Council declines to direct library trustees to take state oath; leaves matter to General Assembly after debate

Charleston County Council voted 7‑2 to refrain from directing Charleston County Public Library trustees to take the state constitutional oath of office and to leave the legal question to the General Assembly or the courts.

Library Executive Director Angela Cragg and board chair Rob Biko presented a briefing to council after weeks of public attention surrounding the library board’s use of a 1976 ceremonial pledge of office and a recent attorney general opinion about whether certain county board members qualify as “officers” required to take the state oath. Cragg said the library circulated 3,339,463 items in fiscal 2024, received two formal requests for reconsideration last year, operates 18 locations with roughly 400 staff and has secured more than $972,354 in grants and awards during the director’s tenure; she said the 1976 pledge is ceremonial and has been used during trustee onboarding for decades.

Board chair Rob Biko and several trustees described the pledge’s long history and said the board sought legal guidance; county legal had advised that trustees were not obliged to take a state oath. In committee and in public comments, council members disagreed on whether an attorney general opinion issued in February should prompt immediate local action. Council member Mister Boykin moved that council not order the library board to take the oath and to leave the matter to the General Assembly; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote: Boykin, Darby, Moody, Pryor, Worman, Sass and Chairman Middleton voted in favor; Honeycutt and Kabrowski voted against the motion.

Council members who opposed the motion said they rely on the attorney general’s written opinion (issued Feb. 13) that library trustees are “officers” subject to the oath requirement and urged adherence to that opinion. Supporters of the Boykin motion said the attorney general’s opinion is not law, enforcement has not been consistent across counties for decades, and any change should be addressed by the legislature or a court rather than by local council decree. Several trustees and library staff thanked council for their support and emphasized the library’s community services and recent awards.

Ending

Council’s motion does not instruct trustees to take the state oath; the vote leaves the legal question to state lawmakers or the courts. County staff and the library board said they will continue to follow legal guidance and return to council if further direction is required.