The Town of Lexington council race has three incumbents and two faces who may be new to some. 

First elected over two years ago in a special election, Gavin Smith is running for his first full term on town council. 

Longtime Councilmember Ron Williams is running for his third full term on council.

Councilmember Todd Carnes has been on council for over 10 years and is looking to serve another term. 

Town of Lexington locals will also see two names on their ballots come Nov. 4 who have not served on town council: Greg Brewer and Doug Leonard (visit this link for more on Leonard). 

Greg Brewer has run for Lexington Town Council before. Two years ago, he received 1,007 votes; current Councilmember Jeannie Michaels won 1,030 votes; current Councilmember Will Allen won 1,054 votes; and current Councilmember Todd Lyle won 1,245 votes.

“I think it would be great to have new perspective, new blood on town council,” Brewer told the Chronicle. “Term limits are a core part of my platform and raised by residents often. They ensure a pipeline of fresh ideas and energy while preventing the complacency that too often comes with four, five and more terms.”

In a press release on his website, lexbrewcrew.com, Brewer wrote that the town needs leadership living in all areas of the town, adding that he, as well as Doug Leonard (who is also running for town council; for more on him, visit this link), live in an area of the town where current councilmembers don’t live. 

"Our council is dominated by imbalance,” Brewer said. “Two council members are in a realty/development business together. Two others live in the same neighborhood when there are about 90 neighborhoods in town limits. No one lives in the center part of town near the 1/6/378 triangle. We need more balance that truly represents all of Lexington."

All seats on Lexington Town Council are at-large, enabling councilmembers to vote in favor of the whole town, not just one section of it. 

“We’re not elected to serve the town based on where we live,” Councilmember Ron Williams told the Chronicle. “We’re elected to serve the town as a whole and we are elected by the town as a whole. … I don’t just serve the neighborhood I live in.”

Mayor Hazel Livingston told the Chronicle something similar. 

“It is a great honor to serve the people of Lexington,” she said. “While some may point to where council members live or work, the fact is that each of us was elected by the voters. My loyalty has always been, and always will be, to serve all the citizens of our town.” 

Councilmember Todd Carnes told the Chronicle he has served the town in many capacities. 

“For 25 years I’ve served our community in a variety of roles,” he said. “Seven years as a pastor at Lexington Baptist Church, eight as Co-founding Pastor of Radius Church, five as General Manager of SouthernMED Pediatrics, and five as Co-founder of Todd Realty Partners, recently named 2024 Small Business of the Year by the Lexington Chamber. Each of these experiences has been instrumental in informing and guiding my public service to the citizens of our great town.”

Brewer said that equitable representation across the town is essential to the running of the town, especially in the face of growth. 

“We gotta get it better before we get bigger,” he said. “Growth must pay for growth. Residents are clear; growth and the impacts on roads, infrastructure and their quality of life is a major concern. We must get better before we get bigger. All tax dollars spent must be done with greater balance and discipline. [There are] many opportunities to improve and involve residents."

His campaign platform is all about prioritizing projects such as roadway improvements, water and sewer management, and safety; increasing financial transparency; and engaging residents through more public discussion in and out of town council meetings.

With a professional background in utility grid and water infrastructure across many towns throughout the country, Brewer said he knows the importance of infrastructure planning. 

“What got us here won’t get us where we need to go,” he said. “We need new perspectives, new energy, and a disciplined strategy to solve the challenges we face—challenges and consequences driven by too much building without systematically accounting for the consequences.”

More information on Brewer can be found at lexbrewcrew.com.

Early voting is from Monday, Oct. 20, to Friday, Oct. 31, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lexington County Voter Registration and Election Office, located at 605 West Main St., Ste. C, in Lexington. Election Day is Nov. 4. 

The Lexington County Registration and Elections Office can be reached at 803-785-8361, and more information is available on the county’s website.