LIBERTY — The rally held last weekend by Roy Costner, a candidate for Pickens County Council District 4, was an opportunity for the candidate to meet his constituents but it also gave the mayor a venue to announce that the Liberty Chamber of Commerce is on its way back.
Mayor Eric Boughman made the announcement during the rally.
“I wish I could take credit for bringing the chamber back to Liberty but I can’t,” Costner said. “Lisa Hunter and Misty Medlin were responsible for all of the legwork on that one. But it’s good to see it back in Liberty.”
Despite the off and on inclement weather, residents, local officials, candidates, and performers turned out and had an evening discussing the future of Pickens County.
“We actually set up for the event and ended up taking it all down because of the rain, but by 3:15 the sky began to clear and the rain stopped,” Costner said. “It turned into a beautiful evening despite the early weather and we shouldn’t have been worried about the turnout because there was a great response.”
The rally, beyond Costner’s run against incumbent Neil Smith, was a forum to discuss the future of the city of Liberty and Pickens County.
Rep. Neal Collins, Sheriff Rick Clark, and Boughman, along with County Council candidate Wes Hendricks, were in attendance.
“Everyone was speaking about the need of the community to unify, to come together and work together to build toward the future,” Costner said. “The great thing was although we were in Liberty, everyone was not only speaking on how Liberty’s future could be shaped but the county as a whole and how we as a community can make a difference.”
The May 21 gathering was about community and the messages sent were about the future.
“My take on this is if I am fortunate enough to be elected, or if I’m not, my goal is to help figure out a way to unify the community and how to help the different organizations and people, all the municipalities together,” Costner said. “Sheriff Clark, the mayor, everyone had nothing but a positive message about what a great place we live in and in the end that’s what I was truly looking to do — reinforce the feeling of what a great place we live in and how our future looks based on where we are, where we have been in recent years, and where we’re going.”
Entertainment was provided by previous winners of Liberty Idol and Pickens County has Talent.
“The entertainment was fantastic and I know everyone enjoyed it,” Costner said. “One of the most exciting prospects was the mayor’s announcement.”
