ROWESVILLE - Four candidates, including one incumbent, will face off in the Nov. 6 nonpartisan municipal election for two seats on the Rowesville Town Council.

Councilman Sidney Bowman had served two, two-year terms when, in the 2003 election, the town switched to four-year, staggered terms. While the top two vote getters won four-year terms, Bowman and newcomer Benjamin Boensch received initial two-year terms. Boensch is not seeking reelection.

Also running for a four-year term on council are political newcomer Deborah Z. Bonnett and former council members Carolyn Groom and Richard Morris.

Rowesville has 232 registered voters. Of those, 117 are black, 111 are white and four are designated "other." Rowesville has a population of 378.

Sidney Bowman

Running on his record, Bowman says the town has several ongoing projects he'd like to see completed.

"We're in the process of constructing a community center for all of the people ... and there's a new playground and park," he said. "So, we've done a few things. We're just trying to do what we can for everybody in the community. The community center is something we're all looking forward to."

A native of Orangeburg and a 32-year resident of Rowesville, Bowman works for a food brokerage company. He is a high school graduate.

Deborah Bonnett

Bonnett, who is making her first bid for public office, has long been active in town affairs.

"I've been attending the meetings for years," she said. "Some issues and things came up I felt were not run properly."

Of particularly concern, Bonnett says, is the county's proposed zoning ordinance and how it will affect the town.

"Some citizens are concerned about what they can do with their property," she said. "There are fears that they've got too much government in the their private lives and business."

Still, Bonnett stresses that she feels "council is good, and the mayor is fantastic."

"The town is trying to clean up. We were doing that before the county started to help," she said. "And, I'm concerned the town is not getting any grants. I want the citizens to be aware of what they have to do to help us get them."

A native of Walterboro and a 37-year resident of Rowesville, Bonnett has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Charleston Southern University. The former teacher works in the family printing business.

Carolyn Groom

Groom was a 12-year veteran of Rowesville Town Council when she made an unsuccessful run for mayor in 1999. She also ran for council again in 2001.

"When I lost to the mayor, I said I'd run again. No, there are no particular issues, just the betterment and improvement of our town," she said. "It's our town, and we need to keep it going in the same format."

If elected, Groom says she'd like to see the annexation of areas just outside the town limits.

"I'd like to see the population increase a little bit," she said. "People who live right at the town limits; it would be nice to see them annexed and be a part of the town."

Richard Morris

Morris, who had served on council for two years when he lost his seat in the 2003 election, says he'd like to get back on council "to make a contribution to Rowesville and the quality of life."

If elected, he says, he'd work to continue the zoning laws the town passed and see the community center built.

"The town is doing well," he said. "The mayor does a good job. The last time I was on council we got Fairey Park, and there are different projects I'd like to see continue."

A native of Charleston and a 15-year resident of Rowesville, Morris attended the College of Charleston. He is a quality technician at the Behr Corp.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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