Mount Pleasant, SC - A new Mayor elected Tuesday night to lead Mount Pleasant. Billy Swails defeated Joe Bustos and Gary Santos, picking up close to six thousand votes. Swails predicted a victory long before the polls closed. Now he must prepare to take Mount Pleasant forward.

A night to celebrate at the Billy Swails campaign party, friends and family gathered around to hear Mount Pleasant’s new Mayor speak for the first time. But first an introduction from the former Mayor, Harry Hallman.

“It’s about more then popularity, it’s about running a town of 65,000 people and a great quality of life that we got in this community,” said Hallman.

Swails run started in July after Hallman stepped down due to his battle with Alzheimer’s. Swails says his business roots made him an ideal candidate, someone who can balance the bottom line in tough economic times.

“I’m a businessman, I understand, I make a payroll, the 15th and 30th I write a check and I know I have to have money in the bank to do that,” said Swails.

The new Mayor remained very confident through the campaign. He won the endorsement of Hallman, and several other members of council.

“They have confidence in me that I can get the job done, that’s why I got the endorsement, not because they like me, because they know I can get the job done,” said Swails.

Swails will take office next Tuesday, he says some hard decisions are waiting, but he is ready for the challenge.

Swails did say he paid Hallman one dollar when the campaign started to keep him on retainer, in case he needs some advice. Swails says he is disappointed in the turnout, only about 25 percent of Mount Pleasant voters cast a ballot today.

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