Diane Georgia wants her constituents to stay the course.
Georgia was first elected to City Council in 2006. She ran unopposed after her first term but has a challenger this time around in the April 8 election that will decide who represents District 2.
"I hope to have another four year term," she said. "I hope to achieve. But it's not about me, it's about the people."
Being a representative on City Council requires teamwork, she said, and she's proud of the relationships she's forged with other council members and the mayor.
"We have a great team," she said.
Georgia, who declined to give her age, is a Manning native and graduate of Scott's Branch High School, where she serves as the guidance counselor. Georgia said she's been employed by Clarendon District 1 since 1985, after receiving her bachelor of science in business and master's degree in counseling and education from S.C. State University.
Education is near and dear to Georgia.
"I love my job because when we think about our children, they are our future," she said.
When pondering the importance of preparing students for life after high school, Georgia said she wants to help all students achieve their dreams.
"It truly does take a village to raise a child," she said.
Her ascendancy to council came about in 2006, she said, because her constituency pushed her into being their advocate.
"They were the driving force for me to run," she said. "I wanted to be a voice for the people ... Being that I had their support -- they wanted me, so I pursued it."
During her first term she learned to grapple with policies, procedures and ordinances and saw the need to take on the issue of litter and beautification and how it affects the city's image.
She said she's proud of "clean up days" that have seen many folks pitch in and make a difference.
"Litter is a problem," she said, and the clean up days also afford the opportunity to bond with her constituents. "It was a great day for the community. A lot of folks came out to support that effort. It was a collaborative effort. I really enjoyed it."
In terms of moving Manning and Clarendon County forward, Georgia said she hopes to contribute to economic development efforts in attracting more businesses and industries. Growing the job base in the area is key, she said, and part of that is continuing to improve the infrastructure.
"And to make sure we're attracting different businesses to provide jobs for the people in Clarendon County," she said.
Georgia recently graduated from a multi-faceted course offered by the S.C. Economic Development Institute that used real world examples throughout the state so participants can learn what succeeds, and how municipalities can take those lessons back home.
As for accomplishments of her time representing District 2, council should be proud of the work done on Gibbons Street and Bellwood Community parks, she said, as well as the efforts of Manning Main Street and working hard to make Halloween a well-attended downtown event involving merchants and many families.
Georgia is a longtime Rotarian with the Summerton Rotary Club and a Paula Harris Fellow. She serves as a board member of Elizabeth Baptist Church, she said, and looks to be involved with her community in many ways, such as:
- Recently completing American Red Cross/Disaster Preparedness
- Regularly taking part in continuing education programs offered by the S.C. Municipal Association
- Taking the Leadership Clarendon course
She wants to always be open to listen to ideas and concerns on how to improve District 2 and bring progress to the city, she said.
"Manning is a pretty amazing place to live," she said. "And that's what makes the difference."
The bottom line is that serving on council is a collaborative effort, she said.
"Manning City Council is working continuously to see how we can help make positive changes," she said. "We are a team."
