Johnny Gardner, Chairman of Horry County Council, is a lifelong Horry County resident, lawyer, and U.S. Army veteran. A graduate of Coastal Carolina University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, he served honorably as a Captain with the 82nd Airborne Division before founding his own law firm, which he has led for over 30 years. First elected Council Chairman in 2018 and re‑elected in 2022, Gardner has guided the county with a focus on leadership and community service. He has served on the SC Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Board, currently sits on the Executive Committees of the North Eastern Strategic Alliance and Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation, and was recently honored as Coastal Carolina University’s Alumnus of the Year.