Ritter's office is the streets of Advance

Sunday, August 30, 2015
MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net Mayor Carl "Pete" Ritter sits on the front porch at his home in Advance, where he has served the city for five years. The mayor conducts almost as much business from his porch as he does from his office at city hall.

During the five years that Carl "Pete" Ritter has been mayor of Advance, he has spent very little time in city hall.

"I like to drive around and see what improvements need to be made in the city," says the former educator and coach. "I'm not one for sitting in an office."

Ritter's predecessor, Mayor James J. Harnes, occupied the position for 14 years. When an accident forced Harnes to give up the office, he asked Ritter to run for the position. Ritter had served on the city council in previous years.

MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net Mayor Carl Ritter dedicates a sign commemorating the members of the Joshua Mabery family who are buried in the current park in Advance, where a military war memorial now stands.

"Mayor Harnes left the city in good condition, and we've continued that tradition," says Ritter. "We've paid off several debts, so now the city is debt-free, except for the bond on the lagoon, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) won't let us pay that bond off."

Ritter is particularly proud of the park improvements which have been made in the last five years. The ball parks in Westfield Park have been completely redesigned, so that children no longer run across traffic to go to the concession stands. A new concession stand was built, and the old concession stand was used to expand the restrooms.

The City and the Advance School District cooperate on the upkeep of the ball parks.

MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net Two Advance mayors enjoy a moment in the Advance RIV gym, before a Veteran's ceremony. Pete Ritter and former Mayor James, J. Harness share a laugh on the bleachers a year or so before Harnes passed away at the age of 95.

"A good ball park brings people and revenue into the city," Ritter says. "We keep up the pavilions in both parks, so families can picnic there. Our city workers are proud of the parks. We plan to get more playground equipment installed."

Mabrey Park has had new flowering trees planted to replace the old diseased trees that had to be cut. With the military memorial well cared for, the park in the center of town is a beautiful venue for the annual Memorial Day ceremony. Ritter was instrumental in getting a new marble sign for the park several years ago.

Mayor Ritter has also made an effort to clean up some of the eyesores in the city, and aldermen have passed ordinances to regulate tall grass.

The mayor and board have encouraged businesses to locate in Advance; most recently a new Subway is moving into the Lakeville Plaza on Highway 25, where My Daddy's Cheesecake was.

"Advance is one of two cities in this area that have grown in the last two years," Ritter adds. "It's a good place to live. It has a low crime rate, low rates on sewer and water, and the town is beautiful, clean and nice. In the last year, we've had two new apartment houses built, so that's 12 new rentals. City hall is always getting calls asking about places to rent. For our seniors, there's the new Advance Assisted Living Center, which is a really nice facility. We also have Cross Trials Medical and Dental Facility."

Just south of Advance, behind the Assisted Living Center, work has begun on a new subdivision, just outside the city limits. The mayor points out that, once the subdivision has installed sewer and water, they will apply to be annexed into the city. This addition will greatly improve the community.

Several years ago, the mayor welcomed El Mexicano Restaurant to Advance, and he has been a significant supporter for one of the few places that Advance has to eat.

"When Armando Sanchez and his wife Monica asked me if I thought a Mexican restaurant would go over in Advance, I told him that if you keep your place clean and serve good food, you'll be successful. That has proved to be the case," Ritter explains.

"As mayor of the city, I don't want the citizens to feel as if they can't come to me, but I wish they would go to the aldermen first," adds the mayor. "Call city hall if you don't know who your alderman is. That's the professional way. If you come to me, I still have to go back to the council."

In the meantime, the mayor of Advance can probably be seen driving around the parks or sitting on his front porch with his son Bubby, a big supporter of the Advance community.

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