The Post & Courier Endorses Leslie!
The Post & Courier
October 17, 2025
“Three newcomers are seeking the seat being vacated by Councilwoman Caroline Parker, which covers the southernmost part of James Island. Leslie Skardon, head of the statewide nonprofit Sustain SC, stands out.
"The city is facing several existential issues that can be improved upon: flooding, affordable housing and traffic,” she tells us. “We must have leaders that are not only reactive, but also proactive. We must be thinking 30-years ahead to protect our city from sea-level rise and ensure that people can live and work here. Currently we do not have the funding or focus we need on James Island to fix the immediate issues — I will be a strong voice for James Island to advocate for those near-term solutions."
Ms. Skardon favors an urban-suburban line to clarify where density should go and supports the Battery extension and efforts to create more affordable housing. She notes such housing is needed for the city's first responders and other key employees. "This is also a traffic issue — if people can’t live where they work, we will have more cars on the road and more traffic," she says.
As the leader of an organization that works with the public, private and nonprofit sectors on resiliency planning, increasing clean energy, land conservation and reducing waste, Ms. Skardon has been grappling with many of the city's challenges in a different role and in different arenas. Such experience will help her district and the city as a whole.”
