An Interview with Cornelius “Chubby” Smith: Candidate for Summerville Town Council District One

With Election Day looming, we turn our attention to the most hotly contested municipal election in Dorchester County—Summerville Town Council District One—in which three candidates vie for the non-partisan seat vacated by 20-year incumbent Aaron Brown.

This is a dynamic and sometimes contentious period in Summerville’s history as citizens and their elected officials wrestle with explosive growth and its many challenges including traffic congestion, housing costs, homelessness, and worries about the changing character of the town.

Within this context, three candidates have stepped forward to represent District One on Summerville’s Town Council: Vickie Fagan, a former Summerville Mayoral candidate; Dexcter Mack, an established community leader and longstanding administrator within Dorchester County’s Auditors Office; and Cornelious “Chubby” Smith, a lifelong resident of Summerville’s District One.

In my capacity as the Dorchester County Democratic Party’s Communications Director, I invited all three candidates to participate in a one-on-one interview. Mack and Smith accepted; Fagan declined. Following is a summary of my nearly hour-long interview with Mr. Smith followed by the full transcript of the interview.

Interview Summary and Key Takeaways

During our interview, Chubby emphasized his lifelong roots in Summerville, his decades of shopfloor leadership in the lumber industry, and his deep commitment to community service through work, church, and family. His priorities include improving transportation and traffic flow and keeping residents informed. On most of the topics we discussed, Chubby expressed a warm, earnest, and collaborative spirit but lacked specific proposals for what to do. For example, he expressed empathy toward people experiencing homelessness, but admits he does not have a concrete plan for improving their fate; he supports affordable housing while also valuing historic elements; etc. Chubby backs the $60 million plan to rebuild public safety facilities, stresses regional cooperation on transportation, and calls for active community forums to represent District One’s diverse population. Ultimately, Chubby frames himself as a sincere, approachable leader who values listening, accountability, and fostering trust across all parts of the community.

After interviewing Mr. Smith, here are the key pros and cons of his candidacy I believe Democratic voters should consider:

Pros

• Lived Experience – Chubby is a lifelong resident of District One and so is a stakeholder in the problems and progress of the district.

• Love of Community – He presents a deep love of the community and an eagerness to serve that is supported by longstanding volunteer work within his church.

• Commitment to Transparency - Mr. Smith expresses a strong commitment to keeping communication lines open and providing accurate information, both to constituents and governing partners.

Cons

• Unproven Leadership Ability – While Mr. Smith references leadership responsibilities while at Southern Lumber, he did not provide a concrete response when asked about specific leadership actions.

• Lacking Specific Plans - Chubby was unable to definitively identify any plans or proposals he would put forward regarding traffic/transportation, growth, housing, homelessness, or historic preservation.

The Interview

Gray: Okay, jumping in here with about eight questions. Can you tell me about your background and motivation for running for the District One Representative of Summerville Town Council?

Chubby: I was born and raised here in Summerville and have a love for my community. My wife and I have been married for (more than) 40 years, and we’ve got two daughters and three granddaughters. I’ve seen a lot of changes through the years, bringing a lot of different people with a lot of different views, and I just have a love for Summerville.

I retired in 2024 after working at Berlin Myers Lumber and Southern Lumber for about 44 years altogether. I’m a millwright on the woodworking side.

I spoke with (former District One Representative) Mr. Brown about four years ago about running and now it’s come to fruition. People need somebody they can count on. During my time at Southern Lumber, I wasn’t just a worker, I was a leader. You’ve gotta be real with people, be sincere with them. As a Representative, you should be held to a higher standard because you’re not just representing yourself, you’re representing a group of people.

Gray: What is your long term vision for District One as a whole?

Chubby: Everything is constantly changing around here, so there’s a need for transportation in this region. They’ve got the hub coming at the fairground, and that will get you some places, but we’ve gotta make sure that we’ve got something in place, maybe here in Summerville. Traffic is a big concern for people. Living on Maple Street, I see heavy traffic sometimes. And we’ve got to keep the seniors informed. Getting information to people is a big deal for me.

I’ve also done work in the church. I’m the church secretary and work with the financial team there so it gives me insight coming onto the Council.

Gray: So the next question I have is about Summerville Police Department and its cooperation with ICE agents. So, as a council member setting policy and budget for Summerville Police Department, what specific guardrails or transparency measures would you support regarding how SPD collaborates with federal deportation initiatives?

Chubby: I spent some time about a month ago with Chief Wright, and I got some good insight about working with other agencies. A few years ago, departments didn’t want to work together but you have to and you have to find some common ground where you can work, and keep people informed.

But, for everyday working people, that’s where I throw my support behind. It’s a thin line - you don’t want somebody innocent getting hurt by somebody who’s been in trouble and is back on the street.

Gray: Are there any guardrails or policies you would advocate for determining how Summerville Police Department coordinates with ICE?

Chubby: I would say keeping the information lines open, so you know who you’re going after so there’s no conflict, no misunderstanding. You’ve got to identify yourself. I feel like that’s a big deal.

Gray: Okay, onto the homelessness issue and the new camping ordinance. You know that the Town Council recently expanded the encampment ban regarding public and private property, ignoring concerns from advocacy groups who feel that it criminalizes homelessness. What’s your plan for addressing homelessness in Summerville?

Chubby: It’s sad because you really don’t know sometimes what people go through. People suffer with mental health issues and they are really just looking for a safe haven and a place to lay their head. We need to figure something out - it might be long term or short term, because it’s a lot of people; and realistically, some people are satisfied with being homeless and not trying to get to the next level.

But I don’t have a plan in mind right now, but we’ve gotta work with the Council, and see what we can come up with as a whole to serve (at least) some of these people because they live in our community. We’ve gotta come up with a plan that all six districts get (behind) together. Let’s move on to the next topic.

Gray: Regarding the challenges that overall growth and zoning place on historic districts in Summerville. Given the tension around this issue, how will you balance the housing supply shortage issue with historic preservation and keeping the historic charm of the town?

Chubby: You can’t stop people from coming. And I get that (in certain areas) they’re building townhouses where the neighborhood wants single family homes, and you can’t overprice these homes. They have to be affordable to the people who live in the area. I mean, I was at the Publix at Nexton and you see people from Maryland, Florida and Georgia.

I know they’re looking at redoing 500 North Main, and that old hospital has been closed since 1975. I would try to incorporate some of the original building, like the bricks, into the other buildings and leave the memorials. But I could see a little freshening up there.

Gray: Let me get you to picture yourself at a fork in the road where there’s no right or wrong answer. One direction is a little more pro, economic growth, and one direction is a little more pro-historic preservation. Which of those two things is more important to you, Chubby?

Chubby: You gotta keep an open mind with things, but you also have to listen to what the people are saying. So if I was standing in the fork of the road and trying to make a decision, I would try to do just what I said, try to incorporate something from that building. Affordable housing is huge. It’s a big deal, and people want to own their own home.

Gray: Let’s move on to the next topic. The town is planning to demolish and rebuild the police, fire, and court headquarters, with a projected cost of $60 million. Do you support this plan or do you have any concerns about it?

Chubby: I think it’s a pretty good plan. I haven’t actually looked at all the details, but I think it’s gonna be a good thing. And, if they wait three or four years, the cost is going to be $80 million. It’s a tough decision but I think it’ll serve the community well.

Gray: You’ve talked a little about transportation and traffic, and I want to circle back to that. District One residents have been dealing with congestion from the North Maple Street extension to the Berlin Myers Parkway project. What specific transportation improvements would you advocate for?

Chubby: So we gotta figure out a nice system that people are gonna use. Wherever that “hub” location might be, it’s got to accommodate the weather - it has to be a nice shelter.

Gray: Do you have any thoughts on where that might be located?

Chubby: No, I can’t see right now, but there is a spot right off Gahagan Road, near the park, that might be a good spot. I don’t know what the Council might have in (its) plan for future use of that spot.

Gray: Okay, how would you work with regional agencies to bring that about?

Chubby: We know we’ve got people who need transportation, so we’ve gotta make sure that agencies, whether it’s DOT or the county, (make ) a joint effort. It’s going to take funding, and as I’ve said, funding has been cut, so we want to make sure that what we build will be used, because there ain’t nothing like building a house and nobody comes. We want to make sure we get public insight on it. It would be wrong not to.

Gray: Alright, as you know, District One contains a diversity of neighborhoods. According to the background research I’ve done, it’s pretty evenly divided in terms of the political leanings of the residents. Given the nonpartisan nature of the Town council, how will you ensure that all voices from the communities are represented in Council decisions?

Chubby: You gotta talk to people and bring people together. You’ve got to have that ability to reach out to everybody, to give all the information. Hold community forums. Or do two or three of them because of how the district is split up. Don’t run and hide from people - that’s not good. We need to sit down and discuss our district, but there are five other districts too.

Gray: Okay, I have one final question for you. Looking back over your life, in your work roles and with the church, what is one story you can illustrate your ability as a leader and change agent?

Chubby: So my main thing is when you get elected, you are a voice for the people. And you’ve got to encourage people, especially the young people. They’re the ones coming up. Educate them.

I had some days at work where I was building and making stuff and it would just kick my butt all day. But at the end of the day, I always made sure that I got to a sweet spot, a good spot, so when I came in the next day, I was good, because I knew where I left off when I left the day before. I was in a good spot. I had already figured it out.