Perry Williams announced his re-election bid for Greer CPW commissioner today at a press conference at Greer City Park.
Williams held a press conference in front of City Park’s signature fountains. “I choose this spot because it was where the old Lewis’ Drive-In was,” he reminisced. “I love Greer and I feel a responsibility toward public service.”
His campaign card has a photo of thousands of citizens in downtown Greer during the city’s simpler times. “I’ve always said a big crowd of people in downtown Greer is a good thing,” Perry said.
The municipal elections are scheduled for July 24. Filing ends at noon on April 20. Perry announced last month at a city council meeting his candidacy for re-election to the CPW board of commissioners and has had his Web site up for the past month. “I’ve been prepared to run for a long time – since I was elected (May, 2009),” Williams said. “With the county election filing falling between the city’s elections I wanted to wait.”
Perry’s 3-year term at CPW includes construction of the 1.5 million gallon Pleasant Grove Elevated Water Tower with a 24 inch water main and the new electrical sub-station, located to the south and north of Greer, respectively.
“During my first term in office, I have worked diligently on behalf of the citizens of Greer to hold the line and not raise utility rates during these tough economic times.” Williams’ statement read. He was the lone commissioner to vote no last December to a two percent CPW pay raise and a 5 percent rate increase for electricity and water.
“Our operating budget has been pared over the last three years from a high of over $80 million in 2009 to less than $73 million this year,” Perry said. “Simultaneously, cash on hand has risen from $8 million to over $19 million today.
“This has been accomplished, not by raising the utility rates, but rather by working with my fellow Commissioners and our General Manager to improve the operation and cut wasteful spending.”
The Commission has management, budgetary, debt management, rate setting and fiscal responsibility for Greer CPW.
Williams, a native of Greer, was elected to the board of commissioners in May 2009. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and is the president of an international textile consulting firm, which he founded in 1999. He served on Greer City Council 1988 to 2002. Williams is on the Board of Directors for the Greer Development Corporation, a member of Partnership for Tomorrow, and vice president of the Greer Board of Trustees. He is a 2011 graduate of the South Carolina Economic Development Institute.