GOOSE CREEK, S.C.—Since 1978 the city of Goose Creek has only had one mayor.
Michael Heitzler has run unopposed as mayor since 1998; however, city councilman Jerry Tekac is hoping to change that by throwing his hat into the ring.
“We need commercial growth. We do not have that right now, and if we don’t get that we are going to struggle to find ways we pay for the services we have now,” said Tekac.
Goose Creek is considered the 12 largest city in the state based purely on population and is going to continue to grow just as the rest of Berkeley County has Tekac stated.
More than approximately 4,200 homes are presently in the works for Carnes Crossroads.
“With commercial growth being the largest revenue source for us and all those houses coming, how are we going to pay for the services we enjoy with the new houses if we don’t have commercial growth,” Tekac stated.
Since announcing his run for mayor, Tekac has moved full-steam ahead with campaigning. On Monday, Tekac spoke to homeowners at Brickhope Plantation. For more than two hours, he explained why he was running as well as answered questions from residents.
“Mike is a great guy, and he’s done a wonderful job for our city. He is not as business friendly as I am, and I think that’s what sets me apart. Our visions are different,” said Tekac. “While he would like single-family homes to come here and build green space and let things just grow up, I believe you need to have corresponding commercial growth.”
Goose Creek city council took up two hot-button issues last year—the smoking ban ordinance and hospitality tax. City council passed both measures.
While the majority of homeowners supported the ban, surrounding businesses, primarily bars, were against the ban.
“I was the last person to vote, and I vote for the ban,” stated Tekac. “I believe the ban was the right thing to do. I’ve also talked to the various businesses that have been affected by it and quite frankly I think they’ve increased their clientele base. I believe no one has suffered from the smoking ban.”
Last year, city council passed a 2% hospitality tax that went into effect on January 1, 2014. Tekac voted against in.
“I don’t believe that city council was very transparent on where we are going to spend the money, how we’re going to spend the money. I believe we should have told the public that,” said Tekac.
Tekac is running on the following platform:
- Increase the efforts to actively recruit more commercial businesses through direct interactions with the city’s businesses.
- Work with existing commercial developers to actively promote the benefits of a “live here/work here” city environment.
- Draw in businesses that attract entertainment and activities for our families and specifically for the city’s youth to keep them locally involved.
- Provide incentives to encourage annexation of outlying subdivision to join the city.
Since 1998, Tekac has worked at NBSC, a division of Synovus Bank. He is currently a senior commercial banker for the Tri-County area. He is also a father of two and calls Crowfield home.
For more information on Tekac, click here.
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