The Folly Current editor sits down for a frank discussion with the newly elected mayor Chris Bizzell
by Lorne Chambers | Editor
It’s three days before Christmas, and Chris Bizzell is sitting alone at a table in the middle of The Lost Dog Café, sipping coffee, an unopened notebook on the table. It’s mid-morning on a Monday in December, and the place is packed with a mix of tourists in town for the holidays and locals preparing to head off to work or perhaps slip into a wetsuit and catch some tasty waves.
A couple of months ago, Bizzell might have joined them in the surf. But today, he’s wearing a polo shirt with the City of Folly Beach’s official seal embroidered on the chest. No one is bothering the newly elected mayor, who still seems to be clinging to a fleeting sense of anonymity on the island, at least compared to his predecessor, whose notoriety grew increasingly over the more than decade and a half he held the position.
Bizzell throws up his hand when I walk in, and I join him at his table and order a coffee. We look over a menu that we both know by heart. He orders the breakfast parfait—yogurt loaded with fruit and granola—things for someone who needs energy for a busy day ahead. I opt for the quiche and grits … add cheese, it’s the holidays, after all. Plus, I’m not the one with a city to run. I can take a nap later. The Folly Current is a monthly newspaper, and we’re more than a week away from having to put out our next issue. I’m already plotting whether I want a Pluff Mudslide or a mimosa at Lowlife after this interview. Bizzell, on the other hand, has things to do.
On the Job Experience
The last two months have been a whirlwind. His campaign for mayor was extended because of a runoff with local realtor and longtime Folly resident Elton Culpepper. Then Bizzell, who was already serving on City Council, had to take the helm with a shortened runway thanks to the extra two weeks on the campaign trail. But the fog is lifting, and he seems to be settling in to the captain’s seat. Not to say there won’t be some turbulence ahead. But Bizzell seems to be in a good position heading into 2026 and his first full year as mayor.
“Being on council, you already have an understanding of how things go. You have working relationships with staff, including Aaron (Pope, city administrator), and that helps,” he says. “I had already gone to a lot of municipal training over the past two years, so you start to understand the process and how things actually move. When you first get on council, you think everything is going to happen tomorrow. You quickly learn you have to adjust that timeline. We’re talking about projects that won’t happen for years — especially infrastructure. You have to do the fundamental work before you can get to the bigger tasks.”
The wheels of government do move slowly, whether at the national level, the state level, or even in a small city like Folly Beach with just over 2,000 residents.
In national elections, or even state elections, there’s usually a good deal of mudslinging and name-calling taking place on both sides of the aisle. But here on wee little Folly Beach, we don’t stoop to such lows … do we? Well, not usually, but this election was fraught with emotion and speculation of who would succeed long-time mayor Tim Goodwin. The issue that had people’s bikini bottoms in a bunch the most was that ol’ familiar chestnut, Short Term Rentals (STR).
So instead of Republican vs. Democrats, this mayoral election saw Cappers vs. No Cappers bickering online, in the street, and on the campaign trail.
“During the campaign, you hear a lot of things, but 99 percent of the time, when you meet someone face-to-face, you can have a good conversation. When people feel heard, it goes a long way,” says Bizzell. “You still have to connect individual wants with the broader needs of the community.”
Preserving that community is something that’s paramount to Bizzell, who points to the house fire that happened last month on 1600 Block of East Ashley.
“When something like a storm or a house fire happens, you really see how this community comes together.”
It is this sense of community that first lured Bizzell and his wife, Stacy, from the Greenville area to Folly Beach five years ago. At that time, he says he never intended to run for city council. He certainly didn’t plan on becoming mayor.
“Everybody who runs knows, it’s a lot easier not to do it. But if you’re going to do it, you have to be present and engaged,” says Bizzell. “Back during the (STR) referendum is really when I got started with all of this. Residents began coming to me, asking if I would consider running,” recalls Bizzell on how an IT guy ended up being involved in local politics.
In early 2023, the City adopted an ordinance— propelled by a citizen referendum—that would limit the number of STR licenses issued to just 800, a reduction of about 25 percent from where it had been previously, creating a near certainty that if you buy a house on Folly today, you probably won’t be able to rent it out as a STR, at least for the foreseeable future as the waiting list is long and licenses are scarce and getting scarcer by the day, as the number of STR licenses continues to whittle toward 800.
“The Cap,” as it’s simply known as on Folly, was an issue Bizzell felt strongly about as a citizen when he lobbied for limiting the number of licenses and again as a City Council candidate. He was elected in 2023 largely thanks to his support of the cap. And, as a mayoral candidate two years later, Bizzell didn’t back away from the controversial issue that has divided the island more than any other in recent years.
“One of my key intentions in running was to maintain the integrity of the cap,” he admits when asked why he would even want this seemingly thankless job in the first place. “But as a city, we’re always looking to improve ordinances and legislation. If someone comes to us with ideas, I’m open to them, especially if they move the community forward.”
Water Under (not over) the Bridge
While the STR ordinance has already been tweaked and will likely continue to evolve, Bizzell is looking ahead to other issues. It’s not exactly water under the bridge. But there is literal water under our bridge, and Bizzell wants to make sure it stays there and not over the roadway as sea levels continue to rise, storms become more intense, and king tides become more frequent.
“One of my biggest objectives this year is to conduct a study on the causeway. It’s our lifeline — not just for Folly, but for the entire state,” says Bizzell. “We talk a lot about resilience. The 2050 overlay is a tough subject, but we need to start working on it immediately.”
Over the next few months, Bizzell, the council, and staff will work on a strategic plan that sets the city’s goals and feeds directly into the budget process. When living on a barrier island, water and flooding impact everything. And this is something Bizzell is hyper-focused on looking to 2026 and beyond.
“This year, for example, we’re finishing Center Street work and infrastructure related to flooding. We’re upgrading the water line on East Hudson and moving forward with the water main project. These are things that will continue into next year,” he says. “There’s going to be some pain, but it’s necessary, and it’s happening.”
He says the city is also doing cutting-edge computer modeling to understand stormwater and flooding impacts better.
“Septic tank issues are another big concern,” says Bizzell. “We can’t keep kicking the can down the road. 2050 isn’t that far away — 25 years is right around the corner.”
Parking is another issue on Bizzell’s short list.
“Another major issue is parking at the beachfront. We’re trying to find the right balance — if we can help surfers and beach walkers earlier in the day, that’s great,” he says. “The city is also working on updated wetland rules, and in 2026, we’ll be developing a new Parks Master Plan.”
Communication is Key
The one thing that Bizzell keeps coming back to is communication.
“I want to stay approachable and keep listening,” says Bizzell, who plans to launch a newsletter called “City at Work,” as a way to improve transparency and communication.
“Another thing I’m particularly excited about is meeting with business leaders and improving communication between business owners and the city is really important — setting expectations about what the city can and can’t do,” says Bizzell. “My intention is to work with them so they know what’s coming down the pike, and so we can hear what’s working and what’s not. That’s an important step.”
Steps are important. And footing, especially in the sand, is everything on Folly Beach, especially when you have big shoes to fill. Following a four-term mayor isn’t easy, but Bizzell seems up for the challenge. He knows the island’s issues won’t be solved overnight. They’ll be solved in order … step by step.
