Echols spoke about the new post on Wednesday. The conversation has been edited for brevity.

Q: What issues do you think are going to emerge over the next year?

A: The one that continues to be a challenge is the whole business of home rule. Local elected officials know a lot better about what's good for cities and towns than the people in Columbia. Some of the things talked about in the General Assembly tend to tie the hands of cities and towns. We've launched a whole new initiative called Hometown South Carolina. It'll be a new platform to raise the profile of cities and towns.

Q: The Municipal Association, under director Howard Duvall, has been highly supportive of freedom of information laws, particularly relating to closed-door meetings. One plan discussed earlier this year was to require officials to sign affidavits after executive sessions, affirming that no other topic was discussed than the one announced before the doors were closed. Do you think that's a good idea?

A: I don't know that's absolutely necessary. Hopefully, you have people with integrity. We want to always be as open as we can. There are some governments in South Carolina that don't adhere to the letter of the law the way they should.

Q: Taking this post is certainly going to raise your profile on the state level. Is getting into state politics a possibility for you in the future?

A: You never know what the future might hold. In politics, you just never know. Right now, I'm having a good time being mayor. I wouldn't rule anything out ... or in. But I can tell you, I'm not serving as president necessarily to open that door.

Q: How worried are you about being spread too thin?

A: Obviously, it's another ball to throw up in the air. We'll try to do the best we can. I don't know the full demands yet. It's not the same as having another full-time job. Sometimes you work on weekends, sometimes late at night. You just try to work it in.