7 days ago
Spartanburg sheriff candidates offer views on diversity hiring, ICE enforcement
For the second time in five days, candidates for Spartanburg County Sheriff took part in a forum to make their pitch to voters.
On July 15, they took the stage at C.C. Woodson Community Center for an event hosted by the Spartanburg NAACP.
All nine candidates in the Republican primary, which will decide the election since no Democrats are running, were in attendance: Nick Duncan, Rusty Clevenger, Adam Crisp, Ric Stephens, Bill Rhyne, Robert Cheeks, Andy Clark, Randy Hollifield, and Joseph Pilato. Clevenger arrived late because of a prior speaking commitment.
They are running to replace former Sheriff Chuck Wright, who resigned in May amid controversy and investigations by the FBI and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
The forum covered much of the same ground that candidates discussed at a July 11 event sponsored by the Spartanburg County Republican Party.
Key themes included pay for deputies, staff morale, transparency and accountability, community relationships, and overcrowding at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.
Candidates differ on the question about diversity
The NAACP forum also provided some new insights.
Candidates were asked about their views on hiring a diverse staff that reflects the county's demographic makeup. Most stressed that they would hire and promote officers based on merit.
Duncan said he believes diversity can be 'beneficial' in a law enforcement agency, but said, 'I would make sure officers are qualified, not hired just because of their race.'
Crisp said it's important for deputies to relate to diverse communities within the county, but that he wouldn't hire officers 'because of the color of their skin. That stuff is over.'
Pilato gave the example of a patient undergoing surgery. 'You'd want the best surgeon,' he said. 'You don't want it to be a DEI situation.'
Rhyne added that if he becomes sheriff, hiring will be based 'solely on merit and qualifications.'
Cheeks offered a different perspective. He previously served as supervisor of the sheriff's office's gang unit. He said that in working with young people who are in or have been affected by gangs, 'sometimes having an officer who looks like you can matter.'
Clark and Clevenger each stated that they would work to build a team that reflects the county's increasingly diverse population.
'The sheriff's office should look like the community,' Clark said.
Stephens added, 'I will build up staff numbers with other ethnic groups. And I'll try to go into those communities to do it.'
Former police chief Tony Fisher offers perspective
Former City of Spartanburg Police Chief Tony Fisher was in the audience at C.C. Woodson.
Fisher, who is Black, was intrigued by the discussion of diversity in law enforcement. He said it's not a matter of hiring officers simply because of the color of their skin – it's that a diverse staff can build relationships throughout the community and ultimately be more effective.
Fisher said a law enforcement agency lacking diversity is comparable to 'a bank that wants to make loans in a Hispanic community but none of the loan officers know Spanish.'
Fisher, who served as police chief from 1995 to 2022, said he might endorse a candidate but was not yet ready to do so.
'I think all the candidates expressed sincerity in wanting to work with the community,' he said.
He added that he hopes voters will consider the candidates' 'experience in a leadership role' and assess their ability to 'organize a team in a major event.'
Candidates say why their experience matters
The candidates touted their resumes as they made their case for the county's top law enforcement role.
Duncan discussed his years working for the sheriff's office and his willingness to take on Wright in the 2024 Republican primary.
Crisp also worked as a sheriff's deputy. He now serves on the Lyman Town Council and touted his leadership in pushing through a pay increase for Lyman's police officers.
Pilato urged voters to consider his perspective as an outsider. He served in law enforcement in Texas and Florida before joining the City of Spartanburg Police Department.
Stephens has experience working in Europe as an organized crime investigator. He said he has 'no friends' in the sheriff's office and promised to bring an end to what he described as 'this good ol' boy mess going on.'
Rhyne worked as a sheriff's deputy before joining the South Carolina Highway Patrol, where he led statewide public information and community relations efforts.
Hollifield went to work in the sheriff's office in 1982. He served in various leadership positions, including as a member of the command staff at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.
Clevenger currently serves as the Spartanburg County Coroner. He was first elected to the position in 2008. He previously worked as a sheriff's deputy.
Cheeks has been in law enforcement since 2010. He recently served as 1st Lieutenant over the Uniform Patrol Division with the sheriff's office.
Clark has served in both the sheriff's office and the City of Spartanburg Police Department. He pointed to his experience working in urban neighborhoods surrounding the C.C. Woodson Center.
Candidates discuss immigration enforcement
As in the Republican Party-sponsored debate, the topic of immigration and ICE was discussed.
While candidates' promises to support the work of ICE were applauded at the GOP event, the July 15 audience was less enthusiastic.
'As far as partnering with ICE – yes, we're going to partner a thousand percent,' Crisp said, drawing jeers from some in attendance.
ICE has drawn criticism for what some Americans view as overly aggressive tactics in support of President Trump's plans for mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
'The media has been sensationalizing a lot of things taking place,' Rhyne said. He believes most ICE activity has been aimed at 'getting illegal aliens who are posing a direct threat. We have to make sure we are protecting people.'
Cheeks said he would partner with ICE on illegal immigration crackdowns but would work to ensure that 'we afford everybody the opportunity for due process.'
Stephens said he'd support ICE in targeting illegal immigrants but that he would review the agency's work if Spartanburg County residents were arrested.
He said it's not uncommon for immigrants here legally to have trouble producing the correct paperwork at a moment's notice. There can be mix-ups on the part of enforcement officers.
'Please don't think they don't make mistakes,' Stephens said.
Primary later this summer
The Republican Party primary will be held on August 5. If necessary, a runoff will take place on August 19.
There will also be a Republican primary to nominate a candidate for Spartanburg County Council District 3, which became open in May after longtime council member David Britt took a position with the state Public Service Commission.
The winner of the Republican nomination for County Council will face Democrat Kathryn Harvey, a Spartanburg native and businesswoman, and Sarah Gonzalez, of the Forward Party.
A special election is set for November 4.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg sheriff candidates offer views on diversity hiring, ICE
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