WILLIAMSTON — Williamston Town Council member Carthel Crout is the third person to throw his hat into the race for mayor.

He says he wants to bring leadership and integrity to the office and to the citizens.

“Nothing’s being done,” he said. “We talk about (town issues), but nothing’s being done about it.”

One of the first things Crout, 64, plans to do if elected is hire a code enforcement officer, and begin to condemn dilapidated structures within the town limits.

“Downtown redevelopment is very important, but we need to go further,” he said. “We’re going to clean this town up.”

Crout was elected to his Ward 1seat two years ago and began his term in January 2007.

He served as a command sergeant major in the Army Reserve, is a 1994 graduate of the United States Sergeants Major Academy in Texas.

For 38 years he taught football and was an athletic director at high schools in Charleston and the Upstate. He is retired, but works part-time in the golf pro shop at Saluda Valley Country Club.

He and his wife, Sharon, have two daughters and two grandsons. Crout is a member of Calvary Baptist Church and the U.S. Golf Association.