Mount Pleasant Resident is New County GOP Chair

Former Mount Pleasant Town Councilman Joe Bustos is the new chairman of the Charleston County Republican Party.

The retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel was elected Monday in a two-person race with former Chairwoman Lin Bennett. Bustos says he didn't campaign for the position, but he thinks party members selected him for his ability to bring together conservatives.

"I have served on the (party) board, and people knew me. I think they saw that I could bring ... people back to the table, people that we've lost," Bustos said. "I'm already out trying to talk to all the different Republican clubs, trying to bring everyone together under the Republican umbrella."

This isn’t his first foray into local politics. Bustos served nine years on Mount Pleasant Town Council before running unsuccessfully in 2009 for mayor.

He sought the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2011 for a state house seat, and he was a candidate for town council in 2011. Bustos has declared his intentions to run for mayor again in November 2013 against Mayor Billy Swails.

Bustos acknowledges the current party is somewhat divided by two camps — old-guard Republicans who tend to be more moderate and a newer generation that trends more conservative.

"I don't think I'm far, far right, but I am conservative," Bustos said. "But all those folks are conservative, and that's what should unite us. Our full strength won't be realized until we're united."

He said he will continue to campaign for mayor while serving as party chairman, but his focus now is turning out the vote for former Gov. Mark Sanford who is running for the First District Congressional seat left vacant by Tim Scott's elevation to the U.S. Senate.

The following officers were also elected Monday:

John Steinberger, first vice president
Paige “Duffy” Lewis, second vice president
Elaine Magliacane, third vice president
JoAnne Knapp, secretary
Jane Edler, treasurer

Bustos' election concentrates local political party influence east of the Cooper River. Charleston Democratic Party Chairman Richard Hricik also is a Mount Pleasant resident.