Tag Archive

Big Idea: Improving Local Elections

By Steve Shanafelt

As I mentioned yesterday, my first voting experience in Spartanburg was troubling for a couple of reasons, not the least of which being finding the polling station. But after spending last evening at the Spartanburg County Office of Registrations and Elections — and seeing the work they put in — I’m reluctant to point... »

Post-Election Discussion Central

By Steve Shanafelt

Now that the election is over, I thought we could all use a place to talk about the contest and what it means for Spartanburg. Junie White will be Mayor, Cate Brandt Ryba and Jerome Rice will be joining Linda Dogan on City Council, and tons of shakeups have happened in the school board... »

Spartanburg County School Board Election Results

By Steve Shanafelt

With 97.14 percent of precincts reporting, here are the tentative results of this year’s Spartanburg County School Board election. In a few cases, the results were a little too close to call definitively, particularly in the event that a recount is called for. Final, confirmed results should be available on Friday, and if there... »

City of Spartanburg And County Municipal Election Results

By Steve Shanafelt

With 97.14 percent of precincts reporting, here are the tentative results of this year’s municipal election for the City of Spartanburg and the surrounding townships. Final, confirmed results should be available on Friday, and if there are any changes, we’ll post about it. Mayor of Spartanburg Mike Fowler: 426 (11.33%) Junie White: 3,299 (87.72%) WRITE-IN: 36 (0.96%) Spartanburg City... »

Brag And Complain About Voting Here

By Steve Shanafelt

Did you vote yet? If so, here’s the place to brag about doing your civic duty, adding your voice to the (hopefully) thousands of others who want to see the city move toward a brighter future. Also, this is the perfect place to share information about the local voting stations. Why is that important?... »

Flying Oskar: Endorsements ‘09

By Christopher George

I’ve been dreading writing this column for months. I don’t have to do it really. I could just write some cushy, safe “get out there and vote” piece. Nobody would notice if I didn’t write an endorsement column, would they? Even if they did, I’ve got a clear way out if... »

Mayoral and City Council Candidates Make Their Cases to Voters

By Christopher George

There was a standing-room only crowd in the downtown library’s community room at last night’s city candidate forum. The event, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, was set up in two segments with mayoral candidates Mike Fowler and Junie White going first and the District 4 council candidates Thomas Belenchia and Cate... »

Thomas Belenchia Hired Rick Beltram as Campaign Consultant

By Christopher George

According to information available on the South Carolina State Ethics Commission website, on October 2nd Thomas Belenchia’s City Council campaign paid $1,000 to B Square Enterprises, Rick Beltram’s consulting and sales business.  The expenditures report states that the fee was paid for a “Campaign Consultant”. The long, winding quest to clarify the relationship between the... »

District 7 School Board Candidate Forum Wrap-Up

By Christopher George

Roughly two-thirds of the seats in the community room of Spartanburg’s downtown library were filled for last night’s District 7 school board candidate forum, and for an hour and twenty minutes they listened respectfully while the four candidates running for the three open seats in the school board’s 7-5 district made their cases to... »

Sparkle City Headlines: District 2 School Board Candidates Will Attend Forum After All

By Christopher George

Well, the drama is over.  The “District 2 Six”  have decided–after getting to see those always partisan League of Women Voters questions in advance–to participate in the much ballyhooed school board candidate forum.  The Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s Lee G. Healy has the story. Six of the 14 candidates up for election in November stated earlier this... »

Spartanburg City Council ‘09: District 4 Candidate Cate Brandt Ryba

By Christopher George

“I want to serve the citizens of Spartanburg on City Council because Spartanburg has given so much to me.” That’s the first in a list of  reasons for running posted on Cate Brandt Ryba’s City Council District 4 campaign Facebook page.  Ryba, 31, is a Spartanburg native. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and has... »

Spartanburg City Council ‘09: District 4 Candidate Thomas Belenchia

By Christopher George

“Belenchia Means Business.” That’s the slogan for small business attorney Thomas Belenchia’s Spartanburg City Council District 4 campaign. Blenchia, 57, was born in Shelby Mississippi, and has been a resident of Spartanburg since 1985. He is a former farmer and former Marine who graduated from USC Upstate in 1989 and Emory Law School... »