Mayors from some of SC’s biggest cities are backing another McMaster term. Myrtle Beach’s is one.

Adam Benson

Mayors from some of South Carolina’s largest cities - including Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and North Charleston - are lining up to support another term for Gov. Henry McMaster, crediting his management through hurricanes and pro-business policies.

“That’s really a thrill, because mayors have to deliver just like the governor does, and they do that,” McMaster said during a Nov. 3 campaign stop in Murrells Inlet.

Beside him was the leader of America’s fastest growing city — Myrtle Beach mayor Brenda Bethune, who created and heads the 16-person coalition.

“For me, it was important to show all citizens of South Carolina why mayors at the grassroots level support our governor. It’s not a party issue. Most mayors across the state are nonpartisan, but this is about policy,” Bethune said.

Bethune said McMaster’s administration helped keep the state’s economy on track through the pandemic, allowing Horry County in 2020 to collect $11.4 billion worth of gross retail sales.

“Our businesses are thriving. We have people moving here every single day. People love South Carolina,” Bethune said. “We are headed in the right direction.”

Mayors endorsing McMaster include:

  • Knox White, Greenville

  • Brenda Bethune, Myrtle Beach

  • Rick Osbon, Aiken

  • Daniel Rickenmann, Columbia

  • Mike Fuesser, York

  • Carol Jayroe, Georgetown

  • Steve MacDougall, Lexington

  • Rocky Burgess, Williamston

  • Chris Gray, Tega Cay

  • Elenor Dorn, Belton

  • Susan Holley, Bethune

  • Foster Senn, Newberry

  • Keith Summey, North Charleston

  • Brian Henry, Pawleys Island

  • John Gettys, Rock Hill

  • Marilyn Hatley, North Myrtle Beach

  • Derek Underwood, Prosperity

McMaster and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, pulled into a Murrells Inlet restaurant as part of a statewide bus tour ahead of next week’s midterm elections.

In brief remarks, McMaster ran through a litany of accomplishments over his first four years in office — a miniature State of the State address that not once mentioned his opponent, Democrat Joe Cunningham.

But McMaster — a close friend and early supporter of president Donald Trump — did mention another “Joe” several times during his remarks.

“We got nothing but help from the Trump administration. And then we had an election, and we got nothing but obstruction from the Biden administration,” McMaster said. “South Carolina is booming despite all the obstruction we’ve had from the national government.”

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