Number on AB Council still at 4

Sanford won't tap 5th member; 2-2 standoff continues By Robert Morris - rmorris@thesunnews.com A tiebreaker in the Atlantic Beach Town Council stalemate won't come as soon as some had hoped, but is unlikely to take as long as some had feared. In separate decisions Thursday, Gov. Mark Sanford's legal advisers said he does not have the authority to appoint a fifth council member to the often-deadlocked Town Council, while the state Supreme Court said it will consider the town's contested mayoral election on an expedited schedule that could lead to a decision within two months. In the meantime, however, the town must still approve its already-overdue 2009 budget - an issue already showing signs of tending toward another 2-2 standoff. Split decisions In the November election, Town Councilwoman Retha Pierce defeated Mayor Irene... [read full story]