Greenville Voters have Given County Council a Conservative Mandate
Greenville County Council has ushered in a new era of leadership with the election of Benton Blount as Chairman and Rick Bradley as Vice Chairman. Blount, representing District 19, was unanimously elected by his fellow council members. He has expressed a strong desire to unite the council and focus on reviewing the county's budget to find ways to save. Blount also aims to tackle planning and development issues, emphasizing the need to guide development in a way that aligns with the desires of the citizens rather than developers.
Rick Bradley, representing District 26, was elected as Vice Chairman in an 8 to 4 vote, defeating Liz Seman, the previous Vice Chairman. Bradley's election marks a significant shift in the council's leadership dynamics. Blount and Bradley have pledged to work collaboratively to address the county's pressing issues, including budget management and development planning.
There were rumors that current County Councilman of District 20 Steve Shaw was looking to run for Vice Chairman, but there were no nominations for Shaw. For example, when a caller called the Charlie James talk show right after the meeting to give an on-site report, James asked about Shaw being nominated vice chairman. James seemed surprised that Shaw was not even on the nomination list for Vice Chairman as if it was expected.
After the meeting, Shaw confirmed with The Times Examiner that he plans to vote conservatively as he always has and will support the conservative agenda that has been espoused with this new coming county council. He has no plans to do otherwise and will continue to do what he has always done for his constituents in District 20 and Greenville County as a whole.
In addition to the new leadership, Greenville County Council welcomed four new members: Kelly Long, Frank Farmer, Garey Collins, and Curt McGahhey. On Monday, these new councilmen were sworn in the night before, bringing fresh perspectives to the council. Greenville County voters gave a conservative mandate to each candidate, all running on platforms focused on lowering taxes, improving transparency, and addressing infrastructure needs, including road improvements. Their presence is expected to steer the county in a new direction, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, community safety, county infrastructure, common sense development, and lowering taxes.
Councilwoman Liz Seman and Councilmen Steve Shaw and Ennis Fant were re-elected as county councilmen and took the oath of office for the next four years as well.
Kelly Long (District 18): Kelly Long ran on a platform focused on fiscal responsibility and transparency. She aims to lower taxes and ensure that county funds are used efficiently. Long is also passionate about improving infrastructure, particularly roads, to better serve the community.
Frank Farmer (District 22): Frank Farmer campaigned on a conservative platform, advocating for lower taxes and a review of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). He believes that reducing millage rates and allocating more funds towards road improvements are crucial steps for the county's development.
Garey Collins (District 27): Garey Collins emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in his campaign. He plans to work on improving the county's budgeting process and ensuring that taxpayer money is spent wisely. Collins also supports infrastructure projects that enhance community safety and convenience.
Curt McGahhey (District 21): Curt McGahhey ran on a platform centered around road improvements. He is committed to finding effective solutions for traffic congestion, widening roads, and ensuring proper maintenance. McGahhey believes that addressing these issues will significantly benefit the residents of Greenville County.
These new councilmen bring fresh perspectives and a strong commitment to addressing the county's pressing issues. Their collective focus on the issues above is expected to shape the future direction of Greenville County Council.
