Latest news with #SpartanburgCountyVoterRegistrationandElections
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters will have multi-party choices for open Spartanburg County Council seat, what to know
Seven candidates have filed to run in the special election for Spartanburg County District 3, according to John Baucom, director of Spartanburg County Voter Registration and Elections. The seat opened when longtime council member David Britt stepped down in May to accept a position on the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Five candidates will run in the Republican primary: Caylus Goodson Paul Abbott Bryan Alverson Tim Burrell Jason Lynch Alverson challenged Britt in the 2024 Republican primary. On June 13, Kathryn Harvey announced that she had filed to run as a Democrat. Harvey chairs the local Democratic Party. She ran unsuccessfully against Rep. William Timmons in November to serve South Carolina's 4th Congressional District. Harvey said her campaign will focus on local issues. 'District 3 citizens deserve to have a safe community, strong support for our first responders, well-maintained, high-quality roads, and for every child to have access to quality education,' she said in a news release. 'I will work hard to make sure that our side of the county gets our fair share. Sarah Gonzalez will run as the candidate for the Forward Party, which bills itself as a centrist alternative to the two major parties. Currently, Monier Abusaft is the only Democrat on the council. He represents Spartanburg County Council District 1. The special election will take place on November 4. There will be a primary election on Aug. 5. A runoff will take place on Aug. 19, if needed, Baucom said. Spartanburg County voters will also be electing a new sheriff on November 4. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Seven candidates emerge in special election to replace David Britt
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Special election candidates emerge as interim Spartanburg County sheriff settles into role
The May 23 resignation of former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright sets in motion a special election on Nov. 4 that is already garnering interest for the job. Filing with the Spartanburg County Voter Registration and Elections doesn't open until June 13, but four candidates have made their intentions known so far: Nick Duncan served for almost 10 years in the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office before resigning to take on Wright in the 2024 Republican primary. Wright won that contest before going on to secure reelection. Duncan's campaign website stresses transparency and accountability, community policing, crime prevention, and investment in the tools law enforcement needs to keep the public safe. He said he plans to lead 'with openness and humility.' On his Facebook page, Duncan announced that he will be hosting a town hall event for Sheriff's Office deputies on Monday, June 2. Only deputies and their families are invited to attend, though Duncan promises public events to come soon. Learn more at Randy Hollifield served in the Army and went into law enforcement in 1982 as a member of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. According to his campaign website, his experience includes working in the warrants division, the traffic division, and the Spartanburg County Detention Center. He reached the rank of captain and was a member of the sheriff's command staff. In a bio on his website, Hollifield stresses that he has 'served this community with integrity, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.' Learn more at Andy Clark retired from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. According to his website, he worked in various capacities and 'saw many missed opportunities to help the officers provide better services to the citizens, businesses, and visitors of Spartanburg County.' Clark says he will emphasize fiscal responsibility and strategic investment in law enforcement resources. Learn more at Joseph Hawes is the Pacolet police chief. His prior career experience includes work with the campus security staff at USC Upstate, the Horry County Police Department, and the United States Department of Defense. Hawes' campaign website stresses that his approach to leadership 'is built on customer service, communication, consistency, and procedural justice.' He says he will promote transparency, community engagement, and evidence-based policing. Learn more at In the midst of all this, interim Sheriff Jeffrey Stephens is settling into his role, said Lt. Graham McLellan, who took the role of public information officer following the retirement of Lt. Kevin Bobo. According to Bobo's LinkedIn page, he is serving as a Spartanburg County magistrate judge. McLellan previously led the digital forensics unit. He said Stephens is busy holding meetings with various departments and staff members throughout the sheriff's office, getting their input and assuring them that he intends to provide stable leadership. McLellan said Stephens hopes to make time to meet with local media members in the days to come. More: 'It's so disappointing:' Spartanburg County residents react to Chuck Wright's resignation In the meantime, he said staff members are carrying on the business of protecting the public during what has been a time of uncertainty and transition. 'Everybody still knows what their job is, and they want to do it the best they can in order to serve the community,' he said. 'Our people on patrol have to be focused on what they're doing, because the job has to be done right.' Stephens was appointed on May 23 by Gov. Henry McMaster. He has had a long career in law enforcement. Stephens went to work for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office in 1980 and later served as an officer with the City of Spartanburg Police Department. He was a member of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for 25 years and served as Commander of the Northern Command. He has been chief deputy in Cherokee County since 2011. In a statement he released shortly after taking charge of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, Stephens said he was 'deeply honored' by McMaster's appointment. 'My promise to the people of Spartanburg County is simple: I will serve you dutifully and diligently while upholding the law with transparency, respect, and accountability,' he said in the statement. 'In the days ahead, I look forward to working alongside our deputies, staff, and community leaders to build upon the strengths of this office and ensure a safe and secure future for all who call Spartanburg County home.' Filing for the special election will be open from June 13 to June 21. The filing fee is $6,138.89. There will be a primary election on Aug. 5. A runoff will take place on Aug. 19, if needed, according to John Baucom, director of Spartanburg County Voter Registration and Elections. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Candidates for Spartanburg County Sheriff emerge
