Cindy Wilson, Incumbent, Anderson County Council Dist. 7
All candidates for Anderson County Council were given multiple opportunities to share their positions unedited with voters in The Anderson Observer. Here are the answers from Anderson County Councilwoman and Incumbent from Dist. 7, Cindy Wilson.
1. What are the three greatest challenges facing Anderson County in the next five years? ROADS; upgrading, improving, and even just maintaining safe, efficient roadways. 2. Prioritizing financial responsibilities in Anderson County to provide necessary services without increasing taxes. Examining line items to better calibrate our budget. 3. Finishing the LUDO (Land Use & Development Ordinances) to require good quality development design, and to encourage our state to make adjustments in several SC codes to allow local discretion to adjust to local conditions i.e. topography, soil types, hydrology, etc.
2. How would you work with council to meet these challenges? We are in the process now. Note we are in the process of reviewing recent land use regulations.
3. Anderson County is one of only two counties in the state with two-year terms for council (the other is Edgefield). All the 44 other counties have staggered four-year terms to provide some continuity of government. Would you favor a shift for Anderson County to follow the lead of these 44 counties? Why or why not? NO. Our US Congress and our State Representatives serve two-year terms, given Anderson County’s previous bouts with corruption, two-year terms serves Andersen County voters well as SC has no recall legislations.
4. Land use and zoning continue to be a top concern. Four voting precincts have already petitioned for zoning. Three were approved and the fourth is in the process of approval. Would you encourage others to follow suit? What other measures would you take to improve quality development while protecting the rights of landowners? Yes. Anderson County Council has begun informal discussions with constituents and with each other to look at a less burdensome process for zoning, than what is available now. Requiring a petition signed by 15% of registered voters in the precinct seeking zoning excludes absentee landowners which is hardly fair. We need to seek a better way.
5. Impact fees have been largely rejected in Anderson County. Uses for this source of special funding includes roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, solid waste facilities, stormwater management, parks, and public safety (police, fire, EMS) facilities. These funds absolutely cannot be used for the repair, operation, or routine maintenance of existing facilities, nor can they be used to upgrade facilities unless the upgrade explicitly increases capacity to serve the new development. What role do you see impact fees playing in the county’s future and how would you weigh this revenue source against keeping new housing affordable? S.C. Impact Fee Laws are absurdly complex and not useful in any beneficial way to provide needed infrastructure to serve new development. We are working with our state legislators who have filed bills that should alleviate the “road blockades.” Stay tuned and speak with our County Delegation and County Council Members. Impact Fees can possibly assist with the added cost new development creates for providing the extra needed infrastructure.
6. Do you favor tax incentives as a tool for economic development? Firstly, our 1895 Constitution required a 10.5%industrial tax assessment ratio – highest in the nation. Our General Assembly has been asked to address this by reducing the tax assessment to a 6%, as commercial and 2nd homes, and properties pay, or 4%, as residential pays, or eliminating FILOT’s. So far legislators haven’t been interested. FILOT was first used when Michelin (a French company) chose Anderson County for their Sandy Springs plant. Anderson County had lost many textile plants and jobs, so there was a strong desire to diversify industry and help facilitate job development to replace what had been lost, FILOT served as a convenient circumvention to the 10.5%. It is my belief that all business should have FILOT if the state does not amend the Constitution. The recent introduction of Special Source Credits (a discount against the FILOT) is a “bone of contention,” Additionally, the clawback provisions (if the company fails to meet the required benchmarks) no longer act as initially intended. Instead, it is a reduction of the discounts prospectively and does not appear beneficial to other taxpayers who are paying their “full freight”.
FILOT is a helpful tool along with the other incentives but should only be applied very judiciously. Recent FILOTs with SSRC’s don’t seem as well negotiated to the favor of the County.
7. Anderson County continues to grow at a record pace. How can council manage this growth without raising property taxes?Anderson County Council has recently imposed numerous measures including riparian buffers, mass grading, setbacks, etc. that have been years in the making, which are beginning to help encourage good quality development. The 2026 Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the new Land Use Development Ordinances will ensure better development quality. Some State codes and regulations continue to stymie our efforts and need amending.
8. What are your three favorite things about living and working in Anderson County? Wide Open Spaces, Beautiful Farms, Blue Skies and the Sweetest People in the World.
9. What three things are most challenging about living here? Traffic, Ugly Developments, Impaired Water and Air Quality, Bad Roads.
10. What would be your three top priorities in funding in the county’s annual budget? We must work with our citizens and staff to conduct a cost benefit analysis for each county function providing necessary services without raising taxes.
11. How would you describe your management style and how would this be reflected if elected to council? I do my homework; which includes talking with constituents, staff, a lot of reading, and much praying in seeking teamwork to effect good public policy.
12. Why did you decide to run for county council? From the beginning I have sought truth and transparency in our local government. Encouraging and informing my constituents to participate with us to examine all concerns and measures with common-sense and practicality.
13. Do you or your family members have any business relationships with the county or other businesses or groups that could be a conflict if elected to council? NONE. I have turned away lucrative opportunities and have mostly preformed my RE work for family, friends, and communities for free, only accepting listings that would NOT anticipate conflicts or the perception of conflict.
14. How have you been involved in the community (include any charitable/nonprofit work, volunteer efforts, fire service, etc.) and why is this important to you? Boards, Organizations, and Commissions that I am a member of:
· Anderson County Council District #7 Representative
o Chairman of Planning and Public Works Committee
o Finance Committee
· ACOG (Appalachian Council of Governments) Vice-Chair BOD
o Member of the Transportation Committee
· Anderson County Water Council BOD member
· Anderson County Soil and Water Conservation District (member & supporter)
· South Carolina Upstate Equine Council BOD and founding member
· Clemson Extension Service BOD member
· United States Pony Club Inc. Life Member (Graduate ‘A’), formally judge and National Examiner
· Member of Concord Baptist Church since 1962
· Western Upstate Board of Realtors member, licensed in SC & GA
· Horseshoe Bend HOA Architectural Committee
· Anderson County Council representative helping the Pelzer Heritage Commission to revitalize old mill sites
· Anderson County Republican Women & Anderson County Republican Party member
15. Elected officials leave a legacy. If elected to council, how do you hope to be remembered? To have an open, honest, accountable local government; clean water and air, good roads, and our citizens smiling and happy once again.
