Opinion: Duncan Race Could Set Local Political Wheel in Motion for 2024

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

It’s 2024, politics will take center stage in Anderson County, and no matter the outcome, there will be some changes.

It starts early with the presidential preference primaries kicking off the season in February. The South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary is Feb. 3, with a voter registration deadline of Thursday (Jan. 4). The Republican Presidential Primary is Feb. 24, with a voter registration deadline of Jan. 25. Still time to register at SCVotes.gov. 

The statewide primaries are scheduled for June 11.

Filing for all offices begins March 16 and ends April 1. All 124 of the South Carolina House seats and 46 South Carolina Senate seats are on the ballot this year, which is the subject of speculation in regard to a couple of local races.

Much of the interest centers around who might challenge U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., who represents U.S. House Dist. 3, which includes Anderson County. The scandal surrounding Duncan’s leaving his wife for a Washington, D.C., lobbyist in August after his Anderson “Faith and Freedom BBQ,” has opened the door to challengers for the seat (and though he has not officially announced, Duncan is expected to run for reelection).

The most likely challenger to the seat is S.C. Sen. Richard Cash, R.-Anderson, who represents S.C. Dist. 3, who previously ran against Duncan for the seat only to lose in a close runoff (Duncan defeated Cash 51 percent to 49 percent, a vote difference of 2,171, coming almost entirely from the southern counties of Dist. 3). The district represents Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Abbeville, Laurens, Greenwood, McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda, Newberry and the southern part of Greenville counties.

Though the largest county in the district, Anderson County has not had a representative in the U.S. Third District since John C. Taylor of Honea Path held the seat from March 4, 1933 –Jan. 3, 1939

Another name being mentioned for Duncan’s seat is S.C. Rep. April Cromer, Rep.-Anderson, who represents S.C. House Dist. 6. Cromer is Internal Operations Auditor, Cromer Food Servs., Inc. Cromer, who defeated Incumbent West Cox in 2022, is also mentioned as a possible candidate for yet another seat, should she decide not to run for reelection for her current seat.

If Cash chooses to oppose Duncan, it will also open up a slot in the S.C. Senate. The two names most commonly mentioned as possible candidates for this seat are Anderson County Councilman John Wright, Jr., who is president of McCoy-Wright, Inc., and S.C. Rep. April Cromer, should she decide not to run for Duncan’s seat or for reelection to her current seat.

If Cromer seeks another office, it opens up another spot for S.C. House Dist. 6, and it will be interesting to see who emerges as potential candidates for that seat.

The election picture will become clearer as we close in on the opening of filing March 11.

No matter what, there will be at least one new face in the Anderson County Legislative Delegation by the end of 2024.

House Dist. 9 will have a new representative, as Rep. Anne Thayer, R.-Anderson, announcing she will not seek reelection for the seat she has held since 2011.

Former West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders, President of Studio Main, a firm which seeks to create inviting, active, and sustainable communities through landscape architecture and storytelling, announced his candidacy for the seat in November. On his website, Sanders positions himself as a conservative voice for Anderson County, with a focus on: infrastructure, cutting wasteful government spending, protecting conservative family values, attracting jobs and small businesses, and investing in high-quality education.

During his eight years as mayor of West Pelzer, Sanders helped transform the town along S.C. 8, which was largely marked by empty buildings when he took office, into a walking community with full retail and residential occupancy. Sanders tagged the town “The Upstate’s Front Porch,” and his work with council there led to the 2023 statewide Municipal Association of South Carolina Achievement Award for superior and innovative efforts in local government. At the ceremony, the group said the town was chosen for “reinvigorating our once vacant business district into a vibrant collection of locally owned businesses.”

Though no other candidate has announced for the seat, many expect James Galyean, Founder of Reason & Republic and CEO of Icelaven Development Group, to toss his hat in the ring. Galyean is best known for founding three private schools, including the Belton Preparatory Academy, which received the Diamond School of Excellence Award from the Charter Institute at Erskine earlier in 2023, scoring in the top 10 percent of all elementary and middle schools in English language arts (ELA) and math on the South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY).

Meanwhile, as usual, all seven county council seats are up for reelection. It’s the result of a misguided tradition and a referendum defeat in 2016, which sought to extend county council seats to serve staggered, four-year terms. Under the current two-year set up, a new council member barely has time to gain a solid understanding of the way things work before it’s time to start running another campaign. Voters need elected county council representatives to build good working relationships not only with their fellow council members, potential economic development partners, department heads, key front-line workers and with their constituents. Such efforts take time.

There is virtually no way to do this in a single, two-year term. 

Most other counties in the state seem to understand this, which is why 43 of our 46 counties have staggered, four-year county council terms.

Some argue if congressional candidates are limited to two-year terms, why change county council’s terms to four years? The answer is simple. Congressional candidates, state and national, have staff members - many of whom have served in those positions for years - to help them hit the ground running. They also have substantial numbers of colleagues in their respective offices who have the time and staff to help newcomers settle into office and understand how things run. 

County council members are serving in part-time positions, with a single clerk and no other staff. (And at $8,400 annually, Anderson County Council remains among the lowest-paid councils in the state. Many much smaller counties pay more, and Greenville County Council, with 25 council members has salaries that start at $24,000 annually). Many new council members work full-time jobs and find it difficult to quickly acclimate to their office and properly maintain their day jobs. They are expected to be up-to-speed and on top of issues which are essential to the county, and which can shift and change quickly. Four-year terms would help make this happen.

Staggered four-year terms would also allow council members to be the stewards of the county’s best interests, instead of being squeezed into becoming proxy votes for their districts on controversial issues, allowing for long-term strategic planning when looking out for what is best for the entire county and its citizens.

Under the current, every two-year election cycle, the county runs the risk of having a complete turnover of council, leaving a group of seven new members with no connections or understanding of ongoing projects and even the simplest procedures involved in charge of Anderson County.

Finally, four-year terms would have the additional benefit, as it has in other counties in the state, of attracting more candidates who might be interested in serving at least a single four-year term, but are intimidated by the specter of the shorter two-year cycle.

Such a change is not proposed for 2024, but it is long overdue (along with a countywide hospitality tax in unincorporated areas). Add both to the wish list for 2025.

A referendum which would allow the county to properly maintain and repair the 1,534 miles of county roads is also on the November ballot. It deserves public support. See details here.

Also in 2024, municipal elections are also set for the City of Anderson April 2. The city uses staggered terms, so only seats 2, 4, 6 and At-Large 8 are on the ballot.

Anderson County will also choose a new solicitor in 2024, as David Wagner announced his retirement at the end of his current term. So far, one candidate, Micah Black, has announced intentions to seek the position.

November will also bring the presidential election, and since the primary season has yet to begin, I will reserve comment until later.

Whatever your political conviction, 2024 is an important year and it is critical that citizens participate in the process by voting, and encouraging others to do so. Find a simple ballot or how to register here.