Atlantic Beach councilwoman ordered to be removed from executive session despite being sworn-in
ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Atlantic Beach councilwoman Carla Taylor confirmed to News13 Friday evening that she was ordered to be removed from the executive session portion of Thursday’s special called town council meeting.
Taylor says Mayor Jake Evans, councilwoman Jacqueline Gore, and mayor pro tem Josephine Isom ordered her removal.
Taylor said she was told she was not counted as part of the quorum and therefore could not be in the room during executive session because the results in her council election were being challenged/appealed.
This all occurred despite the fact Taylor’s win in November’s election had already been certified and she was sworn in at the beginning of last month.
Taylor said she wasn’t formally told about the challenge at the time she was sworn in but was told Thursday that she couldn’t participate as a councilmember until the challenge is handled.
In a phone call with News13 on Friday, Taylor said she feels like she and others in Atlantic Beach are being disenfranchised.
“The people voted in November,” Taylor said. “I was legally certified and sworn in and I should be seated. Every vote should count.”
News13 reached out to longtime Town Clerk Cheryl Pereira Friday morning for information about Taylor’s removal during the executive session portion of Thursday’s meeting.
Pereira told News13, “I was not in Executive Session so I cannot tell you what happened.” Pereira then referred News13 to Mayor Jake Evans.
News13 began calling, texting, and emailing Mayor Evans Friday morning and as of 6:30p.m. Friday evening, Mayor Evans has not responded.
Taylor went on to tell News13 that despite the recent controversies involving elections and other matters within the small town, she said many positive things are happening in Atlantic Beach.
Taylor says she is optimistic about its future and wants to help lead the town and move it forward.
Councilman John David also confirms that Orton Bellamy, the former Horry County Councilman, was named interim town manager during Thursday’s special meeting, though David says this vote was done invalidly.
Last week, News13 reported Taylor was suing the town for not allowing her to fulfill her duties as councilwoman. Count on News13 for updates.
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Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13’s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylor’s work here.
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