CAYCE — Mayor Elise Partin of Cayce has been selected as the 2025 Leadership Award recipient by Women in Municipal Government (WIMG), a constituency group of the National League of Cities (NLC).
The annual award honors a female municipal leader who demonstrates exceptional creativity, vision and community impact while serving as a role model for future generations of women in local government. WIMG officials said Mayor Partin exemplifies those qualities through her long-standing, results-driven leadership.
Partin is the first female mayor in Cayce’s history and the longest-serving mayor in the Midlands region. During her tenure, she has led the city with a nonpartisan, community-centered approach, guiding Cayce through sustained progress aimed at improving quality of life and expanding opportunity for residents.
She has earned recognition for her commonsense, solutions-oriented leadership focused on creating a cleaner, safer and healthier community; her emphasis on measurable outcomes that strengthen community well-being and economic stability; and her advocacy for hardworking families through initiatives designed to reduce burdens and increase economic freedom. Her service also extends beyond Cayce through leadership roles on numerous boards, including the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities.
Under Mayor Partin’s leadership, Cayce has been named one of the top 10 most tax-friendly places to retire in South Carolina and ranked as the No. 1 city in the state for recent graduates and millennials.
Nominated by individuals familiar with her work and impact, Partin was recognized as a leader whose integrity, innovation and dedication set a standard for municipal leadership. She was formally honored during this year’s NLC City Summit.
WIMG officials praised Mayor Partin for inspiring current and future women leaders across the nation through her commitment to effective local governance and community-focused service.
