South Carolina counties at the beginning of the 21st century

Purpose. South Carolina's counties are playing an increasingly important role in providing services, some the traditional role of county government, others in response to new demands and expectations. The ongoing survey of local elected officials provides the opportunity to view the role of county government from their unique perspective. Before we can predict behavior, we must understand the environment in which they govern and their view of the role they play in contributing to the quality of political and social life in their home county.;Methods. Results from biennial state-wide surveys of county elected officials are used to understand the degree to which they reflect the demographic characteristics of the citizens they represent. The demographic characteristics are also compared with national surveys of county elected officials. These surveys are compared with general population surveys of South Carolinians to understand the linkage between the policy priorities of the elected officials and their citizens.;Results. Elected county council members in South Carolina are more likely to reflect the age, race, sex, education, and population of a national sample of county officials then they are the citizens they are elected to represent. Their policy priorities do not reflect the priorities of their residents. Growth, economic development, property values, and the revenue needed to provide government services is more dependent on the urban or rural nature of the county rather than the form of government under which it operates.;Conclusion. South Carolina's residents elect their neighbors to serve on county councils. In return, they expect that these elected representatives will be responsive to local needs and priorities. This research indicates that if we are to understand county government in South Carolina we must look at more than representativeness, form and structure. The same tools that are used as the basis of inquiry into both national and state legislative bodies should be used at the local level. County councils may be local governments; however, they may function more like their state and national elected delegations. More research is needed to build on our understanding of politics and policy at the county level.