TREASURER

Name: Jackie W. Haltiwanger

Age: 43

Education: Newberry County Schools graduated 1987 from Mid-Carolina

Career: Worked in Newberry County Treasurer’s Office for nearly thirteen years

Family: Married 24 years to Douglas, we have two daughters Carrie 12 and Clarissa 7

Party: Republican

Q: What are the functions of the treasurer?

A: The Treasurer’s office is responsible for the processing of payments and receipts for all taxes, maintaining bank accounts, investment of funds and disbursement.

Q: What control does the treasurer have over setting taxes?

A: The Treasurer does not create or adjust a tax bill (Auditor) or calculate property tax values (Assessor).

We can control the budget for the Treasurer’s office to help keep taxes down.

Q: What would you do to improve the department?

A: Reassess the office to find the strengths and weaknesses. In doing this my staff and myself can provide to the taxpayers the highest level of service. We will manage the county’s financial resources accurately and efficiently as mandated by the State of South Carolina and the County of Newberry.

Q: What makes you qualified for the position?

A: I have financial and management experience. I have on the job training, working under two treasurers for nearly 13 years.

Name: Karen D. Lindler

Age: 50

Education: Attended Newberry County Public Schools and graduated from Mid-Carolina High School. I attend Schools and Seminars on taxation at Department of Revenue and The University of South Carolina. Attend taxation workshops at Piedmont Technical College, University of South Carolina, and Department of Revenue.

Career: Newberry County Treasurer

Family: Fiancé Joey Smith, daughter, Megan Lindler, who is a sophomore at North Greenville University. Parents are Pal and Patricia Dominick.

Party: Democrat

Q: What are the functions of the Treasurer?

A: As an elected official the Treasurer is responsible for mailing notices, collecting all revenues for the County, its entities and the municipalities with the boundaries of Newberry County. Detailed records are kept, maintained, and balances, for these revenues and disbursed to County Government and its entities, the County School District, Municipalities and special projects according to levy, local ordinances and South Carolina Laws. Any revenues not needed for immediate disbursements, are invested to yield the highest interest possible. It is essential to be involved with the latest legislative issues, and attend workshops and seminars pertinent to the laws and issued pertaining to the Treasurer’s Office. The best interest of the Newberry County Citizens must be kept in mind at all times.

Q: What control does the Treasurer have over setting taxes?

A: The Treasurer does not have any control over setting taxes for Newberry County. The Treasurer is responsible for the collection, apportioning, and distribution of tax monies. I strive to get the best interest rate possible when investing County Funds.

Q: What would you do to improve the Department?

A: Since becoming Treasurer, I have implemented many services and enhancements. The Treasurer’s Office is now responsible for the issuing of decals. This means when you pay your taxes on vehicles you now receive your receipt, car registration and your decal for your tag. When paying taxes you can pay on line with a debit or credit card. You can pay in the office with cash, check, and debit or credit card. To always secure the highest rate of interest when investing County Monies is most important. Continue working with County Officials to maintain the outstanding credit rating that the County has. The Treasurer’s Office will continue to provide the professional and efficient service that it has always provided. Dedicated and always willing to serve the citizens of Newberry County.

Q: What make you qualified for the position?

A: The past 24 years, the last four as Treasurer, I have had the privilege of serving the citizens of Newberry County. I am proficient, knowledgeable, and can interpret the state laws that govern the Treasurer’s Office. As Treasurer, I will strive to give the most efficient and courteous service possible. An open door policy, serving and helping the taxpayers with any needs or questions they may have has always been a major goal for me. My on the job training has given me the experience and qualifications necessary to fulfill the legal responsibility of the Office of Treasurer. Dedication and my willingness to always work for the taxpayers make me the best qualified candidate.

Eighth Circuit Solicitor’

Name: Benjamin L. Shealy

Age: 48

Education: University of South Carolina, B.A., International Relations, 1986

Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law (Campbell University), Juris Doctor, 1995

Career: 1986 - 1989 Officer - United States Army

1990 - 1991 South Carolina Department of Transportation

1995 - 1997 Associate, W. Frank Partridge, Jr. - Newberry South Carolina

1997 - 1999 Assistant Solicitor - Eighth Circuit Solicitor’s Office

1999 - 2001 Assistant Solicitor - Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office

2001 - 2005 Babb and Brown, PC - Mauldin, SC

2005 - 2009 Assistant and Deputy Solicitor - Eighth Circuit Solicitor’s Office

2009 - Present Partner, Zimmerman and Shealy, LLC - Newberry, SC

Family: Wife Danielle Daggett Shealy, Children: Zachariah, Abigail, Caroline, and Isaac; Parents: James B. and Mary Ann Shealy;Brother: Jim Shealy, his wife Amy Shealy

Party: Democrat

Q: How do you plan on dealing with the court system backup?

A: The first thing that must be done is to sit down with law enforcement and review all cases. In this manner we can determine which cases have the highest priority. At that point we can move the cases with the lowest priority leaving time to fully concentrate on the cases which demand our utmost attention. Secondly, I can begin trying the most important of these cases in an effort to remove those defendants from our community who cannot conform themselves to the community standards. Hopefully, we will receive strong sentences on these individuals leaving us in a position to deal with many of the other cases from a position of strength. While it will take sometime to fully realize the goal I believe getting to the end requires that we start with small steps to achieve success.

Q: Do you plan on implementing any new programs for the office or keeping any of the present ones?

A: If the question is referring to the programs which are in place such as Pre-trial intervention, alcohol education program, the traffic education program, drug court, and the bad check program I intend to keep those programs in place. I believe it is important to evaluate all of these programs to ensure they are being properly implemented. I will certainly strive to make improvements where I can. Additionally, I believe it is important to expand the Drug Court program so it effectively covers all counties within the circuit. Finally, I believe it is important that we develop programs with our schools and community groups in an effort to keep our children out of the criminal justice system. I am always open to ideas and suggestions from the public to more actively address issues such as teenage drug and alcohol use.

Q: How will you work with victims?

A: Victims are one of the two groups that must be given highest priority; the other being law enforcement. Currently, contact with victims is one of the biggest challenges facing the Eighth Circuit. At the present time the Eighth Circuit has two victims advocates: one for general sessions and one for juvenile court. It is important to me that every county have its own victim advocate. By placing victim advocates in each county I believe they will be better able to develop the relationship with victims that is necessary when attempting to assist them in dealing with the court system, as well as, state agencies which must be navigated. Hopefully by putting this system in place victims will always be fully aware of what is going on with their cases and will know that they have a person to whom they can turn with their questions and problems. Victims must always be treated with dignity and respect.

Q: What skills do you bring to the office?

A: I believe that greatest skill I bring to the office is my experience. I have been practicing law for 17 years, 11 of those in the Eight Circuit, and have 9 years as a prosecutor. Through much of my career I have supervised employees and at one time supervised over 100 employees. I am familiar with all of the counties in the circuit having prosecuted in Newberry, Laurens, and Abbeville counties and appeared in court in Greenwood. I know many of the personnel in the Solicitor’s office and know what areas need to be addressed with different employees. I am familiar with the court personnel in each of the counties, the judges; having worked with both resident judges prior to them becoming judges and appearing before them since they ascended to the bench. I have worked with almost all of the criminal defense attorney’s in the counties having prosecuted many cases against them. I am adept in working with law enforcement and victims. I am both empathetic and sympathetic to the concerns of our community, law enforcement, and victims. Finally, while it may not seem important to some people I have a vested interest in this community. I have worked with budgets while in the Army and in my private practice and I am keenly aware of the necessity of maintaining strict fiscal responsibility. I am a seasoned trial attorney appearing in criminal, civil, and family courts.

I mention these items in part to distinguish myself from my opponent. While he states he has prosecuted his entire career it should be noted that I prosecuted for longer than he has been an attorney. He has never worked in the Eighth Circuit with the exception of a few cases he pled while in the Attorney General’s office. Although currently employed with a law firm in Greenwood he has spent the majority of his time on the campaign trail not in the office or the courtroom. While with the Attorney General’s office he handled fairly easy cases and for much of the time he handled civil not criminal cases. The only real prosecuting experience he has is the three and half years he spent in the Eleventh Circuit. The only supervisory experience he possibly can claim is the 5 months he spent with the Attorney General’s office during his last stint with that office, hardly enough to be worthwhile. While he is a nice person I do not believe he has the experience to be the next solicitor.

Name: David M. Stumbo

Age: 36

Marital: Married to Vanessa (Crisp) Stumbo (1999), four children (1 son, 3 daughters)

Career: Prosecuting attorney

Education: USC School of Law (Juris Doctorate, 2004); Toccoa Falls College (Bachelor of Science, 1998)

Party: Republican nominee for Solicitor of the 8th Circuit

Q: How do you plan on dealing with the court system backlog?

A: The reality is there are too many cases take every criminal defendant to trial, so guilty plea negotiations are necessary in many cases. But if the most dangerous and violent criminals are convicted at jury trial and we seek maximum sentences, a clear message is sent to those whose cases are still pending. I took more cases to trial than any other prosecutor in the office while working for 11th Circuit Solicitor Donnie Myers, with a conviction rate at trial of well over 90%. Success at trial allows a prosecutor to negotiate pleas offers from a position of strength, not weakness. As we begin to build a record of success at trial in the 8th Circuit, which I intend to do as your next Solicitor, we will not have a problem moving cases through the system at a good pace.

Q: Do you plan on implementing any new programs for the department or keeping any present ones?

Drug Court is one of the most important and effective programs that have been implemented in Solicitors’ offices Statewide in recent years. Drug Court attacks the scourge of drug addiction in our communities, giving incentive to addicts who come

through the system to break the cycle and re-enter society as productive citizens. I have seen individuals transformed while working through and graduating from Drug Court, so I would significantly expand and enhance our current Drug Court program in the 8th Circuit as your next Solicitor.

Q: How will you work with victims?

A: When someone is the victim of a crime there must be communication and support from their Solicitor. This means ensuring that victims are kept in the loop during each step of the process, and inspiring confidence in them that their Solicitor will fight for a just outcome in the courtroom. Victims should be a part of the decision making process, and know that we have compassion for the situation that they have been put in by the perpetrator of the crime. The wonderful victim advocates that I have worked with throughout my long career as a prosecutor can attest to my compassion for our victims, and my passion for seeking just results in their cases.

Q: What skills do you bring to the office?

A: Clearly lack of funding and high caseloads are problems in prosecutors’ offices statewide. Because of this, we must be that much more relentless and tough in attacking our dockets (as described above) or we will continue to be overwhelmed by the shear numbers that come through the system. Accordingly, skill and leadership in the courtroom is the most important asset that I will bring to the office.

I also intend to cultivate relationships with our legislative delegation and our county councils in the 8th circuit, who are who are without question supportive of law enforcement, to secure adequate funding for the critical crime-fighting function that we provide in the courtroom as prosecutors. Our government leaders must back law enforcement and prosecutors with adequate funding to fight crime, so that we can continue to fulfill the primary role of “bearing the sword” and keeping our families safe.

School Board District 3

Name: Brent Connelly

Age: 41

Education: B.S. Civil Engineering, Clemson University (1993); Mid-Carolina High School (1989).

Career: General Superintendent, Vulcan Construction Materials

Family: Wife, Deena Lominick Connelly (married for 17 years); daughters, Katie (12 years old) and Emma Grace (nine years old).

Q: As a school board member, how do you hope to serve the people in your district?

A: Conveying feedback from parents and teachers to the board.

Q: What kind of voice will you bring to the school board?

A: An outspoken, conservative voice.

Q: How will you help encourage the youth and parents in your district?

A: By empowering our most valuable asset - the teacher. We are blessed to have such great educators in our county. We just need to allow them to be a larger part of the process.

Q: What is one change in the public school system on either a state or federal level that you agree or disagree with? Why?

A: I disagree with the erosion of local control of schools (and state and municipalities for that matter). Too much federal and state mandate.

Q: What book do you believe all children should read?

A: To Kill a Mockingbird

Name: Lucy Anne Meetze

Age: 52

Education: Masters in Secondary Education, U.S.C.; Bachelor of Science in accounting, Clemson; graduate of Newberry High School.

Career: Currently assist husband Mike with family tree farm 1981-present and math teacher Clinton High School 2009-present; Auditor for the South Carolina Auditor’s Office 1981-83; Math teacher at Newberry High School 1984-88.

Family: Married to Mike Meetze for 31 years; four sons, Luke, Jacob, Joshua and David

Q: As a board member, how do you hope to serve the people in your district?

A: I will continue to use my experience as a teacher, an accountant and a parent to strive to find solutions that are in the best interest of our students and teachers and that do not unnecessarily place a burden on us as taxpayers.

Q: What kind of voice will you bring to the school board?

A: I provide the much needed perspective of a teacher and a mother. My accounting experience is invaluable in understanding the complex funding and budgets that affect the district. I look forward to continuing to be a strong voice for our students and teachers. I will also continue to communicate with our lawmakers in Columbia and Washington (D.C.) to try to make them fully aware of how the laws and unfunded mandates they make directly affect our students and affect all of us in Newberry County as taxpayers.

Q: How will you help encourage the youth and parents in your district?

A: I will continue to welcome personal contacts, phone calls and e-mails. Many situations parents and students find themselves in I have directly experienced either as a mother of four or in my duties as a board member or teacher. Parents not only need someone who is knowledgeable on the issues involving their children, but someone who listens and cares about their children. I will continue to support parent and community groups who often ask for my input.

Q: What is one change in the public school system on either a state or federal level that you agree or disagree with? Why?

A: I disagree with the State Finance Act 388. It provides a very unstable funding base for school districts and places a tremendous tax burden on small business owners. The decrease in revenue as a result of Act 388 has forced our district to increase class sizes in many areas where we had worked diligently to reduce class size. I am a strong supporter of the S.C. Education Finance Restructuring Act that is hopefully being considered by our lawmakers in Columbia. This new Finance Act would equalize state funding for all students in South Carolina and greatly reduce school operating tax millage for us in Newberry County. It provides a much more stable revenue source to better manage the budgetary dips due to the economy.

Q: What one book do you believe all children should read?

A: I am unable to choose one book. I believe children should be encouraged to read what interests them. If children enjoy what they are reading, they will read more and therefore gain more of the educational benefits reading provides. I also believe children should read books with encouraging story lines and positive messages so they can see who they can become despite any obstacle. Personally, I believe the Bible is that book.

School Board District 6

Name: Jessie Jackson Reeder

Age: 61

Education: Gallman High School; Office Management, (Midlands Tech.); Industrial Audiometric Technician, (H&S of Augusta and East Central Georgia); Instructor, (EMP); Safety Specialist & Contractor Safety (Master), St. Louis, Mo.

Career: Safety Specialist for Ascend Performance Materials Operations

Family: Married (42 years) to John; children, Christopher, Johnette, Jessica and Cynthia; grandchildren, Jaelin, Amya and DeMarkus.

Q: As a school board member, how do you hope to serve the people in your district?

A: As a school board member, it is my responsibility to listen intently to my constituents and accurately and professionally relay their concerns to the school board. Knowing that there are many financial challenges ahead for school districts, I want to help Newberry County School District meet those challenges. Simultaneously, expectations for students and educators are more rigorous and that makes another challenge. I want to be able to help the children in our district experience the best education that our community can afford to offer. I am passionate about providing a well-rounded educational experience for each and every child.

Q: What kind of voice will you bring to the school board?

A: As a school board member, I will bring a voice of collaboration between school board members as well as district administration to set the overall tone and priorities for the district. A board member needs to believe in the institution of public schools and provide vision on how to achieve greatness in the school district. A school board member represents all constituents and stakeholders and takes into consideration all viewpoints when making decisions impacting our schools, our district and our community. A board member’s first responsibility should be to the students and their education. The school board must make decisions in the best interest of all students. While focusing on meeting the needs of all learners, the school board also has a responsibility to the faculty and staff members. The school board must ensure that the faculty and staff are fully supported in their front line efforts. And finally, the school board member is responsible to the taxpayers. Their investment must be most efficiently utilized, and at all times they should know not only what we are doing but why we are doing it.

Q: How will you help encourage the youth and parents in your district?

A: As a school board member, I will encourage youth to do the following:

1. Take ownership of their learning.

2. Make school a top priority.

3. Become active participants in their education.

4. Prepare themselves to be college and career ready.

As a school board member, I will encourage parents to do the following:

1. Become actively involved in their student’s education.

2. Develop positive relationships with educational leaders.

3. Stay abreast and take advantage of educational opportunities.

4. Provide an environment that is conducive to a successful learning experience.

Q: What is one change in the public school system on either a state or federal level that you agree or disagree with? Why?

A: One change in the public school system that I agree with is the new implementation of Common Core Standards. I believe the purpose of this initiative, which is to eliminate inconsistencies among state, districts and schools, is an effective way to increase student achievement which in return will better prepare our students to be more competitive and successful in our ever-changing global society.

Q: What book do you believe all children should read?

A: I am very cautious to name a single book that all students should read. It is my belief that students should be exposed to a variety of different genres, age appropriate and high interest reading materials. Reading is a fundamental skill that needs to be nourished, encouraged and supported in the home and at school. Two of my favorite children’s books are Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss.

Name: Gregg Taylor

Age: 50

Education: Newberry High School class of 1980; Piedmont Technical College

Career: Manager of Winn-Dixie for 25 years; Worked as firefighter at the City of Newberry for the past eight years

Family: Married to the former Lynn Longshore, two children, Heather and Allison

Q: As a school board member, how do you hope to serve the people in your district?

A: I will continue to support the opinions of teachers and parents in my district and voice their concerns and help come up with a solution. I will also continue to be an advocate for Reuben Elementary.

Q: What kind of voice will you bring to the school board?

A: I hope to continue being a strong voice for the teachers, parents and students and work together to make the district a better place.

Q: How will you help encourage the youth and parents in your district?

A: During my time on the school board I have always had a presence in schools and at school functions, so I will continue to do this in order to encourage the youth and parents in my district.

Q: What is one change in the public school system on either a state or federal level that you agree or disagree with? Why?

A: I would change the state and federal mandates that are put out but not funded, which creates a burden on the taxpayers.

Q: What book do you believe all children should read?

A: I believe that all children should read “The Giving Tree.” It shows children how to help others in times of need, which is very important in today’s society.

County Council District 1

Name: Tim Carroll

Party: Democratic

Q: This district covers the largest amount of area of any in the county, how do you plan to cover the area?

A: Although this is a big area, I drive a lot of the district every week. I would attend as many events and meetings as I can. As a lifelong resident I am keenly acquainted with each community in the district and would visit the community centers, fire departments, emergency facilities, organizations, clubs or anyone that would like to meet with me to voice their concerns.

Q: How do you plan to help revitalize the Whitmire area?

A: Over the past 10 years as Mayor, the council and I have worked to improve the Whitmire though grants and other monetary awards. We have improved the water and sewer system by making it larger and more efficient to handle more business customers. Also, we have improved the downtown area and are in the process of expanding the library and we have gotten two families, here in Whitmire, to place their multi-acre sites up for industrial development. I have personally arranged potential industrial employers and facilitated their contacts with the industrial site owner, Renfro, and will continue to do so. With this entire infrastructure in place, I would push Newberry County Economic and State Department of Commerce and Renfro to refocus on Whitmire and our “Renfro” spec building as an existing Industrial site. The infrastructure (water, sewer, power) is in place! I will continue to work with the Whitmire Town government which is in the process of having an environmental study conducted on the J.P. Stevens site so that Whitmire can take over the property and get grant money to clean it up and turn it into an industrial site as it has a large warehouse building there. We cannot have someone in the office that thinks that the industrial site near Prosperity, which is going to cost the tax payers over eight million dollars, is more important than Whitmire or other Newberry County communities and have the county and state continue to overlook our areas.

Q: What will be your top priorities on county council?

A: First is to provide a financial incentive for our volunteer firemen and rescue squad members with some type of tax credit or compensation for their uncompensated, dangerous service to all our citizens. This is because it is much harder to attract new volunteers and maintain a sufficient number of trained and qualified, emergency first-responders to provide these much needed important services to our citizens. We can give them all the equipment needed, but if they do not have the personal to man it, then it does no good.

Provide 24-hour fast response ambulance service, not only to the Lake Murray area and Newberry City but other parts of the county equally and fairly.

I want to create a fast-track system for businesses, large and small, to make it easier to acquire land and remove some of the road blocks that are currently in Newberry County. An Industrial park alone is not the answer, every county in South Carolina has one and some counties have two or more. Most of the industrial parks in many counties are empty just like ours. When companies like Kiswire, that is already located in Newberry county, would not go into our new industrial park but instead go out and buy their own land on which to build, this recent example should tell us that times are changing and we need better and improved ways to attract good paying jobs to Newberry County.

Q: How would you work to promote economic development in the county?

A: Newberry County needs a properly funded Chamber of Commerce to work with the team from the regional economic development agency and to focus on the entire county to bring more and better paying jobs to Newberry County. I would ask the South Carolina Commerce to conduct a study and report on how we can improve our process of industrial recruitment might be made more competitive.

I will work with our citizens to find sites that could be listed for sale for industrial use. This would alleviate and cost our tax payers much less including the person agreeing to sale the land. By taking this route, we can make available sites like Kiswire is currently constructing on US 76 and give other companies the option of locating here in Newberry County without having to go into an expensive Industrial park. Other counties around near Newberry County are attracting new industries without putting up spec building and constructing new industrial parks. We must compete and be smarter.

Q: What capital projects do you feel the county needs to fund?

Capital projects should be equally distributed equally thought out the communities and areas of the county, and in order to keep faith with the citizens any project that was approved on the one cent ballet should be funded.

Q:What services of the county do you feel needs improved?

As I stated earlier, the fire and emergency services, not for what they have not done but to make sure they have adequate equipment and the trained volunteers to serve Newberry County. Also, expand county recreation facilities and programs so that it may touch as many youth as possible. Expand the water, sewer, natural gas, cable TV with broadband internet services though out the county.

Name: Scott Cain

Age: 61

Education: The Citadel – BS Business Administration; Squadron Officer School; Air Command and Staff College; Air War College; Air Force Safety School;

Career: Retired – Colonel, South Carolina Air National Guard – 34 years service. Department of Defense Senior Advisor – managed the development of the first multinational training center in the Middle East region. Vice Commander, 380 AEW, UAE (second largest wing in the Middle East). Decorated Combat Pilot: Desert Storm (Distinguished Flying Cross), Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle

Family: Married to Cathy Lipscomb Cain; Together we have 4 children: Allston, a graduate of Newberry Co Schools and USC; Margaret, a graduate of Newberry Co Schools and Winthrop University; Bradley, a graduate of Clemson University, married to Elaine with our first granddaughter Emery; Brandon a graduate of USC and a student at MUSC Dental School.

Party: Republican

Q: This district covers the largest amount of area of any in the county, how do you plan to cover the area?

A: After I am elected, I expect to hold town hall meetings at least once per quarter in each of the precincts in the district. I will also use social networking opportunities such as Facebook and email to enable easy communication with me as your representative on the County Council.

Transparency and good governance are important goals for the entire Council. I expect to exemplify these goals in caring for my constituency.

Q: How do you plan to help revitalize the Whitmire area?

A: I want to work directly with the new mayor and town council of Whitmire to assure that we are working together in pursuing new industries and businesses for our town. To that end, we will be developing a long-term vision for the community. We will then seek as much affirmation as possible for this vision from the entire community. When that occurs, we will begin to create a marketing strategy that allows us to recruit businesses that are compatible with the Whitmire community and Newberry County. Finally, by showcasing and marketing our distinguished heritage, open culture, award winning community school and abundant resources we can promote our entire community as a great place for businesses to locate thereby restoring Whitmire and our County to a growing and prosperous community.

The town of Whitmire currently has the highest tax millage in the county and has not had a balanced budget for the past several years without borrowing from their savings. I will work with the new Mayor and Town Council, from the county level, to help balance their budget and reduce their tax millage.

Q: What would be your top priorities on County Council?

1) To represent the needs of the people of District 1 in a fair, open and honest way.

2) To secure the future of the County through pro-active economic development.

3) To enhance the employment opportunities in the County and to encourage people who work in our County to live in our County.

4) To be as efficient as possible in the use of County funds in order to assure no tax increases.

5) To foster an environment that keeps our young adults in our community by promoting a strong business environment.

Q: How will you work to promote economic development in the county?

A: The requirement for economic development in the county in many ways mirrors the town of Whitmire. Many parts of the county need opportunities for industrial development, but a consistent county-wide strategy is not entirely obvious. By creating a better climate for communication among various factions in the County, and by creating a can-do culture for industrial development in Newberry County, I anticipate making the development of the town of Whitmire and District 1 a catalyst for creating development opportunities throughout the county.

Q: What capital projects do you feel the county needs to fund?

A: Access to jobs is a priority for the County. I will vigorously pursue my vision for the creation of a highway between Augusta and Charlotte that would allow those cities to be more accessible to our County. I will also work to recruit new business to the County and I will seek to assure that the County Council is actively pursuing these businesses when they are making decisions about locating here.

As a County, we also need to make intelligent decisions that will lead these businesses to locate here. One important decision that the Council made previously was to build a building that would enable a business to open in our new industrial park. 85 percent of businesses looking to move to a new location seek a turn-key operation. Our building will eventually fulfill that need for some business. The Council was able to fund this important resource using mostly non-taxpayer resources. In other words, this $2 million building will only cost the county about $24,000 per year until a business such as Komatsu or Caterpillar occupies the building providing needed jobs to our community. We cannot simply wait for businesses to come to us. We need a proactive approach to economic development instead of a passive approach that has resulted in no new businesses locating in the town of Whitmire in over 5 years.

Q: What services of the county do you feel needs to be improved?

A: We absolutely need a 24 hour ambulance service in the town of Whitmire. Also, we need to upgrade our 911 services there as well. I cannot understand why this was not done many years ago with the rest of the county. These continue to be pressing needs for District 1. We also need to upgrade our fire protection in the district and when funds are available, we need to build or upgrade our fire stations to be within easy reach of the citizens of the district.

Whitmire Mayor

Name: Billy Hollingsworth

Age: 66

Education: High school education plus other management and engineering courses; Entire career in textiles with more than 35 years in management.

Family: Married to wife Ruth with three children and three grandchildren.

Q: As mayor of Whitmire, how do you plan to serve the residents?

A: As Mayor, I plan to serve the residents by treating them fairly and honestly with an open door policy allowing them to understand that their opinions are important.

Q: What is at least one change you hope to instill as mayor?

A: The one change I hope to instill is to establish a mindset that we are elected officials by the people for the people and that we are trusted to carry out our duties as such.

Q: How do you hope to bring in industry or jobs to the people of Whitmire?

A: I hope to bring industry and jobs by working diligently with county and state’s Chambers of Commerce and economic development boards to insure that they are aware of what Whitmire has to offer. Make our county and state officials aware that Whitmire is not just a space on a map but a viable place for industry both big and small.

Q: How will you help to revive the town?

A: I hope to help revive the town by uniting the entire community. By being united and well-informed, the citizens will have a better understanding of what goes on and feel they are a vital part of our town.

Q: What do you want to be remembered for?

A: I would like to be remembered as a mayor who always put the citizens and the town first and foremost.

Name: Chrystal A. Harsha

Age: 66

Education: Graduated from Franklin High School, Franklin, Ohio; attended Miller-Draughon Business College in Cincinnati, Ohio; took classes at U.S.C. Union

Career: Secretary at Monsanto Research Corp. and Ball Brothers Research Corp.; legal secretary in Colorado and Ohio; acquisitions clerk at Newberry College, Newberry; secretary and accounts payable specialist at School District of Newberry County. I’m now retired.

Family: Husband, Ronald (married 46 years); daughter and son-in-law Peggy and Danny Aughtry; son and daughter-in-law Wayne and Wendy Harsha; daughter and son-in-law Amy and Antz Edouard; two granddaughters (Gabrielle and Emma), four grandsons (Samuel, Wyatt, Garrick and Kaden) with a fifth grandson due in January.

Q: As mayor of Whitmire, how do you plan to serve the residents?

A: I want the citizens of Whitmire to feel they can come to me at any time with any problem or suggestion. I will do my best to solve the problem or carry through with the suggestion if we all agree that it’s the right thing to do.

Q: What is at least one change you hope to instill as mayor?

A: My diverse employment background has helped me tremendously while on council so I would like to implement Town Council committees so the town can take advantage of the many talents council has.

Q: How do you hope to bring in industry or jobs to the people of Whitmire?

A: Contacting every possible source that could help advertise Whitmire as a good place to have a business and promoting our workforce is a good way to start. We can also promote our educational system (our great school, the after school program, GED program, etc.).

Q: How will you help to revive the town?

A: I encourage all residents to become more involved and restore pride in our town. I’d also like to promote more social events such as dances, mini-concerts, lectures, etc.

Q: What do you want to be remembered for?

A: I’d like to be remembered for being a good Christian person, a good wife, a good mother and a good friend.