Napier says he may seek Council seat 7/21/2009 12:32 PM
Former County Council member Phil Napier. (Aiken Standard file photo)
By MICHAEL W. GIBBONS Managing editor
Former County Council member Phil Napier said Tuesday he is considering throwing his hat in the ring for his former seat.
The District 5 seat will be vacated in November when Council member Eddie Butler resigns because he is moving out of the district.
Napier, the GVW fire chief, served on County Council from 1999-2002. He lost his seat to Butler during the 2002 Republican primary.
He said he will make his decision by Monday, the day that filing for the election closes. One of the key motivators in his consideration of running is representation from within the Graniteville-Vaucluse-Warrenville area.
"There's really nobody there for the people to contact when someone has a problem," he said.
Napier praised Butler and the rest of the current council for representing the county as a whole, something he said he would do as well.
"When I was on County Council, I represented the whole county, not just one corner of the world," he said.
Economic development continues to be a top priority for elected leaders, Napier said. The GVW area in particular has been hit hard, with the closing of the former Avondale plants.
"We need jobs. We've got the vacant buildings. That's something that's got to be dealt with," he said.
Napier's service on Council and as GVW chief has been tumultuous at times, including a public feud with Sheriff Michael Hunt in late 2005 regarding the response to the Graniteville train disaster in January of that year. In the late 1990s, Napier was in the thick of numerous contentious debates regarding Sage Mill and GVW fire districts.
The volunteer chief and hardware store owner said he acknowledged that his previous term on council had not been perfect.
"I'd be man enough to say I made some mistakes. But I've learned a lot from those mistakes. My only intent, if I decide to run, is to serve the people. There is no personal agenda," he said.
Napier said several factors will influence his final decision, including the personal impact of being a politician.
"It's sad, but when you're in politics, your family suffers any blunts. And it's really unfair, but that's the way it is," he said.
Three other candidates have said they will seek the seat as well: former Augusta commissioner Andy Cheek; former County Council and School Board member Larry Murphy; and political newcomer Barry Baggott.
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Comment Title:
Well Phil if you are in favor of cutting the out of control wasteful spending that the county council approves year after year and return that money to the taxpayers then you will have my support. Otherwise stay in the Valley with Sheriff Hunt.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:36 PM
Comment Title:
I'll be writing checks to the campaigns of anyone who runs against him. Give me the names of his opponents and the legal limit for contributions and I will start writing.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:45 PM
Comment Title: Phil Napier for Council
Phil is one of the few who will voice his opinion and stand up for what's right even if he the only one casting the vote. We don't need another "YES" man on the Aiken County Council. My God look at how the County Council has let the sheriff almost destroy this county with his self=rigouse garbage and BS like shutting down businesses throughout the county for little or no reason other than not being able to do his job late at night after 2:00 p.m.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 2:56 PM
Comment Title: Real Leadership
We need to get both Phil Napier and Russ Ferrara back on the County Council.
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Posted by: Counuty Critic On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 2:54 PM
Comment Title: Run Phil Run!!!
I think it would be great for Aiken County for Nappyair to get back on County Council. We need someone who will stand up to Ronnie Young and his boot licking sycophants Chuck Smith, one trick pony Scooter Singer and Mr. Excitement I think I'm in Congress so let's outlaw abortion at the local level Gary Bunker. We need some diversity of thought and not a runaway train so to speak...especially when the economy rebounds and Ronnie tries to reward his developer crony friends with the building of the new county complex, parking garage and related county campus facilities. Would also be a good check on Mikey...
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 1:02 PM
Comment Title: No for Napier
Any policitian should be willing represent the people and make decisions based on what would be in the best interest of them. Phil Napier does not possess this quality!! He thrives on confrontation, being in the spot light.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 12:47 PM
Comment Title:
Please don't throw your hat in the ring!!!!!
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 12:24 PM
Comment Title: napier
that would be the worst thing Aiken County could do would be to re-elect napier to county council. vote NO for Napier
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