FEATURED
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FROM THE COVER
FRESH Perspective Fountain Inn's new mayor brings a youthful energy to the job n story by ARIEL TURNER
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I bring a fresh perspective and understanding of how we got to where we are as a city.” -GP McLeer Jr, mayor, Fountain Inn
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GREENVILLEJOURNAL.COM // JANUARY 3
he weekly event listing for Wednesday night at Growler Haus in Fountain Inn names “GP and the Gang” as the leaders of trivia night: “Trivia is a weekly staple at Growler Haus and once you’ve seen it, you’ll know why. GP and the Gang are Trivia Pros and will keep your team (with that awesome team name) guessing all night long.” Sounds like a good time, and it’s been going on for quite a while. What it doesn’t mention, that the regulars know, is that “GP” is George Patrick “GP” McLeer Jr., the newly elected mayor of Fountain Inn. The “gang” are his friends Chris Burkard and Rob Valerio who have co-hosted with him since the beginning. The format keeps the game moving quickly, and it’s general knowledge,
photo by CHRISTOPHER BURKARD
McLeer says, adding that there’s a reason he writes the questions and isn’t the one answering. “It’s our way to give back in a very small but fun way,” he says. And now in his new role, McLeer, 31, says he has even more motivation to keep trivia night going. “It’s a platform I might use to expose people to our decision makers,” he says. He plans to invite new city employees or councilmembers to co-host with him to give residents a chance to meet them in an informal way outside of official city gatherings and meetings. As Fountain Inn’s youngest mayor, McLeer is channeling his youthful energy and approach into his new position. “I bring a fresh perspective and understanding of how we got to where we are as a city,” he says.
A main focus as mayor of the secondfastest-growing city in the state will be controlling growth, he says. He views the new-construction neighborhoods popping up as a challenge to meet head on, looking at the potential stress on existing infrastructure and the risk of losing the rural feel that drew him to Fountain Inn in the first place. “I don’t want to grow out of our smalltown charm,” he says. “We can implement strategies that help maintain elements that help foster a sense of community.” Along with city council — four of the seven members were newly elected this cycle — he plans to review zoning laws and update them so that when development does occur, the community’s character is maintained. McLeer says he fell in love with Fountain Inn after college when looking for