Election 2020: Candidate Q&A -- Sumter County Council District 1
This year's race for the Sumter County Council District 1 seat features three people: incumbent Councilman Chris Sumpter and challengers Caleb Mack Kershaw Jr. and Carlton B. Washington.
District 1 is in the west/northwest region of Sumter County. All Sumter County residents who live in District 1 can vote. To win the primary, a candidate must receive 50% of the vote plus one vote. Otherwise, there will be a runoff between the top two vote-getters on June 23.
Statewide partisan primaries will be held June 9. Gov. Henry McMaster has said he does not plan to postpone voting because of COVID-19.
Any registered voter can vote in the primaries. South Carolina does not require voters to declare a party, so voters can choose any party's primary to vote in, but you can only vote in one.
Absentee voting is open now in Sumter at the old courthouse at 141 N. Main St. between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In South Carolina, you do not have to declare a party. However, you can only vote in one party's primary, and you will be asked when you arrive what ballot you want. There are sample ballots available to look at before choosing what party you want to vote in.
Keep following The Sumter Item in print and online at www.TheItem.com/election2020 for all our coverage of local candidates.
---
Chris Sumpter
Why are you running? I am running to ensure that Sumter County continues to move forward.
Have you run for political office before? I ran for Sumter County Council District 1 in 2016 and won the election.
How long have you lived in Sumter? My entire life (28 years). I never left Borden, and I never will.
Current job/profession: Businessman, farmer
What experience do you have that makes you best fit for the seat? I have worked for the S.C. General Assembly and the Department of Natural Resources. In these positions, I learned firsthand how government works and the importance of local funding. Also, I'm currently serving my first term on Sumter County Council, so I know how to effectively govern and lead.
Along with my government experiences, I operate a small business. In operating a business, I see the logistics of taxes and how taxes impact our communities.
What challenges/concerns do you see in your district/community, and how do you intend to improve them? There have been over 20 miles of roads paved in the district since early 2016, but there are still dirt roads remaining to be paved. If the penny sales tax is passed, then the remaining dirt roads can be paved.
We need adequate recreation areas. The equipment and walking trails that our community centers have need to be updated. For this, we need to strategically budget for the necessary updates.
Currently, there are no beer and wine sales on Sunday in Sumter County. If a resident of the county wants to purchase beer or wine on a Sunday, they must go outside of the county to do so. The money that our residents are spending out of the county could be used to make various improvements within the county. There should be a referendum to allow the people of Sumter County to decide if they want to see Sunday beer and wine sales in the county.
Working with our school board to ensure that our students have access to great school programs is my priority. Attendance has also become an issue. I am committed to advocating for a review of attendance lines.
Lastly, too many people in my community have the crab in the bucket mentality. "If I can't have it, then you can't either." They'd rather attempt to tear a person down instead of trying to come together to resolve issues and differences. This type of mindset has no place in a small, close-knit community. We have to start working together.
If changes necessitate funding, how would you want to move funding around or make it possible? I don't believe we should get in the business of choosing who or what is more important. I discourage moving funding. However, we should examine where there is a waste of funding and utilize it first. Then, if there's a need to increase mills, we should entertain that subject.
What success have you seen that you want to continue/build on? Continuing to enhance infrastructure and paving dirt roads, more commercial businesses in rural areas, growth of the Sumter Farmers Market, engaging more residents in agri-therapy of community gardens, the protection of Shaw Air Force Base and maintaining our rural schools.
What is your vision for Sumter? The Tri-County Initiative has enhanced our higher education institutions, economic development and infrastructure.
Are you actively involved in the community? Board of Trustees at Greater Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter (third-generation member), Alice Drive Baptist Church CAMO Ministry, South Carolina Landowners and Forestry Association, Professional Insurance Agents of South Carolina, Young Politicians of America, South Carolina Farm Bureau board member, National Rifle Association, Young Farmer and Rancher Association, Cattlemen's Association, 4-H Alumni Association and My Carolina Alumni Association.
Why should people vote for you? I have a proven progressive track record. My voting record reflects being a champion for the indigent, not raising taxes, protecting rural schools, infrastructure, preserving natural resources and being a good steward of taxpayers' dollars. It is not enough to say what you would do in a certain situation. In every situation, I have done what was best for the people of District 1. Most importantly, I have a platform in place that makes voters aware of the plans and goals for our community.
I don't pander to one particular special interest group, race or political party. For instance, competitive pay is an issue among all county employees, not just one or two departments. If we are going to consider higher wages, we have to include all county employees, not just certain departments.
Lastly, I am available to my constituents. If they need me, they know they can call me or find me on the farm.
Anything else about yourself you want to add? I ran for office four years ago because I wanted to serve the people of Sumter County and make a difference, not because someone told me to run. I am the youngest person to ever serve on Sumter County Council. It is truly an honor and humbling experience to serve. I enjoy every second of it.
---
Caleb Kershaw Jr.
Why are you running? I have been serving District 1 over the past 20 years in several roles. I'm running for Sumter County Council so the needs of the community are not forgotten.
Have you run for political office before? In 2014, I answered the call to serve my community, quit my government job at the unemployment office and ran for Sumter County school board. In 2016, I ran for Sumter County Council, and in 2018, I ran for Sumter County school board.
I did not win these races, but I never lost faith or hope for my community. I lost by a narrow margin but grew tremendously. My passion for the community drove me to serve the community although I did not have the title or seat. The greatest lesson learned was to bring everyone together.
How long have you lived in Sumter? My entire life.
Current job/profession: I am an entrepreneur with a car dealer, towing company, creative design business where we offer custom printing and all-purpose photography.
What experience do you have that makes you best fit for the seat? I have leadership experience gained by serving in the U.S. Army. I serve in our community as a coach at Sumter County Recreation Department, where I led young athletes to several championships. I worked for the Department of Employment and Workforce for 10 years, watching closely on the economy and economic hardships in this county.
What challenges/concerns do you see in your district/community, and how do you intend to improve them? One of my first goals is to design a plan and create a project for our poor dirt roads, as well as some of our paved roads. Some of our private dirt roads in District 1 are in ridiculously poor conditions. When the road was established, three or six residents were living on the roads. Today, 20-30 taxpayers use these roads. Looking back at all of the natural disasters that this area had to overcome in recent years alone shows that we can come together for a common good.
I have a goal to create more community programs that will not just provide financial needs but also life skills through mentorship. For example, I stayed in Sumter, but many of my classmates went to school out of state and are thriving in positions in big corporations throughout the world. I have brought several of these leaders together and designed a program to have them return to Sumter to speak, mentor and offer training. My focus is on using leaders of the current and past generation to work close with our youth. By investing in the youth, we preserve our seniors' legacy and extend their dreams into the future.
If changes necessitate funding, how would you want to move funding around or make it possible? I believe change starts with you, so I will continue to provide donations. I am not alone in the community and have always received gifts from volunteers and donations as a community organizer. I will educate and encourage the people in our community to invest in the community. I have classmates committed to reinvest in the community financially and through time. Reaching back is how we move forward together. Together, we will create a fundraiser designed to meet the specific need. My goal is for the community to be involved and for them to see tangible results from their hard work and sacrifices.
What success have you seen that you want to continue/build on? I have seen our people come together to fight to keep Rafting Creek Elementary School. I have seen us pull together during the recent floods and hurricanes that ravished our community. The success I have seen is in the people themselves coming together. We should be protecting the community by investing in the community.
What is your vision for Sumter? My vision is for Sumter to be recognized for great things. I want the county to be known for always working together. I want to restructure the image of Sumter County where everyone is as proud as I am to call it home. My vision is to bridge the gap between young and old by inspiring the generation before to reach back so that we can take care of our needs together. This means that we must change the perception that we cannot all get along by coming together for more community events that will allow our gifts to be not only recognized but provide a resurgence that is the foundation for the future. For example, when I started my businesses, I had mentors that helped me along the way. This type of togetherness will create more small businesses and more opportunities for ideas to be developed and thrive in our community.
Are you actively involved in the community? Catchall Masonic Lodge #425 (junior warden), Sumter County Museum Council, Sumter Sertoma Club (vice president), Sumter Kiwanis Club, Sertoma Inc. Board of Trustees in Kansas City, Missouri. I volunteer and coach basketball. I am a community organizer, where I organize giveaways, community clean-ups and more. I am a proud member of Rafting Creek Baptist Church in Rembert, where I serve as the church photographer. I organized a community cleanup to slightly improve the conditions until there's a permanent fix. I also organized back-to-school drives and provided free haircuts and school supplies.
Why should people vote for you? We live in an area where there are a lot of hardworking people who don't complain, yet they have legitimate concerns. We can't ignore the problems we have in our community. They need to be at least recognized and then resolved. Our people deserve a leader who knows the hardships of daily life and someone with the same value as them. Someone who will work hard to fight for their cause because I am someone who has fought to make it to the position I am in today to help.
I want my hard work to speak for itself and also be an example or rather inspiration for the city to work hard. I want to encourage the hardworkers of our community to know their value and use not just their vote but their voice to improve our community.
A lot of voters in my area didn't even know we had a county council, so I want to educate them on what this position does not just with words but with a strong work ethic that will make a difference. I want them to see where their money is going by providing them with not just a name to vote for but a person who has helped them in some capacity before being elected. That way they know they can trust that their vote will make a difference.
Anything else about yourself you want to add? I served seven years for the military. I know the laws, I know that they should be enforced and that's helping to enforce them. I have overcome adversity and am a testimony for how God can redeem anyone with a second chance. I am a graduate of Crestwood High School, Saint Leo University and Webster University.
---
Carlton B. Washington
Why are you running? In early October, I received a call from several Sumter County Council District 1 community leaders urging me to seek the office for District 1.
Have you run for political office before? No
How long have you lived in Sumter? I was born and raised in Sumter County. I have lived in Rembert for more than 30 years.
Current job/profession: CEO for the South Carolina State Employees Association
What experience do you have that makes you best fit for the seat? I have worked in public affairs for more than 30 years. Organizing and managing community, public and private entities has given me a broad base of experience in building consensus and support for projects and agendas that reflect the common good of all stakeholders.
What challenges/concerns do you see in your district/community, and how do you intend to improve them? The lack of core essential services throughout the county, particularly in rural areas, such as: competitive pay for the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center; Veterans Affairs - for example, the denial of one full-time employee (FTE) request ($40,000) resulted in at least 3,000 veterans unable to receive service; ensure that the Sumter School District is appropriated the millage it is entitled to by law. This will prevent the unnecessary closure of rural schools; road maintenance and litter prevention; and economic development opportunities and land use protection for rural communities
If changes necessitate funding, how would you want to move funding around or make it possible? Some agencies already generate revenue that can be red-lined for agency or department use. For example, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office generates over $1 million per year through its management of a Federal Inmate Housing Program. Sumter County Council increased the Road User Fee last year 100% - from $15 to $30 on every registered vehicle in Sumter County - which should provide the necessary funding to carry out its mission.
What success have you seen that you want to continue/build on? The establishment of I-CAR, a community coalition organized to advocate on behalf of issues impacting rural communities. In 2018, the community organization successfully prevented the closure of Rafting Creek Elementary School.
What is your vision for Sumter? A bustling economy and thriving schools.
Are you actively involved in the community? How so? Sumter County Sheriff's Office Community Advisory Board, 2020 State Democratic Party Convention Delegate, Sumter Branch NAACP (Executive Committee), National Council of Negro Women, Alzheimer's Association, ALS Association, American Legion, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Society of Association Executives, I-CAR (chairman) and Dennis Farms Development Initiative (chairman).
Why should people vote for you? We should elect representatives that are savvy and willing to fully put on the cape of the community and truly represent their interests.
Anything else about yourself you want to add? My campaign, Take Our Vote Back, is a grassroots effort to ensure the voices of Sumter County Council District 1 are heard by the leaders in our community. Please follow us on Facebook or visit our website at www.takeourvoteback.us. Voters can also join our email list, takeourvoteback@gmail.com.