5 Things to Know About Being Mount Pleasant Mayor

1. Thinking about running?

A handful of former and current elected officials are still mulling a run for mayor of Mount Pleasant. Candidates have from Aug. 19 to Aug. 26 to submit their official paperwork. The election is set for Nov. 2013. The qualification fee is $150. Read more about running for Mount Pleasant Town Council.

2. On paper, it's not an important job

Mount Pleasant has what's known as a "strong council" form of government. The town charter gives the mayor power to preside over meetings, and he or she has the tie-breaking ninth vote on the council. Though Charleston and North Charleston afford their mayors much more official influence, the Mayor of Mount Pleasant is still a strong force behind the scenes and serves as a influential consensus builder.  

3. You won't get rich doing it

The mayor's position is part-time and pays just $24,000 a year. Other perks include group health insurance, access to a town vehicle, a cell phone and a tablet PC, and you share a secretary with the town council. By contrast, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley took home more than $160,000 in 2012.

4. Being elected mayor just got a lot harder

Town council is expected to approve new rules this month that will require a runoff election if no mayoral candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote. Current rules say the highest vote getter takes the office. In previous elections, mayors were voted in with 40 percent or less of the electorate.

5. Political parties are optional

Think politics is too red or blue? Mount Pleasant Town Council is non-partisan. Candidates, including the mayor, do not declare a party when they qualify for the office. Plenty of the town's elected officials are involved in county level politics, but council votes rarely fall down political lines. How's that for bipartisanship in our overly politicized world?