Hello REALTORS®,
In this Watchdog Report, I will continue to cover the fall elections by listing the candidates for nonpartisan races like school boards and city councils. Nonpartisan means that political parties do not nominate the candidates. It’s a long list, so it will take a couple of issues to cover them all.
First, there are two city councils with elections on November 5: Clemson and Williamston.
Clemson City Council
Mayor:
- Jim Borick
- Robert Halfacre (incumbent)
- Dr. Catherine Watt (current council member)
Council (three seats):
- Dr. Bob Brookover (incumbent)
- John Crolley (planning commissioner)
- Nanda Edgerton
- Alma Evans
- Adam Jones
- Donna London
- Dr. Windsor Sherrill
There are eight school boards with elections in November, so I’ll cover two of them this week and the remaining six next week.
Oconee County School Board
District 2:
- Dr. Meghan Ketterman (incumbent, Realtor, Vice Chair)
- Vicky Smith
District 4:
- Denise McCormick (incumbent, Chair)
- Q. Sawyer Gambrell
District 5:
- Keith Johnson
- Terry Swain
Picken County School Board
District 1
- Dr. Betty Bagley (incumbent)
District 3
- Shannon Haskett (incumbent)
District 5
- Betty Garrison (incumbent, Vice Chair)
Keowee Fire District
- Rod C. Halsell
- William L. (Bill) Robertson
We will provide a detailed Voter Guide for these and other races in October.
Belton Special Election
Belton City Council held a special election this week to fill a vacant council seat. Russ Tysl, Belton/Honea Path High School boys basketball coach, won the seat. Tysl is currently a member of Anderson County School District 2 school board, so there will be another special election to fill that seat.
RPAC Supports SC Representative Davey Hiott
Recently, WUAR and GGAR collaborated to present an RPAC check to SC Representative Davey Hiott. Hiott represents the Pickens and Liberty areas and serves as the SC House Majority Leader. Thank you, Bob Fedder, a member of the WUAR Board of Directors and 2023 RPAC chairman, for representing WUAR.
Realtor Jill Chapman Collaborates with Anderson County Council to keep Lake Hartwell Clean
A couple of weeks ago, Realtor Jill Chapman, Berkshire Hathaway C. Dan Joyner Realtors, helped present a great project to help keep Lake Hartwell clean and litter free to Anderson County Council.
Lake Hartwell Partners for Clean Water (LHPCW) is a new nonprofit that, among other things, has organized several Lake Hartwell clean up days during the year. Chapman is a board member of the group.
LHPCW recently received a donation of a pontoon boat and engine they call the “Trash Tank.” The group will use the boat to pick up the litter collected by volunteers on lake clean up days. County council approved assisting the group with insurance on the boat, which will be dedicated at a ribbon cutting at Green Pond Landing August 28, 10 a.m.
The next clean up day is September 14, 9 a.m. until 12 noon. Click here for details.
Support RPAC
You and your association can influence how your government affects you and regulates your industry.
Elections are an important way that your association represents you and helps make a strong market for real estate. Elections are also an important way that you participate in your government. Your association’s objective is to help elect pro-business candidates who share the Realtor position that a vibrant and healthy real estate market is vital to a vibrant and healthy economy. Of course, you must balance your personal and business interests when you vote.
You can help your industry by supporting RPAC. It’s easy. Your association includes a voluntary contribution to RPAC on your annual dues invoice. Pay it, and you are an RPAC supporter. If you haven’t supported RPAC this year, I encourage you to do so by clicking here.
Michael Dey, Director of Government Affairs
Caroline Richardson Mahaffey (left) and Bob Fedder (right) present an RPAC contribution to SC Representative Davey Hiott at his office in Pickens.