BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—On Friday, filing began for several school board seats. The seats on the ballot this year are for District 2, 4, 6 and 8.
So far, 31-year-old Mac McQuillin, a local attorney, is the only candidate to file for the District 2 seat, which represents Daniel Island, a portion of Hanahan and Goose Creek.
McQuillin, a member of the Berkeley Co. Republican Party Executive Committee for Daniel Island Precinct 1 and a board member of the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust, believes it’s time for a fresh face to serve on the school board.
“I have a heart for children and their education,” stated McQuillin. “As a new father, I have been forced to take a serious look at the public schools in Berkeley County that my son will be attending in several years. The concerns that I have for my son extend to the children of Berkeley County District 2.”
Doug Cooper has represented District 2 since 2008 and serves as the chairman for the school board. According to Adam Hammons, the director for the Berkeley Co. Elections and Registration, he has yet to file for re-election.
From a SLED investigation into the school district’s “Yes 4 Schools” campaign to controversy surrounding the location of a new school for the Daniel/Cainhoy area, McQuillin says the school board is plagued with problems and believes it’s time to change that.
“I think the people of Berkeley County District 2 need someone on the School Board to truly represent the interest of the District with integrity and transparency,” stated McQuillin. “The people of District 2 felt misled by the school district during the ‘Yes 4 Schools’ campaign regarding the new school slated for Daniel Island and Cainhoy areas.”
Many residents of Daniel Island started a petition last year to break away from Berkeley County and join Charleston County, stating that they felt like the county had neglected them.
Homeowners spearheading the secession say the final straw came when the school district planned to build a new middle school in the Cainhoy area. They say they were reportedly told the school would be built on Daniel Island if they voted “yes” on the “Yes 4 School’s referendum. Many Daniel Island homeowners said they felt duped.
“This year’s annexation fight on Daniel Island was centered on a dissatisfaction with the level of services and respect we were getting at the county level. The fact that the effort was eventually abandoned does not mean that the argument did not have merit,” stated McQuillin. “However, the most effective way to fix that problem is and always has been at the ballot box. With the right set of candidates at the county level, Daniel Island’s relationship with Berkeley County can be mended. I truly believe I can represent the District in such a way to promote the educational changes needed and restore the District’s trust in Berkeley County. “
So far, Shannon Lee and Jeff Reuer have filed for the District 4 seat.
According to Hammons, no one has have filed for the other school district seats at this time.
Filing ends on August 15th at noon.
Voters will head to the polls on November 4th to cast their ballot.
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