During the police, judicial and legal committee meeting Monday morning, a presentation was made by Town Attorney David Pagliarini to define the three main forms of government and what would need to take place in order for a new form to go into effect.

Currently, Mount Pleasant utilizes what is called a council form of government, also known as "strong council, weak mayor." Other forms are council-manager and strong mayor, which is the form current Mayor Billy Swails is seeking.

In order for the current form of government to change, one of two things would need to happen. Either the committee and council would need to vote to add a referendum to be voted on during the general election, or a petition with 15 percent of registered voters' signatures would need to be presented.

All members of the committee, which included council members Elton Carrier, Chris Nickels and Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, with the exception of committee chairperson Swails, opposed a change in government. After a lot of discussion in front of a packed house, the petition was chosen.

Now, a member of the public must initiate this petition, and gather signatures from 15 percent of registered voters.

According to the board of elections, there are 50,045 registered voters in Mount Pleasant, meaning approximately 7,506 signatures are needed.

It's a number, Swails said, that is reachable.

"We're talking about the citizens of Mount Pleasant," Swails said.

"I'm the only mayor to work myself out of a job because I think it's the right thing to do."

Swails has said repeatedly he wouldn't be interested in a full-time majoral seat, as his full-time job as an insurance agent wouldn't permit it.

Council member Nickels has maintained his opposition to a change.

"I appreciate what the mayor is doing and that we're having open dialogue," he said.

"I believe data would suggest that a majority of towns and cities with up to 200,000 folks have stayed with the form of government that we have right here."

According to Pagliarini, if a petition comes in with the minimum number of signatures, a vote must be conducted within 90 days. If it passes, the new form of government wouldn't go into effect until the last-elected council member's term is complete.

Stokes-Marshall says its her belief that a change in government would diminish the weight of each council member's vote.

"If you have a mayor speaking on behalf of council members, it diminishes the ability to have an open, equal exchange of information concerning the town of Mount Pleasant," she said, noting that she hopes detailed information about the issue is presented to those who choose to sign the petition.

While Swails didn't mention names, he did say he knows of some residents who may want to spearhead the petition.

"Let's see if we can get 15 percent," he said. "We're big enough that there's so many demands (for a mayor) that I think it should be a paid position and a full-time job. Let's see what our citizens really think."