By admin 
A Midlands mayor has been called on to resign by council members.
Chapin’s town council voted on a resolution of “no confidence” in Mayor Bill Mitchell at a meeting Tuesday night. The conversation quickly escalated, with shouting, accusations and a pounding gavel ringing through town hall.
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Council member Ainslee Bost made a motion to amend the agenda to present “a resolution of the town council of the town of Chapin, South Carolina expressing no confidence in the leadership of Mayor Bill Mitchell.”
“Is that right?” Mitchell replied. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Council member Warren Burritt read the full resolution, which stated that the mayor’s conduct had marred the council’s working relationship and his ability to lead effectively.
Mitchell’s handling of the contentious Brighton development was among the reasons for the no confidence vote.
Burritt also said four town attorneys have resigned because of the mayor, and an “unprecedented” amount of town employees have either resigned or been fired.
“No one wants to work with us because of how you act and how you present yourself,” Council member Vicky Shealy said.
“This is the most outrageous claim I’ve ever heard, it is so insensitive,” Mitchell said.
Bost went to interject but was herself interrupted by Mitchell’s gavel.
“That’s all you wanna do is control us,” Bost said. “To shut us up.”
Council members continued back and forth. Mitchell threatened to shut down the meeting for lack of order, and Shealy quipped, “You can leave for all we care.” Several council members accused Mitchell of “screaming” at them, which Mitchell denied.
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“It is outrageous for the four of you to present a resolution complaining about me in the impossible situation you have put me in,” Mitchell said. “I have saved the town’s life.”
The resolution passed in a 4-1 vote, with Mitchell dissenting.
A fast-moving first term as mayor
Mitchell was chosen to lead the small town of less than 2,000 people in November 2025.
The incumbent mayor, Al Koon, had died just weeks before the election, and it left Chapin scrambling to choose his successor.
Since taking office, Mitchell quickly enacted sweeping changes, coupled with a string of disputes.
He froze approval for any new connections to the town’s municipal sewer system in November 2025 to in an attempt to curb growth. Mitchell also announced the departure Town Administrator Nicholle Burroughs, and declared he would be Chapin’s “full-time mayor” going forward.
One town staff member alleged in a police report that she was “grabbed” around the shoulders by the new mayor during his entry to town hall. The incident was the subject of an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, though it was closed in January without any charges being made.
The woman reported the alleged assault had been placed on administrative leave.
Several council members had previously told The State they were concerned about Mitchell’s actions as mayor.
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