2026 will be a pivotal year for our region as growth continues to accelerate across Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. That momentum is one of the reasons we’re excited to join the Chamber’s Business Advocacy team and expand the Chamber’s capacity to advocate for policies that support a strong and competitive business community.
If we haven’t already met, we’re Mel Carter and Jacob Gamble, the Chamber’s new Business Advocacy Managers. Together, we’ll be monitoring legislation, advancing the Chamber’s policy priorities and building relationships with elected officials, government partners and Chamber members across the region. Jacob will focus on Charleston County, along with the municipalities within it, while Mel will oversee Berkeley and Dorchester Counties and their respective municipalities, allowing us to stay closely connected to the issues shaping each community.
As the year begins, you’ll hear more from us about issues and legislation that are already familiar across the region. In Charleston County, a key focus will be advocating for the passage of a new Transportation Sales Tax referendum after the previous measure was struck down by voters in 2024. If approved, the estimated $4.25 billion generated would provide critical funding for infrastructure projects needed to support the county’s rapid growth.
At the same time, the region continues to grapple with an attainable housing shortage. While progress has been made, we still lag behind in delivering the number of housing units needed to keep pace with population growth and workforce demand.
These challenges come at a moment when elected officials are facing difficult decisions, with midterm elections adding another layer of complexity. For newly elected councilmembers, the stakes are especially high as they step into leadership roles at a critical moment for our communities. The decisions made now will have lasting implications for the region’s quality of life and long-term competitiveness.
In that spirit, we’d like to introduce the new councilmembers who will be serving across the region and with whom we look forward to partnering on smart, forward-thinking solutions that keep our region thriving.
Charleston City Council
Aaron Polkey – District 4
An attorney and a Charleston native, Polkey runs the Palmetto Project, a statewide nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life of South Carolinians through public-private partnerships. His platform emphasized housing affordability and flooding mitigation and centered his campaign around being a responsive, accessible leader. Polkey was endorsed by the Chamber PAC.
Leslie Skardon – District 12
A businesswoman and community leader, Skardon is the CEO of an environmental sustainability organization. She’s also a proud mom and serves on the Chamber’s Regional Policy Committee. Her campaign focused on making local government more effective, improving our roads and infrastructure and finding solutions to flooding on James Island, which is where her district is located. Skardon was endorsed by the Chamber PAC.
Ben D’Allesandro – District 6
The owner of D’Allesandro’s Pizza, Ben D’Allesandro is a College of Charleston alum who has lived downtown since the 1990s. His campaign platform was centered on improving the city’s parks and recreational facilities and making Charleston a more affordable place to live.
Mount Pleasant Town Council
Kathryn Whitaker
A South Carolina native and Clemson alum, Whitaker is a business professional who specializes in legal marketing. Prior to being elected to Town Council, Whitaker served on the town’s Culture, Arts & Price Commission. Her campaign was centered on managing growth to protect residents’ quality of life and fostering community by promoting safe neighborhoods and small business growth. Whitaker was endorsed by the Chamber PAC.
Alex Crosby
Crosby is a working mom who helps run her family’s local insurance company and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. During her campaign, she emphasized investing in infrastructure while preserving the natural resources and history of Mount Pleasant.
North Charleston City Council
Greg Perry – District 1
Perry won a special election for this seat earlier this week after the seat was vacated last year due to a federal corruption probe. A North Charleston native, Perry’s campaign platform was centered on improving public safety, fixing traffic and supporting public parks. Perry was endorsed by the Chamber PAC.
Goose Creek City Council
Corey McClary
While not an entirely new face, Corey McClary was sworn into office earlier this week, after previously serving as a Councilmember from 2018 to 2022. A U.S. Army Veteran and graduate of The Citadel, McClary’s campaign centered around putting the families of Goose Creek first, with an emphasis on safer streets, smart growth and support for small businesses. McClary is currently a member of Berkeley County’s Economic Development team, where he serves as the county’s Workforce Development Manager. McClary was endorsed by the Chamber PAC.
Summerville Town Council
Dexcter Mack – District 1
Mack is a lifelong Summerville resident who has worked in the Dorchester County Auditor’s Office for the past 17 years. His campaign platform focused on reinvesting in parks and recreation facilities, providing top notch constituent service, fixing traffic bottlenecks and listening to residents. Throughout his campaign, Mack also emphasized community service and affordable housing. Mack is the stepson of Mr. Aaron Brown, a long-serving councilman for District 1.
As we look at the work before us in 2026, the Chamber is committed to partnering with these newly elected councilmembers around our shared priorities. To ensure our region’s long-term competitiveness, we’ll need collaborative leadership informed by good data, clear goals and coordinated action to take on challenges like housing shortages, strategic investments in infrastructure, transportation and flood mitigation.
Together, we can advance pragmatic solutions that support sustainable growth, broaden opportunities for residents and employers, and keep the Charleston region a thriving place to live, work and do business.
If you would like to connect or learn more about the Chamber’s business advocacy work across our region, please feel free to reach out.
