Thomas speaks on solidarity, care for Boiling Springs; warns against partisanship in farewell address

From our news partner The Shelby Independent - www.shelbyindependent.com

BOILING SPRINGS – Mayor Daniel Thomas presided over his last full public meeting as the Mayor of Boiling Springs Tuesday night. The November meeting for The Town of Boiling Springs was held Tuesday Oct. 28 due to municipal elections next Tuesday, Nov. 4.

After the public town meeting business concluded, council members expressed their praise and admiration for Mayor Thomas but elected to save most of their thoughts for the December meeting, when the new mayor will be sworn in after the meeting begins and take over the proceedings.

Thomas spoke to the council, and the public in attendance, about his time serving on town council and as mayor. He lauded how easy it has been to work with council members, reflecting on his time in office, his love for his hometown, and mentioned his concern for partisan politics in Boiling Springs; offering advice to not spoil their harmony with public party badges while serving the people of the community.

He began his last closing comments as mayor with an excerpt from President George Washington’s farewell address, stating, “However political parties may now & then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the Power of the People, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

Thomas warned of the impending reach of political parties on small towns such as Boiling Springs, as it has affected other parts of Cleveland County.

“What makes this place special is that it’s nonpartisan,” Thomas noted. “There will no doubt, at some time in the future be an attempt to make it partisan – as we have seen with the school board. I encourage the council and the citizens of this town to maintain our nonpartisanship."

Thomas mentioned how the council was made up of different parties and yet he doesn’t know who is with what party affiliation.

“I don’t know because we don’t bring it up,” he stated. “I have a ‘U’ beside my name – I am truly unaffiliated, but this stuff never comes up.”

“The non-partisan nature of this keeps the noise out, and relieves any pressure to advance; all while there’s nothing wrong with anyone wanting to pursue a higher office.”

He continued by mentioning how Boiling Springs was about community, noting people held office on the town council for the love of the town, and not to use it as a steppingstone; quelling any assumptions that he might seek a different or higher office.

“No, I am not running for anything else. People come here to serve and represent the 4,000 plus people we have here. It has been a true honor and privilege to serve with the people that have true motive.”

Thomas continued, “It has been so easy to serve because of the character of this town. Thank you.”

Town Manager Zach Parker said of Thomas, “I hate to see him go. He’s been a great mayor; he’s done a wonderful job. He's performed an excellent service for our community by taking us forward and he has a lot of respect across different groups. His selfless dedication has truly benefited this town.”

Mayor Thomas added afterward, in a comment to The Shelby Independent, “It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve. I grew up here; I lived most of my 48 years here in Boiling Springs. To be able to give back to the people who helped raised me has a been a real privilege and fun.”

He said with his children being of college age now, he will have more time to visit them, and he still has his responsibilities as an educator and coach.

“I’m still a high school teacher by trade, and tennis coach, but I’ll have some extra time to relax, and I won’t be far away.”

Daniel Thomas was elected Mayor of Boiling Springs in 2021 and served on town council from 2015-2021.