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Government

  • U.S. House District 5 Candidate Bios

    Ray Craig
    ◆ Age: 55
    ◆ Family: Three children: Claudia, 19; Anna, 16; and William, 13
    ◆ Education: Clover High School graduate; bachelor’s degree in history, Clemson University 1983, study for master’s degree in history, Winthrop University, incomplete
    ◆ Occupation: Customer service at a local grocery store
    ◆ Political experience: This is my first bid for public office.
    ◆ Contact info: (843) 489-2010; vote.craig.2016@gmail.com; 2085 Cutterpoint Drive, Suite 301, Lake Wylie, SC 29710-4649

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  • Lancaster County Auditor Candiate Bios

    Allen Blackmon
    ◆ Age: 60
    ◆ Family: Wife, Jane Bridges Blackmon; son, Kevin and his wife, Mary; daughter, Leigh Pate and her husband, Michael; two fantastic grandchildren
    ◆ Education: Bachelor’s degree, Clemson University; numerous continuing education courses
    ◆ Occupation: Retired from the S.C. Department of Revenue
    ◆ Political/job experience: None
    ◆ Contact info: (803) 804-2189; berentals@gmail.com; P.O. Box 86, Heath Springs, SC 29058

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  • County Council District 1 Candidate Bios

    David Freeman
    ◆ Age: 49
    ◆ Family: Wife, Ginger, married for 27 years; son, Brodie, attends The Citadel; daughter, Sidney is a senior in high school.
    ◆ Education: Attended Indian Land schools
    ◆ Occupation: Business owner
    ◆ Political experience: Serving on Lancaster County Planning Commission (for past year); served four years on Lancaster CountyBoard of Zoning Appeals (three and a half years as chairman); over 30 hours of government training and continuous education

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  • Economic development director hired

    Lancaster County announced Friday it has hired a 25-year economic development veteran to head its new in-house department that will handle business recruitment.
    Jamie C. Gilbert comes from Chester, Md., where he has been executive director of the Queen Anne’s County Department of Economic Development for 15 months. He starts work in Lancaster July 18.
    County officials said Gilbert’s credentials and experience made him a great candidate for the job, but his people skills, high energy and enthusiasm sealed the deal.

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  • Three auditor candidates face off at forum

    Among the 2016 Republican candidates participating in the 2016 Before You Vote Candidates Forum on Thursday evening at Indian Land’s Inspiration Ministries/CrossRidge auditorium were three candidates running for one of Lancaster County’s least-known elected positions – county auditor.
    Allen Blackmon, Suzette Connell Murphy and Susan Hunter Wallace all represent new blood for the office, as each seeks to fill the position of current Auditor Cheryl Morgan, who announced in January she would not seek re-election after more than 30 years.

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  • County OKs 2nd reading on $47.9 million budget

    Lancaster County Council unanimously passed the second reading of its $47.9 million 2016-17 budget Monday night.
    Among the highlights: the Department of Social Services will receive funding to expand, a career ladder will be implemented at the County Detention Center, and telecommunication officers will get salary increases.

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  • Hear what candidates have to say May 26

    Candidates for county and national offices will take the stage at a local primary candidates forum next week.
    Carolina Gateway and the Indian Land Action Council will hold a Before You Vote 2016 Candidates Forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 26, in the Inspiration Ministries/CrossRidge (formerly the City of Light) auditorium, 2001 Prayer Center Drive.
    Rick Jiran with Duke Energy will moderate the forum.
    All of the candidates in contested races on local primary ballots have been invited.

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  • Kershaw town council passes first reading of $3.8M budget

    KERSHAW – Kershaw Town Council unanimously passed first reading of the proposed $3.8 million 2016-17 budget Monday night, though its members aren’t quite sure yet how it will impact taxpayers.
    Mitch Lucas, the town’s interim administrator, said he is still waiting on the final county numbers on how much the town will get in property tax revenue for 2016-17.
    The town, he said, has received the final index numbers for the mandated Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) credit factor, which provides a property tax rollback for homeowners.

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  • County OKs traffic impact-fee study

    Traffic and growth in the Panhandle was the focus at Monday night’s Lancaster County Council meeting, where the council moved forward with an impact-fee study for transportation.
    The council’s vote added traffic to the study, which is already looking at recreation, public safety, EMS and other factors that might be addressed with impact fees paid by residential developers. To enact an impact fee, an impact fee study has to be done. In particular, this study will consider a fixed fee amount to deal with transportation issues caused by new developments.  

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  • County council considers stormwater management fee

    Lancaster County Council dealt with stormwater management, a noise ordinance, business registration and two grants during its Monday night meeting.

    Stormwater
    Council discussed options for handling the county’s stormwater. One option could result in a countywide fee to pay for the management of stormwater in the Panhandle.

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