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Irmo has given so much to me, my wife, and our child. We built our lives and careers here, and this town feels like extended family. I decided to run because I want to give back in a meaningful way. As a realtor and a longtime resident, I see both the excitement and the challenges that come with growth. I believe we need leaders who listen first, research carefully, and make decisions that keep Irmo strong for the next generation.
I imagine a walkable, welcoming downtown that reflects Irmo’s unique character, where families can enjoy local shops, restaurants, and community events without losing that small-town charm we all love. A thriving downtown can be the heart of our town, creating a place for neighbors to gather while also attracting visitors who will support our local economy. The key is thoughtful planning so it blends naturally with the neighborhoods around it.
Growth is inevitable, but it must be done the right way. For me, that means careful research and collaboration with residents, local businesses, and infrastructure experts before a single project moves forward. We need to make sure our roads, schools, and utilities can handle new development. Smart zoning, traffic studies, and open communication with the community will guide every decision I make. Growth should enhance Irmo, not overwhelm it.
My top priority is keeping Irmo a wonderful place to raise a family, because that’s what it is for mine. Beyond managing growth responsibly, I want to focus on keeping our neighborhoods safe, supporting our local small businesses, and making sure families have places to gather and play. Well-maintained parks, strong community events, and investments in infrastructure like roads and utilities are key to preserving our quality of life while welcoming new opportunities.
Campaign Phone
8033868531
Campaign Email
gabriel.penfield@gmail.com
Education
College for Financial Planning
Qualifications
Gabriel Penfield is the owner of Relational Wealth Management and has been providing retirement and financial planning advice for 22 years. Mr. Penfield is a graduate of The College for Financial Planning and holds the Accredited Wealth Management Advisor Designation. In addition to his role as a financial counselor, his experience in business development has assisted in the creation of several local businesses including: Co-Founder of Tribal Coffee Co. Co-Founder of Poore House Furnishings C
Serving on the board of the Carmel Commons HOA Board gave me the opportunity to meet one of our former Mayors. She suggested that I get involved in the town council. At the time, I had never considered being a part of local leadership. —no more than I had thought about the being an astronaut.
I worked hard but I came up short in the first election. I ran again in the special election and claimed the seat with nearly %80 of the votes. I have grown to see that there are important white-collar needs of the town, but the volume of blue collar needs far outweigh them and we need more leaders who are willing to help with their feet and hands and not just with defiant annexations and new laws.
There are real opportunities for Irmo to develop a Main Street feel. But in conversations with residents who live on or own these parcels—many for generations—I hear a common concern: they feel like commodities to be bought and sold, or obstacles to “inevitable progress.”
Irmo was here in 1899, and it will still be here in 2099. If the time comes for this vision to take shape, it should not be hastily pushed onto current stakeholders. Instead, it should unfold when the community is ready, and when property owners feel respected.
When that day arrives, perhaps a future council will lovingly cut the ribbon and stand proudly within the support of the community.
Managing growth means putting residents first. Establishing an Architectural Review Board could ensure new projects fit our town’s character and preserve greenspaces. Growth also has costs, and taxpayers shouldn’t carry them alone—that’s why I support impact fees, so new arrivals help fund roads, schools, and services. Just as important, we should reinvest in areas we already have—like Shoppers Walk, Murraywood Plaza, and the St. Andrews Road corridor—to strengthen existing neighborhoods instead of always building out to new areas. By balancing new development with reinvestment, we can grow responsibly while protecting quality of life.
For an order-based system like government, our boundaries sure are all over the place. The “Irmo Walmart” is in an area referred to as Ballentine. Irmo High School isn’t in the Town of Irmo. Many residents with an Irmo mailing address can’t vote in Irmo elections, while some with a Columbia address can. Business owners who don’t live in town have little say in selecting Irmo leadership. As we continue to include more people into the unincorporated areas, it’s time we get our boundaries straight so residents and businesses clearly know who they’re represented by.
Campaign Phone
8437997507
Campaign Email
aray2100@gmail.com
Education
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence & Security Studies
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Campaign Phone
803-319-2147
Campaign Email
barbwaldman2020@gmail.com
Education
BS in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech; PhD in Biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University; Postdoctoral Training at Yale University
Qualifications
History of decades of public/community service; completing a 4-year term on Irmo Town Council
I seek to serve my community. Prior to being elected to the Irmo Town Council in 2021, I regularly attended Council meetings and meetings addressing the development of Rawls Creek Park and the rededication of the historic Upper Pine Grove Cemetery. I served as a non-voting Irmo Okra Strut Commissioner and as the Chair of the Irmo Board of Zoning Appeals. Since being elected, I worked to maintain and improve the quality of life in Irmo, working on our Comprehensive Land Use Plan, refining Ordinances to ensure area-appropriate business and residential development, and enhancing our parks and community events. I am seeking re-election to Council to continue my service in order to make Irmo an even more attractive place to live, work and play.
Irmo does not have a historic downtown district. Irmo’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan defines a Town Center character area centered on the intersection of Lake Murray Blvd. and St. Andrews Road. Most of these properties are developed already, but not in a way conducive to foot traffic. Redevelopment of properties in this area, particularly along Woodrow and Carlisle Streets could possibly create a walkable downtown area. If current property owners were interested in doing so, such redevelopment would likely take significant investment and time. To add character to the town’s appearance and delineate the Town limits, Council has approved utility box wrapping (with an NPO), wayfinding signage and other beautification projects throughout town.
The major impact is increased traffic. To manage it, the Town needs to implement appropriate Ordinances, zoning regulations, and deliberate town planning to protect the investments made by homeowners and businesses and our quality of life. New development is now required to conduct and pay for a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA), and abide by the SCDOT requirements. Council has created a mixed-use development district, which designates specific uses and development standards, and requires environmental studies, TIAs, and a development agreement. Council needs to review our Ordinances to ensure that as our area grows, we adjust and make appropriate revisions, especially when a particular type of business begins to proliferate excessively.
In addition to smart growth, increasing communications, involvement of our youth in local community service and government, and providing more community services and events are my priorities. I established the Community Connections and School Showcase sections during Council meetings, and am working with the Town Administration to create a quarterly newsletter. I have worked with Irmo High School to create the Irmo Mayor’s Youth Council, a group of students who will have voice in Council meetings and work on a project of their choice to benefit the Irmo community. Support for new community events, like the Irmo Town Limit Concert Series, and additional community services, like the Loan-a-Mower program, are additional priorities for me.
