October 8, 2023

I want to do an article on each candidate’s campaign announcement as I see them, and if I read false statements, mistruths, stretches of the truth, or straight out lies.

A few have appeared in different local news and/or social media pages. Will address as see fit and time permits. Some only have a few things worth pointing out, some have more. This one takes the cake, so I start here.

Walker says an opening statement “with a promise of change and progress, he worked to sett [sic] his vision into motion”. Yes, change came, but change is not necessarily good and progress has it’s own arguable definition to what is good, positive progress, and what is not.

But let’s stick to change for now. His first night as Mayor in Dec 2019 he gave a speech, that is change, all previous mayors just started a meeting and moved into the meeting with no fanfare, but not Walker. Not only did he give a speech about his vision, not Council’s vision, but a “plagiarized” speech at that. If I remember correctly he had “plagiarized” four other Mayor’s speeches. But fanfare, is what Walker is about. I read in different news sources the other day I believe “Daily Caller” a statement US Representative Crenshaw had made about the vote to remove US representative McCarthy as the house speaker. It said something to the effect of “some people (elected officials) fight for you, some fight for your attention”. I immediately thought of Mayor Walker, and not only fights for your attention, but for attention as a thing. Yes, this is change from past mayors. And actually, current and past Irmo council members in my opinion, this is not progress.

Not sure I can agree he promoted fiscal responsibility nor sound financial management, anytime since he was elected in 2004. Based on previous Richland County public records, regarding liens, etc filed against him personally back in the day, that doesn’t assure me he could do either, or would be capable of either, but let’s see.

According to him “the Town managed to save $6 million”, and did so by “Walker’s dedication to conservative fiscal decisions”. Any fiscal, financial decisions were made by all of Council. The mayor is just one vote on the budget. It is the town staff (town administrators, department heads, chief of police) who work hard to stay within the budget. Mayor has nothing to do with that, or shouldn’t unless things come up to spend over budget, then again approved by a majority of Council, or not approved. 

Again, Council approves, and will approve any new construction of Town Hall. Council approves all policies including making any financial records that weren’t previously available, which most have always been listed at the State Treasurer’s Office which was approved years ago under Mayor Gibbons, when Walker and I were both serving. In fact, if I remember correctly, Irmo was the first Town to post their written checks in the State.

Public safety has always been a budget priority, it was ever since I was elected in 2005 and way before me. It was always a priority, and largest percentage of town budget. “Was fully funded, equipping of officers to protect and serve”. Has been part of Irmo budget and Council priority since, well, way back, always. Nothing new here, and again the majority of Council approves the public safety budget, town budget, not a one-vote Mayor. He didn’t manage to achieve anything, Council continued as all Councils before had same priority. Nothing new, not change nor progress, still just a continuation of past priorities.

Let me go back and address the $6 million too. Now this is a mistruth or a misunderstanding from the financial guru Mayor. At the last Town audit the town ended 2022 fiscal year $6million on hand of allocated funds for expenses to be paid before more income comes into the Town. Saying the Town saved $6 million is not true. That would be the same as me saying to my wife, as of this Friday we have $6,000 in the bank. Thank me, but not saying, leaving out that we have $3500 in bills to pay before next paycheck, which also includes money set aside for vacation, Christmas gifts, and future appliance replacement,etc. In truth we only have $2500 left over to be used as we choose. And even so that money still has to be saved for rainy day situations that arise we have no idea of. This is called undesignated cash on hand. According to the same budget for end of fiscal year 2022, the Town had on hand approx. $2.5 million undesignated cash on hand, not $6 million. So since he doesn’t share the whole truth, I wanted to.

“The ambitious project to widen Broad River Road from I-26 to Ballentine” is not on track, it has been shortened. Originally was to run from I-26 to Peak Exit. Then it was shortened to Shady Grove Rd, then to the red light at Chick Fil A, now to Koon Road intersection. And due to many factors outside of Mayor Walker, the Town Council, control it wasn’t the priority under the Richland County Penny Tax Funding list. And regardless of whether the County had stayed on track or not, that is to be seen. It was put on a list for Richland County Penny Tax because it wasn’t a priority in years past with SCDOT or Richland County. And had been on a SCDOT 7 year plan since the late 90s, early 2000s. Yes, it needs to be completed but may not be done under this Richland County Penny Tax funding program.

“He organized a series of events in community parks”. In his 2^nd paragraph he stated “developing citizen committees” as an accomplishment. Now again, he has take credit for the “event committee” job of hosting, creating, promoting events in the Town of Irmo. As far as the “over the fence opportunities”, can’t say when was the last time I saw one of them advertised, but maybe I’m not on the invite list?

Lastly, “it is a goal to make Irmo, SC the most desirable place to live, work, and raise your family in America” Walker said. Well, according to old reports back in the day when I was serving NICHE.com listed various categories for great places to live, work, etc. in SC, in and around Columbia metro area, etc. and Irmo was always on those lists. Whether it be suburbs of Columbia, small towns in SC, etc. etc. Irmo was on the list. Irmo was and has been in past on Safest Cities to live and raise a family in SC as well. The last time I checked that list, Irmo had dropped down or off the Safest Cities list. Not sure if it moved up or down on desirable places … to live. Will check and do an article on those lists.

But regardless, we were at one point, prior to “his administration” as he refers to or “his leadership” as he refers to, already were a “most desirable place to live, work and raise your family”. He evidently doesn’t know this. That is not leadership, that is actually, sad.