A third Fort Mill newcomer who was heavily involved in Doby’s Bridge protests has filed to run for town council.
Marc DeJesus filed Tuesday to run for Ward 4, the seat currently held by incumbent Chris Moody.
On Wednesday, Mike Short also joined the race for an at-large seat currently held by Lisa Cook. Challengers have until Friday, Sept. 6, to file with the Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office in York. Council positions are non-partisan. Fort Mill residents will vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
DeJesus moved to Fort Mill in 2017. He said his first encounter with Fort Mill town government came while he was working with the parents group opposed to having a gas station built next to the playground at Doby’s Bridge Elementary School.
“Surprisingly I found the mayor and the members of the town council indifferent to our health and safety concerns,” he said in a statement. “Based on their actions, I, along with many others, feel the Fort Mill town government places a higher value on business and maintaining political allies than on safe and sensible development. Their lack of response indicates a dismissive attitude towards their constituents, fostering a self-serving town government.”
He said any citizen should have representation that will work for their best interest “whether they have lived here for two months, two years or 20 years.”
Moody was not available for comment. The incumbent filed for re-election on Aug. 7. He ran unopposed in 2015 to win his first term, filling a seat vacated by Tom Adams, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor.
In a Facebook post, Moody said, “I want to thank you for standing by me these past four years! This election will be the most important election in the history of our town.”
Moody works as a regulatory analyst for Comporium Communications. He is a 2001 graduate of North Greenville University, where he majored in Business Administration. He also received his Master in Business Administration from Winthrop University.
DeJesus pledged to be “a visible and active representative” and “not support unsafe initiatives.”
He was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Va., in a military family. After high school, DeJesus became a first responder in the local volunteer rescue squad and a hospital volunteer. He spent 13 years in corporate America as a regional and national sales manager offering financial and marketing software solutions to Banks and Credit Unions.
Two years ago, DeJesus and his wife Kristy, a former elementary school teacher, moved to Fort Mill with their five children, who include Jade 3, Luke 6, Olivia 9, Logan 11 and Mia 14.