James Island forum: candidates make infrastructure, flooding and growth central issues

A candidate forum hosted by the James Island Neighborhood Council brought county and state candidates together around a common set of community concerns: roads, flooding, sidewalks and how growth is managed. Candidates from both the county and state slates said they would prioritize returning funding and decision-making power to the local level and making infrastructure improvements before approving large-scale development.

Jaxi Ferguson, running for Charleston County Council District 9, framed her campaign as rooted in "people, passion, and progress," and named flooding, traffic and loss of green space as the immediate problems she wants to address. "People always come 1st," Ferguson said, adding she would pursue a Clean Water Protection Act for Charleston County and hold monthly office hours on each island in her district. Adam Friend, another District 9 candidate, said "growth should improve quality of life for the people who live here," calling for roads, drainage, schools and public safety to be secured before approving new projects.

State House candidates echoed the emphasis on infrastructure. Johnny Garman pointed to his experience building hospice and health-access programs and urged organizational fixes to direct money back to Charleston County. Nick Eurekio and Carl Walker also prioritized roads and flood mitigation; Walker highlighted hands-on road-building experience and proposed changes to how projects are specified and bid. Several candidates called for more coordinated intergovernmental work across the city, town and county to avoid duplication and speed delivery of projects.