Portillo Joins Nelson Council, City Decides on Park

Featured Stories, Politics

The Nelson City Council grew this week as it added new council member, Edith Portillo to the group. Portillo emerged as the winner in last week’s special election to fill the unexpired term of Larry Sellers, who left his position on March 12th of this year. As such, Portillo took the oath of office last night during the city council’s August meeting. Previously, Portillo ran against Tammi Loggins for the spot. However, in July Loggins decided to drop out of the race, saying it was not in her best interest to stay in the contest at the time. Since she exited the race after the qualifying period her name remained on the ballot. As such, if Loggins had remained in the race she would have defeated Portillo significantly.

Loggins won 72.53 percent of the vote, while Portillo earned a littler over a quarter at 26.37. Slightly over one percent of the votes went to write-ins. Since Loggins dropped out, by default, Portillo won the seat. During the July city council meeting, though, Portillo affirmed her desire to serve the city of Nelson.

“I am for all of Nelson,”

she said at July’s meeting,

“not for just Laurel Lake or any part of our wonderful city, but the entire city.”

During the same meeting she also reasserted her platform, saying she is against raising taxes.

“People work hard of their money,”

she said,

“and it is wrong for any government to think it knows how to spend your money better than you do.”

In July, she also said that if she is elected, her priorities will be the recreation center and the park project. Additionally, she assured residents she would support police protection and retaining the sanitation service in the city.

In her first meeting, Portillo had the opportunity to fulfill one of her campaign promises, casting her vote to move forward with the park project. Previously, Cherokee County allotted Nelson $200,000 to use from a park bond. The submission deadline for the project list is August 13th. As such, last night, the Nelson City Council voted to use the money for the nature trails at the main park ($45,000), extend the gravel driveway and parking lot ($68,000), replace the play ground equipment ($35,000), and renovate the existing basket ball court ($50,000). Council Member Duane Cronic stressed that a handicap accessible restroom facility would also be needed at the park, which he said could be funded by SPLOST money. Also, the total of the project list is $198,000, leaving $2000 that could be used toward the restroom facility, a project that would include installation of a septic line. Cronic made a motion to submit these projects to Cherokee County and, in the interim, price the restroom facility, while requesting Cherokee County add a restroom to the list. Portillo voted yes on the motion as did the rest of the council, making the vote unanimous.

Later in the meeting, council also discussed assigning Councilwoman Portillo an area of responsibility. Currently, each council member is assigned one or several areas of responsibilities, including parks and recreation; planning and zoning; personnel; roads and streets and the police department. During the discussion, Councilman Jackie Jarrett, suggested that council assign Portillo an area of responsibility of either, streets and roads or the police department. Cronic, however, suggested transferring the responsibility of personnel from Councilman Jonathan Bishop, who is also over roads and streets, to Portillo, who volunteered for the responsibility. Mayor Pro Tem Martha Tipton, though, suggested waiting to assign responsibilities until a new mayor is elected, who would not take office until January 2013. Councilman Bishop then made a motion to transfer his personnel duties to the new council member. Bishop, Cronic and Portillo voted for the measure, while Jarrett and Tipton voted against it.

The mayoral election is scheduled for November.

Back to Top