Acting South Congaree Mayor Speaks Out

SOUTH CONGAREE, S.C. (WOLO) — Lila Gantt, who was elected to South Congaree town council only a year ago, has been thrust into acting mayor amid a state and federal investigation, she says, involving two former town employees. “We wanna hire good people to come in here.” When asked about a state and federal investigation reportedly involving former South Congaree’s chief of police, Jason Amodio, and former town administrator, Melisha Shumpert, this is acting mayor Lila Gantt’s immediate response: “I’d rather not comment.” After SLED and the FBI raided town hall and seized dozens of items connected to Amodio and Shumpert in early May, the-then police chief immediately resigned. The then-town administrator officially resigned just last week. What Lila Gantt says she didn’t expect was former mayor Jerry McCormick and former councilman Richard Green to step down from their elected positions the same time Shumpert resigned from her job. Now Gannt is looking for a chief of police and a new town administrator. A special election will be held in August to choose a new mayor and council member. “The people involved in whatever it is are no longer part of our town, staff. We’ve got to move forward,” said Gantt. Josh Shumpert is acting police chief. Left to pick up the town government’s pieces are Gantt, interim mayor and council members Jerry Smith and Leslie Gifford. “The three of us will keep this town together. We have to lead as examples. How can we expect others to do the right thing if we don’t.” Gantt says she’s not sure if she will officially run for mayor during a special election to be held August 27. A new councilman will also be elected that day. Sled spokesperson Thom Berry could not be reached for comment. FBI spokesperson Denise Taiste told ABC Columbia she’s “prohibited to comment on a case that is an ongoing matter for us.”