Jennifer Evins Is Running For Mayor

Jennifer Evins being interviewed by WSPA.

[Jennifer] Evins told the Herald-Journal Thursday night she has decided to seek the seat that two-term Mayor Bill Barnet will vacate in early 2010.

… She is best known for her work as the fundraising chair of the Chapman Cultural Center project, but she has also chaired Spartanburg’s Creative Energy initiative, chaired The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, served as president of the board of trustees of Ballet Spartanburg and worked with dozens of other local organizations as a volunteer.

… Evins said she wants to run to help keep alive the momentum that Barnet has created, adding, “People in the city have a great energy and enthusiasm right now, and I want to be part of keeping that going, helping it grow. I’ve been involved in civic life in Spartanburg almost since the day I got here because I believe in our city.”

Informed of Evins’ decision in a phone interview Thursday night, Barnet said, “That’s great, I think she’s going to be a great candidate. Jennifer obviously loves her community, she’s a bright and interesting person who has given a lot to this city, and it’s great to see her throw her hat in the ring.”

Asked what her focus would be, Evins said she felt good jobs and top-notch education were two keys to the future of Spartanburg, and vowed to make job creation and supporting the schools top priorities.

WSPA is also covering the story, and in an interesting bit of ethical accountability, they’re owning up to the fact that Evins is a former employee of the station. Props to them for doing it right.

I’ve never met Jennifer Evins, and know very little about her, so I really don’t have an opinion on her candidacy yet. I’m encouraged that she’s so strongly involved in the arts, since that’s one of the city’s real selling points right now, and becaused she’s already earned several telling endorsements. In private e-mails I’ve received this morning, however, she’s also been referred to as the “establishment” candidate, and I’m curious as to what that means in this context.

But there’s more to being a mayor than having friends and supporting causes you believe in. What’s Evins’ connection to the black community in Spartanburg? Does she feel she has the skills and the connections to address the whooping unemployment rate in the city, not to mention the long-standing issues of poverty? What does she think of revisiting the Downtown Master Plan? What are her views on annexation? Hopefully, we’ll be getting more on this soon.

Anyone here want to chime in about her bid for the Mayor’s chair?