Great job on the work of recently elected Mayor of Charleston, William S. Cogswell Jr.! Cogswell (pictured) was elected last year in November 2023, and what is exceptional is that Mayor Cogswell is the first Republican mayor of Charleston since 1877. When Cogswell was elected last year at age 48, he was one of Charleston's youngest elected mayors in history.
I think Mayor Cogswell is a terrific mayor of Charleston. He and his wife Lucile make a nice and happy couple, and they have a wonderful family of two sons, Mason and Meade.
When Cogswell came into power back in January 2024 when he was sworn in, the mayor said, ''I urge all of you to actively participate in our city's growth and improvement. Together, let's build a better Charleston." And Mayor Cogswell this past year has done well with his priorities, which include cutting down on flooding and sea level rises, improving road traffic congestion, keeping down crime, and improving safety for all the people of Charleston.
I think it was a good move. Back in October 2024, Mayor Cogswell took a stand on affordable housing in Charleston County by sending a letter of intent to the Charleston County administrator asking for 500 affordable housing units to be built at 993 and 995 Morrison Drive. So this shows Mayor Cogswell wants to help people get affordable housing in his community.
Also, I think it's great that Mayor Coswell wants to improve Union Pier for the City of Charleston's residents and visitors to the area. Back in April 2024 he talked with developers about making Union Pier waterfront more accessible and making housing, retail, and commercial buildings in this area. When it's built up, I would like to tour the New Union Pier when I'm in Charleston again very soon.
I think Mayor Coswell is a great resident of Charleston, and Coswell will make his mark as a great mayor of Charleston in history very soon, just like former mayor Joseph Riley. And I think it's great he was the first Republican elected mayor of Charleston since the 1870s. And I think Cogswell should keep on being elected to the office of mayor since he was elected last year at the age of 48 years old. What an achievement for this young man! Mayor Cogswell is a great man of Charleston.
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Steven Hawkins is a Freelance writer from Greenville SC.