A lawsuit filed by the city of Charleston in July 2002 challenges the constitutionality of the town and aims to dissolve it. The town is allowed to function while it awaits a decision from the S.C. Supreme Court.
Most of the candidates are optimistic that as much as 80 percent of the town's 11,000 registered voters will flood the polls on May 4, despite a low turnout at Monday night's candidates' forum.
About 50 people attended the 6:30 p.m. forum at Fort Johnson Middle School, which was co-sponsored by the Charleston Area League of Women Voters and the James Island Citizens Council.
Eight candidates are vying for five available seats. The terms are two years.
Although candidates addressed issues such as the island's growth, density standards and traffic congestion, the legal challenge was a top concern for some audience members.
"The main issue to me is the Supreme Court rendering," Scott Stengel said. If the town loses in court, Stengel said he's ready to help with another town incorporation effort.
Incumbent Mayor Mary Clark and challenger Robert Kline both expect great voter participation .
"I think the people of James Island will stand up to be counted," Clark said.
"There is something lacking that causes people not to be as interested in town affairs as they should be," Kline said of forum attendance, adding that there's often only a few people at council meetings. Still, he believes voters will show support for the town by casting their ballots. "I am a pure unadulterated optimist," Kline said.
The six Town Council candidates include newcomers Alice Abrams and Carol Jacobsen, and incumbents Joe Qualey, Bill "Cubby" Wilder, Parris Williams and Bill Woolsey.
In 1992, the first town of James Island formed but was dissolved in 1996 by a successful city of Charleston lawsuit that challenged the town's boundaries. The town reincorporated in May 2002.
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