Q:There is no penalty for violating this ordinance. Would I support a penalty?

A: Yes, I would support a financial penalty applied to the department or agency responsible for the incursion of any of their officials.

Q: Taxes have been a hot topic in Greenville County, would I raise or lower taxes from their current level?

A: It would depend on the current balance of the County Treasury and the allocations thereof. I would like to not have to raise taxes, but I cannot make any promises either way.

Q: There is a pending tax increase of $ .01 as explained by Council for repairing roads. (This would be a 16.7% increase from 6 to 7 cents), where do I stand on this issue?

A: I do not support this tax increase and I will vote against the ballot initiative in the November General Election. I do not support this tax increase because this tax would affect the working class harder by raising the transportation costs along with the sales price on goods and on services. Other avenues can be explored to generate this revenue such as implementing building and development fees and reevaluating the County budget.

Q: FILOTs (Fees In Lieu Of Taxes) were originally put in place to entice larger companies to do business in Greenville County. Currently the Council is frequently using this for builders, developers, and other entities. What is my position on this?

A: FILOTs should be phased out. The intent of these fees was to provide a financial incentive to large corporations to move to Greenville. These companies would generate revenue for the County in excess of the fiscal discount. However, the FILOTs are also being given to smaller entities whose generated income for the County is less than the given rebate. This in turn creates a budget shortfall.

Q: Greenville County currently accepts federal funding for various projects, including roads, and the funding almost always comes with strings attached. Would you want to reduce or eliminate reliance on federal funding for Greenville County?

A: I would like to reduce this funding, if possible. This funding can be used for repairs of our infrastructure. However, this funding flows through the state infrastructure bank and is disbursed from there. If too many strings are attached, I would research other options to generate the needed funds.

Q: Lack of transparency is a big issue with government in general, how will I bring transparency to County Council?

A: I will attend as many meetings as possible, and I will make myself available to communicate with my Constituents.

Q: If there is another pandemic, what is my stance on mandatory masking and vaccination for private or public employees?

A: I believe everyone has a Constitutional right to choose if they wish to wear a mask or to be inoculated, or to close their business or Religious Organization. I will research the legal options available to the County to protect the Constitutional rights of every citizen.

Q: The County Administrator prepares an initial budget, then it is sent to the County Council for a yes or no vote. Should the Council have a greater role in the preparation of the budget?

A: Yes. The Council should appoint a subcommittee to work more closely with the County Administrator throughout the budget process.

Q: There are always concerns of misappropriation of tax funds. Who should be held accountable for the misuse of funds and how can this be minimized?

A: The County Administrator supervises the Departmental Funding and allocations. He/She should be overseeing the Credits and Debits and therefore he/she should also be held accountable for any misappropriations. If it is found that a specific individual is intentionally mishandling or misusing funds, that individual should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Q: What are my thoughts on budget allocation for affordable housing?

A: The County Council is not responsible for funding Affordable Housing programs; however, the County Council can review ordinances and polices to determine if they are friendly toward Affordable Housing without compromising public safety.

Q: Would I support a complete forensic audit for Greenville County?

A: Yes. In my opinion there have been too many back room deals and not enough transparency to the public. There have been allegations of money mismanagement. Without a full forensic audit, I do not trust the numbers presented.

Q: What is my position regarding the controversial protests at the abortion clinic in Greenville?

A: First you need to know that I am 100% pro-life. God has created all life and human life is sacred. I believe everyone has the Constitutional right to free speech and to express their opinion in a civil manner. When protests become violent or forceful, this is not a Constitutional right and Law Enforcement needs to step up to protect the general population.