First I want to thank everyone who wrote a character reference* per my request. I appreciate you for sharing your thoughts about me with Conway voters.
My character references are a testament to my commitment to serving the people of Conway. I recognize the importance of being transparent and honest with voters, and that's why I wanted to ensure that voters had a chance to hear from people in Conway and Horry who know and have worked with me. By providing character references, I am demonstrating my dedication to transparency, accountability, and community engagement, which are all essential qualities for a city council candidate. My willingness to seek out and listen to feedback from those who know me best is a testament to my commitment to serving the people of Conway with integrity and sincerity. (Please check in on this page often for updates- references are listed in order of receipt). Thank you again!
*These are not political endorsements. April did not ask for political endorsements. A character reference is a formal letter describing the person's character and dependability.
To All City of Conway Voters:
It has been such a pleasure to be able to get to know April O’Leary and witness her enormous efforts over recent years as she’s fought for flood protection across our local area. I’ve been able to witness her dedication as she formed Horry County Rising and has volunteered on numerous local boards and committees as she’s strived to make the City of Conway and all of Horry County a greater place. April has shown great consistency over these years as she’s fought for wetland and flood resiliency and has shown that her abilities far exceed the flood related issues that she’s known to fight for.
April has proven to be a great leader as she formed Horry County Rising, connected with varying stakeholders, has formed a respectable relationship with our local governments, and has served on many local boards and committees. She’s also shown the ability to come up with innovative problem-solving ideas that have been very beneficial for our local community. Her ability to research, as well as her collaboration with other professionals has led to beneficial change for local residents. As a native Horry County resident, I support April O’Leary as she seeks office as a Conway City Councilwoman. I feel that she’s the type of true leader that we need to see at all levels of government.
Wishing April and the City of Conway the Best!
Chris Stevens
Horry County Resident
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to support April O'Leary for Conway City Council. I have had the pleasure of working with April during her time at Winyah Rivers Alliance and Horry County Rising, and I can confidently say that she would be an outstanding addition to the City Council.
During her time at Winyah Rivers Alliance, April worked tirelessly to protect the rivers and wetlands of our region. She was instrumental in organizing events and campaigns that raised awareness about the importance of protecting these natural resources. Her dedication to environmental conservation and eco-tourism is truly inspiring.
After her time at Winyah Rivers Alliance, April joined Horry County Rising, where she continued her work as an advocate for the community. She is deeply committed to helping the many flood victims in and around Conway and has been a tireless presence in city and county meetings speaking out for policies that protect people.
April is an excellent communicator. She has a deep understanding of the needs of the community and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Her integrity, passion, and commitment to public service are exemplary.
April is an excellent candidate for Conway City Council. Her experience, dedication, and leadership skills make her the ideal choice.
Sincerely,
Erin Pate
It is my pleasure to recommend April O'Leary as a candidate for Conway City Council.
April possesses the professional character and qualities that will make her an essential member of city government. She is personable and approachable with a high passion for her community. Based on the work that April has done as a community advocate who pushes for vital changes throughout Horry County, she has gained the confidence of many who work and live in Horry County, in particular, the City of Conway and the immediate surrounding areas. She doesn't mind addressing the issues in hopes of finding solutions and her love for the environment is just what Conway needs to maintain its beauty and presence as a part of the Grand Strand and Pee Dee area. Ican say with confidence that April O'Leary will work to move initiatives that impact and benefit all individuals in the City of Conway.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me at (843) 457-5308 or aprilgarner007@gmail.com.
With Best Regards,
April D. Gaîner
Ciro M. Sebasco
Myrtle Beach, SC
04/23/23
To Whom It May Concern:
It is with great pleasure that I provide a character reference for April O’Leary. I am on the Board of Directors and President of a medium size Homeowners Association located in Myrtle Beach, SC specifically in the unincorporated area of Socastee. About three years ago I recognized the need to keep current on flood issues in the area and began following April’s work with Horry County Rising.
About a year and a half ago due to the proposed building of a townhome development next to my community, I reached out to April for advice on what to do. April at once addressed all my concerns and provided information that was extremely helpful to our community in dealing with the engineers, developers, zoning, storm water and local elected officials on the issue. Since then, I have reached out to April several times for advice and have found her to be responsive, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, intelligent, honest and sincere.
Her kind and compassionate nature comes out in her ever-ready approach to take on any kind of community service that is organized. She will be an asset to the citizens of Conway in any role that she desires to undertake.
Sincerely,
Ciro M. Sebasco
856-230-5094
To the City of Conway Community,
It is my pleasure to strongly recommend April O’Leary for the City of Conway Council during the special election June 13th, 2023.
I was a long time resident of Conway and currently in the Charleston Area working as an Environmental Project Manager for the State of South Carolina. I lived in Conway for 10+ years studying, working, and growing along the black water river we call home. April O’Leary is one individual I have worked and grown with from the campus of Coastal Carolina University (CCU) to the sandy beaches of the Waccamaw River who uniquely stands out as a current and future leader of the community.
When we first met, I was working toward my Master of Science at CCU and volunteering for the Winyah Rivers Foundation Waccamaw Riverkeeper. April joined the Riverkeeper staff and we immediately connected and worked on various projects such as Litter Sweeps, Adopt-A-Landing, Graffiti Removal, Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring, celebration events, and overall stewardship of the Conway Cultural History and Watershed. I was impressed with April O’Leary and her family establishing deep roots into the community with her non-profit work, husband’s public service, kid’s school activities, and overall volunteering efforts. When we worked together, her passion to protect the water we fish, swim, and drink with understanding of land use management and creative solutions has kept us in close contact that continues to this day.
It was all too often April and myself would be climbing the banks of the Waccamaw to retrieve bags of litter and collect large building materials while balancing on a kayak or leaning off a boat. During my time with the federal government measuring flood waters along the Waccamaw, April and I chatted everyday throughout the 2015 Joaquin, 2016 Matthew, 2017 Irma, and 2018 Florence hurricane storms and the effect on her Conway family and community. Most importantly the solutions to keep families safe from floodwaters.
It's not just April O’Leary’s scientific understanding, technical skills with computers and social media, experience with zoning, Local, State, and Federal Permitting, Policies, and Regulations that impress me, however it is that April O’Leary was a joy to work with because of her amazingly positive attitude and leadership. I am confident that April O’Leary is the right choice for City Council. Not only will she bring the kind of skills and experiences you're looking for in a public servant and community leader, but she will also quickly become an asset and help the City of Conway preserve its historic values, but guide it’s future with passion and science-based solutions.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Thepaut
M.S. Coastal, Marine, and Wetland Studies Coastal Carolina University bfthepau@coastal.edu
Appraisal of April O’Leary’s Qualifications for Conway City Council
I’ve known April O’Leary for 2 decades, worked with her on several community initiatives and environmental projects. I have witnessed, first hand, the depth of her intelligence, character, integrity, honest and sincerity. In addition to her possessing those key attributes, what has set her apart as a truly impressive individual, is her personal warmth, passionate interest in our quality of life here in the Lowcountry and Horry Country and how easily she’s able to partner with people of divergent points of view. April is, in the most realistic and practical sense, a “bridge builder” between folks who need to work together for success to be achieved.
Yes, I have seen her in action, in a variety of situations, that demonstrated and make it easy to understand why she’s been so successful in working with community groups in the past. How she’s functioned in the past is also highly predictive of how much of an asset April will be as a member of the Conway City Council in the future.
It might be helpful to know a bit about my background so you have some context to understand why I assess April’s abilities as highly as I do. I’ve been studying human interactive behavior in groups for over 50 years, 10 years of which were with The National Science Foundation as assistant director of a graduate studies program in social psychology. From there I started an international consulting business specializing in leadership skills training and organizational development.
An essential ingredient to improving any organization’s capabilities is identifying and growing key talent. It is a humble understatement for me to tell you I truly am blessed to have worked my whole professional life with extraordinarily gifted and very good people who have made significant contributions to their organizations, and importantly, to the lives of the people around them. So it is from that background and experience that I share with you what I see in April O’Leary.
If we are fortunate enough to have a high functioning, top quality person like April here working her heart out on our behalf, bringing into play her experience and skill sets she possesses in abundance, our happy challenge is to see to it she is put into roles where she can do our area and our citizens the most good. So casting our votes for April O’Leary having a seat on The Conway City Council is a really good use of both our voting power and her capabilities to help Conway become an even better place for us to live, work and raise our families.
Corporate executives and small business owners often ask me what’s the secret to building a successful organization that’s rewarding and fun to run. (That’s quite a challenge in today’s world.) My response is to ask them to think about what skills they can teach and help someone learn, versus those personal attributes and elements of character they can’t teach to a colleague or person new to a position. That gets leaders to think about the importance of what a person needs to have, already well equipped and be ready to use the first time they walk in the door. So here are additional attributes April will bring with her the first day as a member of the Conway City Council.
She’s a researcher and learner. So much so that even when her knowledge and experience have considerable depth, she is open to learning more. That is why she is such a good listener and draws contributions from others into a conversation.
The woman has eyes in the back of her head, meaning her awareness of what is going on around us and within our community, is a 360 degree span of view as opposed to the compartmentalized narrowness that keeps some among us from truly understanding what we have to deal with. That matches up nicely with her natural inclusive openness to others.
April is a person who gets things done. That’s a result of her mental strength, sense of commitment, persistence and boundless energy.
A person like April O’Leary doesn’t engage in the things she has in our community because she needs something to do. She tackles the issues she does because she knows what’s at stake. At times that means what we could lose from neglect. But given April’s positive orientation to life she equally pursues opportunities for what we can gain if we pay attention. This is in her DNA, how she was raised and it is powerfully attached to her personal commitment that we leave our kids and grandchildren a much better place than we found it.
What I’m saying is that April and people like her put their brains and backs to work for community health, societal improvement and sustainability of our American way of life. She is an organizational perfect match to her Conway fire fighter husband Patrick. They are both, in unique and different ways, our “first responders.”
In my professional role I’m always on the lookout for how key people interface with others. That includes colleagues, other functions and departments to which they don’t directly belong. And I pay particular attention to them if they go outside their organization in meaningful ways. Why is all that important? Teamwork and leverage. We need people who “connect” to others outside the office and position they hold.
April is amazing at this. I’ve had so many conversations with her where she identified stakeholders who would be impacted by a proposal under consideration. She seeks to know who else is already involved, or should be. And, she reaches out to them. In doing so she builds a constituency for problem solving and the resolution of issues for the greater good and our entire community’s wellbeing.
There is a very powerful concept I learned years ago when visiting a group called The Foundation for the Carolinas in Charlotte, NC. The term is, “Social Capital.” In short it refers to the fact that very little can get done in any society unless we draw ourselves in together with others who have a different mission and see how what we do and what they do can be leveraged to everyone’s mutual benefit. That works in relationships between friends, in marriages and families, businesses, geographical areas and within a nation. So if you look around you and see things aren’t working well, you’ll probably note that folks in charge are working for their own self-interests. That’s not just a lack of teamwork. It’s pathetically ineffective and a progress preventer. April and how she looks at life is a natural promoter and builder of Social Capital.
So whenever you see a person like April searching for other groups doing different things in this community showing they care about something beneficial and good, you have proof that these people think deeply and know that they not only need others to fulfill their mission to the best of their ability, but they see it as essential that they back others in their enterprise as well.
That’s enlightened. That’s strategic thinking. That’s how whole communities get healthier. That’s how an organization like The Conway City Council increases its effectiveness. It’s what the Foundation for the Carolinas looks for and uses as the basis for funding local community projects.
For all the reasons written above, I enthusiastically and without a single reservation support April O’Leary’s candidacy for a seat on the Conway City Council.
Jack Christiano Founder, Inner-Action.
I highly recommend April O’Leary for the position of City Council member in Conway. April is a committed citizen who truly cares about the well-being of our community. Her knowledge and expertise, particularly in the area of flooding, make her an invaluable asset to City Council and to the residents of Conway.
Over the years, April has demonstrated her dedication to Conway in a number of ways. She has volunteered on various committees and has always been willing to lend a helping hand when needed. She is a natural leader, and her ability to bring people together is impressive.
What sets April O’Leary apart from other candidates is her unique perspective on the issue of flooding. She has been actively involved in researching and addressing this problem for many years, and her insights and recommendations have been invaluable. Her passion for this issue is evident, and I am confident that she will fight tirelessly to find solutions that benefit our community.
Overall, I believe that April is an excellent candidate for City Council. She has the experience, knowledge, and dedication needed to make a real difference in our community. I urge you to support her candidacy and give her the opportunity to serve Conway as a member of City Council.
Barbara Streeter
Conway Glass, Inc.
ARTyRV Glass Studio
I enthusiastically support April O’Leary for Conway’s City Council. She has a proven track record of productive consensus building in service of protecting the interests of our local community against threats from flooding and polluted stormwater runoff. I have lived on the east bank of the Waccamaw River a few miles upstream of Conway since 1989 and greatly appreciate her long-term efforts in protecting our unique environment and the lifestyle it supports. She will bring to Conway City Council her deep knowledge of our community, its environmental assets and effective experience in working with others. That experience includes her having played a leadership role on subcommittees under Horry County's Infrastructure and Regulation Committee for many years.
Best wishes,
Dr. Susan Libes
To City of Conway voters,
I first met April when my dad and I picked her up before sunrise one December morning in 2015 in route to conduct an Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Our count area was Sandy Island. We spent all day on foot and in the boat recording birds to add to this important 100 year old dataset. April persevered all day even with a few boating mishaps and delays! This was a sign to me that she was in it for the long haul, indicating that she cared about local natural resources and she was not afraid to get tired, dirty, and hungry to support them.
Since then I have had the chance to get to know April and what she is all about. She and I love butterflies. We love the river, namely, the Waccamaw. April truly loves our little river town, Conway. She is a fierce supporter of her husband and kids. April grows milkweed and raises monarch butterflies to protect them from predators and the elements. April helped me and some of my neighbors on Graham Road rescue an injured Wood Stork. She kayaks out to see and assist people in their flooded homes. She rescues dachshunds. She provides help and lends an ear to her neighbors, several of whom she checks on regularly. April is quite generous with her time. She speaks up for and takes action for what she believes and will do the same for people who need help speaking up for themselves.
When I first met April she was working with the Winyah Rivers Alliance in support of the Riverkeepers and protecting/defending water resources. Since then, our community was flooded in Hurricane Florence. April's family and home were flooded. They were displaced for almost a year. She picked up the cause of assisting flooded families along with advocating for protection of water resources. She has been a tireless voice to the City of Conway, Horry County, the state of South Carolina in advocating for flooded families, flood resilience measures, wetlands protections, and smart growth solutions.
As far as I can tell, she hardly ever stops trying to educate and provide information to the public and to government officials so they can make the best decisions for our community. April has sought out and built relationships with professionals and experts for project collaborations. She has served on multiple County boards, commissions, and work groups. She is constantly researching, learning, and acquiring new technological skills to facilitate all of the actions and campaigns she has set in motion.
Voters, citizens, I am convinced April will serve us well on Conway City Council!
Sincerely,
Sudie Thomas
I met April in 2017 when our daughters met and became close friends in elementary school. We quickly found out we had more in common than just our daughters being friends. Our sons, who are the same age, also became friends. My children have spent a lot of time at her house and she always treats them as one of her own. We also discovered we share the common bond of being the wife of a firefighter/first responder, which is not easy for most people to understand. April is the kind of friend who would give you the shirt off of your back if she could and is always willing to lend a helping hand. April also raises and releases monarch butterflies, which I think is really neat, and is looking to start monarch programs in Conway. If April carries her kindness and loyalty into this new role, which I know without a doubt will be the case, she will be a great leader and friend for a community.
Katie Goff
I have had the pleasure of knowing April O'Leary for almost a decade after meeting her at a community event. Since that time I have followed her journey into becoming a true advocate for the people and the betterment of our community.
April has shown her care and concern for the citizens of our community and worked tirelessly to understand and help solve the enormous challenges we faced after floods impacted our area. The wealth of knowledge and experience April gathered during her work with Horry County Rising will undoubtedly serve her well in elected office.
She knows how to listen to people and has worked to advocate for them and turn difficult challenges into opportunities that will safeguard us all in the future.
April is a proven problem solver and is exactly the kind of dedicated public servant we need to represent us in elected office.
Sandra Bundy,
Broker-in-Charge, e-PRO, REALTOR®
B&P, Inc. "Real Estate Services Your Way"℠
Serving the Pee Dee and the Grand Strand of South Carolina
Direct:843-902-7615
To Whom It May Concern:
I have known April O'Leary for many years as a strong, involved volunteer in community volunteering and community -building in our Conway, SC area. As a Board member of Keep Conway Beautiful, I have relied on April for her depth of knowledge in our community.
She has served as a strong leader in the Horry County Rising group. April has continued to serve our community by expanding the focus and community involvement of our citizens. She has contributed to the planning of programs to strengthen the relationship between residents and administration to achieve the goals of all concerned. She has promoted and helped to implement numerous activities for exchange of ideas and support of property owners in resolving pertinent issues they have had.
April has assisted several aspects of development of information sharing between residents and administration, which would not have transpired without her knowledge and determination of resolutions. She has worked very diligently, ethically and determinedly to enhance our neighborhoods and community. And she has committed her own time and finances to work for the residents. April is a person who truly cares about Conway and its future integrity.
If I were in a position of needing a trustworthy, disciplined, conscientious individual I could rely on to achieve the highest degree of job performance, April would be my first choice!!
You may feel free to contact me at jraedeangelis@gmail.com
Thank you for your attention to this matter,
Janice R. DeAngelis
City of Conway
229 Main Street
Conway, SC 29526
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm writing to you about my friend, April O'Leary, who is running for the vacant seat on City Council.
I have known April for five years. Our paths crossed when flooding issues arose in our area and April stepped up to the plate to provide advice to the citizens of Conway and Horry County in regard to steps to take to remedy flooding situations, both personally and environmentally.
April founded the group, Horry County Rising, and has provided a wealth of information to so many of us. She has spoken publicly about the concerns rising waters in our county have on property values and homeowners directly.
Her positive outlook and professionalism have been a breath of fresh air for the citizens she has worked with. She is knowledgeable and quite capable of holding the responsibilities of a city councilwoman.
I strongly support April O'Leary for the vacant position on the City of Conway's Council.
If you'd like to reach me for further comment, my contact info is:
Mrs. Jody Nyers
5569 Highway 319 E
Conway, SC 29526
(301) 751-3050
I first met April O’Leary about 6 years ago when I started to attend the Keep Horry County Beautiful meetings when I became the president of Beautify Carolina Forest (a 501(c)3 volunteer organization). As an affiliate of this organization, I attended the meeting each month and got to know April as a board member, Vice President and then President of this organization. April was always willing to listen to all the different concerns of members. Since then, April has formed Horry County Rising to assist homeowners to navigate the issues caused by flooding and she works with Horry County to come up with new development rules to lessen the chances of flooding in the future.
April would be a welcome addition to the Conway City Council as she is very involved in community activities and very well known by many organizations and people in the Conway area. April is passionate about all that she does and cares about in her community and its needs.
I would like to endorse April O’Leary for a position on the Conway City Council.
Betsy Fay
President- Beautify Carolina Forest
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