New council member talks local democracy, leadership

On January 31, ­Randy Creech was inaugurated as the fifth member of the Allendale City Council in a special election.

Creech, a lifelong resident of Allendale, criticized the speed that the council is moving at to address community issues and advocated for increasing transparency in the local government while campaigning. Reducing gun violence, increasing opportunities for local young people, economic development and infrastructure were several issues Creech emphasized while running.

However, in the special election, 198 people in Allendale cast ballots out of the 1751 registered voters the South Carolina Election Commission records live in the city. Concurrently, frustration with both ­local and national political leadership is widespread among Allendale voters, as recently reported by The People-Sentinel.

Shortly after Creech was sworn into office, The ­People-Sentinel asked Creech about how he wants to rebuild the community’s trust in local democracy and help the council address unresolved issues within the community.

A video version of this interview will appear on The People-Sentinel’s website. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Elijah de Castro: What led you to run for office and take this role?

Randy Creech: If you were to ask me eight months ago, I would have said no to this job. But high prayer and meditation led me to do this because of the citizens. When you talk to them on a daily basis — they’re struggling with the economy, with inflation, struggling with gas and travel — then you begin to ask yourself questions. Do they deserve that? Do they really have to be going through that?

ED: Something I’ve encountered a lot as a reporter in Allendale is frustration with local politics, which you spoke about while campaigning. Whatever issues are going on in the community is one thing, but there’s also this feeling of political betrayal. Now that you’re on council, how are you going to make sure that people’s expectations are being met or in the case of them not being met, how will you handle something like that?

RC: By keeping them informed. I think that being transparent and being honest with the citizens is something that they will be able to digest. People know that when you’re transparent you’re doing your best. They can give you more of a chance, more time. People have an inner sense when they feel that they’ve been betrayed. A lot of people in Allendale did not come out and vote. But, the ones that did come out for me and my opponent, they believed in what we were stating. That right there is enough for some hope. With a lot of the currently elected officials, I gave them a chance and a lot of them are keeping their promises. But, progress in my opinion is moving a little

ED: There were a fair amount of people who voted in this special election, but there were also a lot of people who did not vote. I’ve met a fair share of people in this community who have given up or don’t think that participating in local democracy and local government is worth their time. How can you prove them wrong as a council member?

RC: Again, by being transparent. Visiting them, listening to them, seeing their needs. Seeing what they expect from their ­local leaders. It’s been falling by the wayside that when we elect officials, they work for the people’s needs. Sometimes you can wind up missing that part and think about the power part. The citizens, again, need transparency. I’m going to be very transparent to every citizen, even the ones that did not vote for me.

ED: Whenever I talk to someone in Allendale who’s above the age of 40, they remember a different Allendale, and a place that was more pulled together as a community. The major changes that have happened aren’t exactly things that the town council can snap its fingers and resolve. How will you make sure that people understand the limitations of what the council can do while also showing that the council is working on their side?

RC: By making sure that every council person is on the same page, and that we’re singing the same tune. One of the main problems that we have is that our council and ­mayor are on our local radio show and are bashing each other. I believe in bringing positivity because positivity ensures the citizens that you care about them, and that they believe that things are going to be better. If they don’t believe that anything is going to be better, then they go into a form of frustration and disappointment; that’s not good for anyone. That’s what led us down this road in Allendale in my opinion.

ED: What kind of relationship do you want the council and the community to have with each other? How will you reach young people in Allendale who don’t participate in local government?

RC: The citizens that I’ve talked to have known me for a long time, and yes, they have lost a lot. They put their trust in some individuals that they have elected and they’ve been disappointed in my honest opinion. When it comes to Allendale, I want to educate our young people about how well we were at one point. We have to tell them the closeness of how families were at that point. When young people today go around and see what’s going on in Allendale now that’s the only thing that they have to hang on to, which is very disappointing to them. We can change.