Meet the City Council Candidates: Sal Gandolfo

Patch is introducing readers to the candidates for Goose Creek City Council. For complete coverage, visit our .

Sal Gandolfo came to Goose Creek in 1976. It was a big change for the New York native. 

"Goose Creek was farm land — not even farm land," he said, remembering two-lane highways and poor water and sewer. "It wasn't appealing. The only thing that sold my wife and I was the school."

With an interest in improving the look of the city, Gandolfo was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. "When I first came here, there was clutter and signs all over the place," he said. "Over 14 years, we started to see changes."

Gandolfo was first elected to council in 1996. "We were looking ahead," he said. "At what we would like to see for our families." 

The city has used planning and zoning to make Goose Creek a desirable place, Gandolfo said.

"The council we have today is probably the best council we've ever had," he said. "This isn't an 'I' team. We don't always agree, but we agree to disagree."

Gandolfo is proud of the city's fiscal responsibility — the city will be debt free in 2012 and hasn't had a tax increase for more than 30 years.

Gandolfo said he's proud of the council's work in establishing the second fire station serving the Hamlets and other neighborhoods in Crowfield Plantation. 

"That was one of my pet peeves," he said. 

Now, the council is looking to build a new firehouse and replace the facility on Brandywine. Gandolfo said he's also looking forward to new annexation and the city's continued growth.

One of the most important issues for Gandolfo is to continue developing passive parks.

"Residents can take their children and grandchildren down to the park and barbecue a hot dog and let the kids run around and play," he said. "We need ball fields, but you've got to designate areas for passive parks, too." 

And Gandolfo is also ready to help when residents call with needs, like when trash cans knocked over at a park.

"That's what our job is," he said. "We have to please the citizens. They don't have to please us. The council is working for everybody."