTENDED VISITS No Insurance Accepted, but no insurance necessary. Invites ISLAND SOCIAL You! LET’S CELEBRATE OUR ISLE OF PALMS COMMUNITY BEACH RETREAT 3407 PALM BLVD SEPT 11, 2024 5-8PM arely seven months after taking the oath of office for IOP City Council, Elizabeth Campsen abruptly resigned on Aug. 9. Campsen’s departure came on the heels of a family opportunity which will force her and her husband Richard to permanently move out of the island’s district in 2025. “This move was certainly nothing we planned,” Campsen said in a resignation letter to city hall officials. “However, when an offmarket possibility presented itself, Richard and I knew it was an opportunity we had to take.” While she could have remained on council through 2024, Campsen chose to step down now to “align the municipal election for the seat I hold with the upcoming general election.” “I hope this timing will drive good turnout for the previously unscheduled municipal election,” Campsen said. Mayor Phillip Pounds verified with Charleston County election staff that a special election in November is the most likely course to fill out Campsen’s term, which runs through early January 2028. “I was sorry to receive Elizabeth’s resignation,” Pounds said. “She has been a valuable member of this community for years. I’m sure residents are disappointed to have just voted her in and will now have to make another vote.” Campsen, a certified paralegal, was one of two first-time candidates elected to the IOP City Council in November 2023. In an eightcandidate race for four seats with high voter turnout, Campsen polled 1,346 votes – more than any other candidate. One of Campsen’s platforms focused on a long-simmering referendum question regarding the city’s short-term rental license policies. Prior to her election, Campsen spent the majority of her career with a law firm in a Charleston real estate practice group. Campsen was appointed a member of the IOP Board of Zoning appeals in 2016, and ascended to its chair in 2021. During her long tenure on the board, she became familiar with zoning ordinances, commercial encroachment, parking and traffic congestion, litter and other related issues that eventually led to a firsttime entry and election to council. Since Campsen took her seat on the council in January 2024, she was involved in many council decisions, including those regarding an ongoing noise ordinance, improvements to Palm Boulevard, private resident construction of erosion control devices, a new city parking plan management system, the annual IOP city budget and most recently, an ordinance to ban feeding island wildlife. “I hope the contributions I have made over the years as a resident, Board of Zoning Appeals member and councilmember have had an impact,” Campsen said. “I have enjoyed serving the city and working with each of you. I have always enjoyed engaging in the process and always tried to do my best.” Candidates wishing to run to fill Campsen’s vacancy have only a short time to make the November ballot. Former council members Rusty Streetman and Susan Hill Smith have publicly announced that they will be entering the race. Until then, the council will have a missing vote and seat. Top vote-getter Campsen resigns from IOP Council Streetman and Smith enter race By L. C. Leach III B
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