Latest news with #RustyClevenger
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Solid turnout:' More than 25,522 votes cast in Spartanburg Republican primary; see results
In early voting, three candidates emerged in the lead for Spartanburg County sheriff. Reporting by the Spartanburg County Voter Registration and Elections had Rusty Clevenger out front with 1,690 votes. Bill Rhyne was close behind with 1,635. Robert Cheeks was in third place with 1,329. Other candidates in the race are Andy Clark, Adam Crisp, Nick Duncan, Bill Hollifield, Joseph Pilato, and Ric Stephens. Among that group, Nick Duncan had the most votes -- 397. Duncan took on former Sheriff Chuck Wright in last year's Republican Primary. Wright won re-election in 2024 but resigned several months ago amid controversy. Restoring trust in the sheriff's office was a major theme of the campaign, with candidates promising greater transparency and community engagement. 'I want someone who's going to stand up and be there for us – and who wasn't involved in the mess that went on,' said Corey Epley, who voted at the Converse Fire Station precinct. Epley believes voters have responsibility, too. 'It's our responsibility to make sure our county is taken care of,' he said. Ryan Blaney, who voted at McCracken Middle School, said he believes that taking part in local elections is 'the best way to make a difference.' He added, 'Part of being a citizen is voting.' Spartanburg County Director of Voting and Elections John Baucom said 25,522 votes were cast – a number he considered to represent a 'solid' turnout. As time approached for polls to close at precincts on the east side of Spartanburg -- where two Republican primary races for both Spartanburg County Sheriff and Spartanburg County Council District 3 were taking place -- residents were still making their way to vote. "I think it's important to vote. It's a privilege that we take for granted," said Steven Blanton, who voted at McCracken Middle School. The candidates have been locked in a vigorous race for sheriff, taking part in several forums, canvassing neighborhoods, and staying active on social media. Voting at the Converse Fire Station polling location was light during the afternoon. At about 5:30, 148 people voted out of a total of 1,248 registered voters in the precinct. One of them was Carl Hollifield. He was particularly interested in the special election for the county council. Six candidates were in the GOP primary race to replace David Britt, who served for more than 30 years before taking a role with the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Hollifield is concerned about growth on the east side of the county -- especially the construction of numerous subdivisions. "They're running out of room everywhere else," he said. Hollifield favored former Cowpens Town Council member and retired magistrate Paul Abbott. In addition to Abbott, candidates included Bryan Alverson, Tim Burrell, Caylus Goodson, and Jason Lynch. Blanton said he voted for Lynch. This story will be updated as results come in this evening. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Voters head to polls countywide to choose Spartanburg sheriff, results Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidates for Spartanburg County Sheriff: Meet Rusty Clevenger
Nine candidates are running for the Republican nomination for Spartanburg County Sheriff. The GOP primary is scheduled for Aug. 5, though early voting is underway. The special election to replace former Sheriff Chuck Wright will take place on Nov. 4. In an effort to help readers know more about the candidates and their stances on key issues facing the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, the Herald-Journal sent four questions to each candidate – one tailored to his individual experience and three that are identical. Some answers have been edited lightly for length or clarification. Rusty Clevenger Age: 61Occupation: Coroner of Spartanburg CountyEducation: High school graduate with college hours in criminal justice studies and various specialized trainingFamily: Married with two adult children. You have served in an elected role as Spartanburg County Coroner since 2009. In what ways does this experience prepare you to lead law enforcement efforts, work with the county council, and serve as a countywide political official? I was a Sheriff's deputy from 1985 until 1997 in various roles, from patrol deputy to narcotics investigator to homicide investigator. I then went to work on prosecuting cases in the Solicitors Office. Victims expect justice, and that is what I helped provide for 11 years. I helped put violent offenders in prison to keep our streets safe. I now lead a death investigative department that is responsible for 24-hour-a-day, countywide coverage. I manage a budget and have been successful in obtaining raises for my staff, managed a response to a pandemic and opioid drug overdose epidemic, and put policies and procedures in place to make the job equitable to all who work for me. I lead by example and to raise other leaders. County Council knows when I ask for anything, research has been done, and they have a practical understanding of why tax dollars need to be spent. Based on your understanding of the situation in the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office currently, what would you do in your first month (or week or six months or year…) to improve morale among deputies and staff members? I will evaluate hiring practices and develop incentives for current employees. I don't think the office has a recruitment problem; they have a retention problem. My command staff and I will conduct a deep dive into policy and procedures. I think the office may have some outdated or inconsistent policies that can lead to confusion. I think it imperative the new Sheriff give a clear understanding what he is asking staff to do. I will evaluate the current methodology in training. This is a critical element in professional development, from new hires all the way up to the Sheriff. I will evaluate the chain of command and ensure it is established and followed. I will evaluate the disciplinary actions in the office to ensure they are clear and consistent. I will begin to restore trust with administration and county council so budgetary needs of the office can be met. The subject of pay for deputies has been a focus of discussion in this race. Salaries vary from county to county and among various municipal police forces. What can be done to keep Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office salaries competitive with those of surrounding departments? The Sheriff needs to study salaries and have a comprehensive plan with Spartanburg County Council. The argument has to be made that we spend tens of thousands of dollars on training alone to obtain a fully useful deputy. If we don't have a plan in place, Spartanburg does not get a fruitful return if they go to another agency to utilize the training we pay for. Since President Trump took office in January, there has been considerable discussion about immigration enforcement. ICE is set to receive a substantial increase in funding following the recent budget legislation that was signed into law. Candidates for Spartanburg County Sheriff have expressed support for ICE's efforts to target illegal immigrants. At the same time, some residents are worried about the potential presence of masked ICE officers using heavy-handed tactics in our community. Others are anxious about the possibility of ICE mistakenly detaining legal immigrants, naturalized citizens – or even U.S.-born citizens. How would you balance support for the federal crackdown on illegal immigration while protecting the rights of individuals and communities in Spartanburg County? I support requiring people in our country illegally to return to their country and reapply for citizenship the legal way. I do not support masked deputies, so that will not be a concern with me. My administration will check the status of identification to add to the verification process. Fear is spread for various reasons. If you have the proper documentation, that fear should be relieved. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Clevenger currently serves as Spartanburg County Coroner Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist killed inhead-on collision in Spartanburg County: Coroner
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — A motorcyclist was killed after crashing into a car in Woodruff on Friday to the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office, the crash took place near the intersection of Buncombe Street and Perrin Ave. The motorcyclist was traveling down the 900 block of the Buncombe Street Extension when he hit the Jeep head-on. '100 deadliest days of summer' begins this weekend The coroner's office identified the motorcyclist as 36-year-old Brandon Branch of Woodruff, who was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. A forensic exam is scheduled for Saturday. County coroner, Rusty Clevenger, encouraged drivers to exercise caution on the Spartanburg County roadways. 'I would ask that everyone be reminded to please pay attention while driving, wear your seatbelt, obey the speed limit, and drive defensively,' Clevenger said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
