12/18/2025
Charleston City Councilman William Dudley Gregorie speaks at his last meeting Dec. 16, 2025. He represented District 6 for 16 years. Ali Rockett/Staff
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3 Charleston City Council members say goodbye at the city’s final meeting of the year
By Ali Rockett [email protected]
https://www.postandcourier.com/charleston_sc/charleston-city-council-mitchell-gregorie-parker/article_acbb2805-0b44-47b4-9ebb-75d2e31028fe.html
CHARLESTON — More than 45 years of combined experience walked out of City Hall on Dec. 16 as City Council said goodbye to three outgoing members at its last meeting of the year.
“This city is much better because of your service,” Councilman Mike Seekings told his longtime colleagues Robert M. Mitchell and William Dudley Gregorie, who were ousted in November, and Caroline Parker, who did not seek reelection.
Mitchell has represented District 4 for 20 years and spent another four-year term in District 2. During that time, he has watched continued development push older, Black residents off the peninsula. He worked to mitigate that with affordable housing projects like the James Lewis Apartments and Archer School redevelopment that both opened last year.
At a meeting earlier this month, Councilman Keith Waring suggested naming the Charleston Housing Authority’s property at 275 Huger Street in honor of Mitchell.
“We offer this to congratulate our colleague, and for other generations to know that a good man came this way,” Waring said.
As a boy, Mitchell lived in the public housing complex that is about to be demolished and redeveloped. Later, he bought a house around the corner on King Street where he currently lives.
Unanimously approved by City Council, the naming must also go before the housing authority’s board for its approval.
“I thank you all for that, but I don’t need nothing named after me,” Mitchell said to a standing ovation.
Aaron Polkey, an attorney and president and CEO of Palmetto Project, will take his seat at City Council’s next meeting on Jan. 13.
“It’s not about us. It’s about the community,” Mitchell told his colleagues. “It’s time for me to sit down and relax.”
William Dudley Gregorie was first elected to City Council in 2009. Before that he worked for 32 years with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Mayor William Cogswell called him a “stalwart for the city” and an example of civility even when they disagreed — which was often, they chuckled.
“He was obsessed, understandably so, in his district with water,” Cogswell said.
Gregorie’s District 6 covers the West Side of the peninsula, including flood-prone areas like the Medical District, Hagood Avenue, Fishburne Street and Lockwood Boulevard. That’s why Cogswell suggested naming the new pump station at the end of the Septima P. Clark Parkway after him, which was unanimously approved.
“To serve the little old lady who calls me and says, ‘My house is in foreclosure,’ to serve the man who says, ‘I need a new roof, Mr. Gregorie,” he said. “These are the kinds of constituents that, for me, makes this the greatest achievement in my career. To be able to help somebody.”
In January, Ben D'Allesandro, owner and manager of D’Allesandro’s Pizza, will fill his role.
Parker spent four years representing District 12 in James Island. Before the election in November, she had announced that she would not seek reelection.
“The greatest job God gave me was being a wife and a mother,” she said. “I love it more than anything. Being elected and doing something I had never thought of, this is definitely a close second. This has been a true honor.”
While on council, Parker was a fierce advocate for city staff as head of the Human Affairs Committee. She has pushed the city to implement a long-waited compensation study.
“I think you’ve challenged the city to do better,” said Ric Jerue, former Mayor John Tecklenburg’s chief of staff.
Leslie Skardon came out on top of a three-way race to take Parker’s place next month.
Reach Ali Rockett at 843-901-1708.
