NORWAY - A crowded field of candidates - including a mayoral challenge from the fired former police chief - is creating a hotbed of political interest in the tiny town of Norway.

Mayor Brad Fogle, who is seeking a third two-year term, is being challenged by Jim Preacher, the former chief of police he fired in a 2007 controversy, and Jake Jacobs, who is making his second run for office.

In the 2005 race, Fogle defeated incumbent Mayor Rose Dukes and Jacobs. Fogle got 71 votes to 59 for Dukes and 11 for Jacobs.

In the council races, District 1 Councilwoman Bonnie Fogle will face Ann Johnson in a rematch of the 2007 race. Fogle defeated Johnson then by a vote of 27 to 19 to win reelection to her second term. In District 2, Councilwoman Geraldine Bell is being challenged by Ron Hinnant and Tommy Burbage; and District 3 Councilman Greg Covington will meet challenger Sandra Blake, a former member of council.

Trying to shake its reputation as a "speed trap," Norway has had turnover problems in its police department. Preacher brought suit against the town in 2008, charging he was not paid for his duties as wastewater manager. Also, a few months ago, two former police officers sued the town, claiming they were fired for not meeting a traffic ticket quota. Fogle categorically denied the claims.

Voters go to the polls on Nov. 3 for the nonpartisan municipal election. Norway has a population of 389, with 281 registered voters. In District 1, there are 111 voters. There are 50 registered voters in District 2. In District 3, there are 78 registered voters.

Brad Fogle

Despite the economy, Fogle says the town is doing well.

"There have been tough economic issues. That's something we've had to struggle with," he said.

"We're trying to find the right balance between (spending) and making the town safe. It's very difficult. It's a constant battle. You never stop fighting to reach that balance. You're always going to be trying to improve and reach that balance," he said.

Fogle said he wants to see improvements continue in the town.

"We may never reach our goal, but we'll strive to realize it," he said.

Proud of his record, the mayor says the town has received grants for the park and to improve safety as well as for water and sewer.

With a grant to provide new equipment for the police department, Fogle says the part-time officers are doing a good job.

"We have good cooperation with them and the Orangeburg County Sheriff," he said. "We're trying to stabilize it. We've had some turnover."

If reelected, Fogle says he'll continue the focus on infrastructure, particularly water and sewer.

"There's grant money for the town's appearance," he said. "It's difficult to do when you face other priorities. And, the priorities have to be the safety of the citizens."

A native of Norway, Fogle has a bachelor's degree in ceramic engineering from Clemson University. He is employed as operations manager at Thermal Ceramics in Augusta.

Jake Jacobs

Making his second run for the mayor's office, Jacobs says he "thought I'd give (Fogle) a little competition."

"We've got a kind of across-the-tracks situation. I won't elaborate," he said. "I'd like to see that little wall tore down."

Jacobs also has no specific comments about his opponents.

"Brad is a good guy. I taught him in youth (class) at the church," he said. "I won't say anything about Preacher. My mama told me if you can't say anything good, don't say anything."

Jacobs says he hopes the town can get together.

"We're all in this together," he said. "Between the blacks and the whites, we all need to get to know one another."

A native of Rock Hill and a resident of Norway for about 25 years, Jacobs is a high school graduate and a retired electrician.

Jim Preacher

Calling the dispute with the town over his firing a "personality clash," Preacher says he is running for office after being approached by others to help the town.

"It seems like Norway is just drying up. We've got some financial problems, and we can't seem to get answers from the present mayor," Preacher said. "We need more transparency. We're two years behind in our audit, and no one seems to account for how we're spending our money."

Preacher, who is the police chief of Ehrhardt, says Norway doesn't "have the police protection" that it used to have. Personnel and equipment have been reduced, he says, and there are problems with crime and a lack of animal control.

In addition, he cites concerns that the town has lost its bank and other local businesses.

"We don't have any parades anymore. We used to have a Fourth of July festival. There's so much we used to do," Preacher said. "We need things like that in Norway. We just need to rejuvenate the old town spirit. People are ready for a change."

The maintenance on the town's water and sewer systems should be done in-house instead of being contracted out, says Preacher, who notes that he handled the water and sewer systems when he was police chief. Water and sewer bills, along with the late fees, are "way too high." More grants and stimulus money should be applied for, he says.

"The mayor is just not available. He works from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and he's just not available," Preacher said. "It's very important to have an active police department, and the mayor ought to be available. ... The town of Norway is a great little town. The people are good people. We're trying to bring our little town back."

A 22-year resident of Norway, Preacher is a high school graduate who has attended the University of South Carolina, Young Harris College and Baptist College. In addition to his service as police chief in Norway, Ehrhardt and the Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, he has also operated a water and sewer business in Charleston County and served as deputy coroner in Berkeley County.

Bonnie Fogle

Seeking her third two-year term, Fogle says she's proud of the work the small town has done.

"I'm running on my record," she said. "Even during difficult times, we have continued to maintain, even though it's hard being a small town."

Hoping for grants, Fogle says she supports senior housing for low-income residents.

Otherwise, she says she doesn't want to comment on the town's publicized problems.

A native of Charleston who grew up in Williamsburg County, Fogle has lived in the Orangeburg area since the 1960s and in Norway for the past 26 years. Fogle graduated from the Orangeburg Regional Hospital School of Nursing and has a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of South Carolina. She's a registered nurse with the Orangeburg County Health Department

Ann Johnson

Making her second challenge in District 2, Johnson says the issues with the police department and town finances are the same.

"In two years, we have had three police officers to get fired," she said. She also called the water bills and late fees outrageous.

Stimulus money should be put into the police department in order to hire a full-time officer, she says.

If elected, Johnson says she'll work to "get Norway back straight."

"Our town got money for the park. I don't see where they spent it all. We need to see what that money went for," she said.

A native of Norway and a high school graduate, Johnson is not employed.

Geraldine Bell

Running on her three-year record, Bell says she wants to continue efforts on "getting that budget balanced, working on the sewer and water systems, trying to keep that maintained well."

Norway is "running smoothly," Bell says, and she'd like to continue "doing work for the progress of the town."

A native of Denmark and a resident of Norway for 37 years, the retired teacher has a bachelor's degree in science from Voorhees College and a master's degree in education from South Carolina State University.

Tommy Burbage

Burbage did not return repeated telephone messages from The Times and Democrat seeking comment on his candidacy.

Ron Hinnant

When it looked like no one was filing for the seat, Hinnant says he decided to make his first bid for public office.

"I'd like to see the town grow," he said. "Economically, it's awfully hard for a small town like this to grow."

Otherwise, Hinnant says, his candidacy is "not making any waves."

A native of North Carolina, Hinnant has lived in Norway since 1980. He has a bachelor's degree in history and political science from East Carolina University. The retired teacher works as an office manager at Blake's Texaco Service Center.

Greg Covington

After two years on council, Covington says he'd like to continue working to make the town prosper.

"This is a wonderful little town," he said. "I have a 10-year-old daughter, and I was born in Norway. I want to keep it a safe town and a quiet town."

Covington graduated from high school and attended Spartanburg Methodist College. He is a farmer.

Sandra Blake

A member of council back in the 1980s, Blake says she's decided to seek office again after attending council sessions.

"Sometimes I ask questions I don't get answers for," she said. "If I were on council" maybe the questions would be answered, she said.

"They say they'll get back to you," she said.

Blake says she'd "rather not go into" what questions she has.

If elected, Blake says she'd like to see the town get a "better police force" with an officer "we can keep." She advocates seeking police grants to make improvements.

"Other towns seem to get them, and we don't," she said. "I'd check into that and see what's available."

Blake says, "In the last 10 years, I don't think I've seen this town progress any. I'd like to see the town grow and progress."

Blake owns two local businesses, Blake's Service Center and an auto sales company, where she handles the books. Also, she works for an Orangeburg County magistrate's office.

A high school graduate, she has studied business administration online at the University of Phoenix.

Photos were unavailable for Jake Jacobs, Bonnie Fogle, Ann Johnson, Tommy Burbage and Ron Hinnant.

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

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