It’s primary election day 2024! Voters have the responsibility of getting to the polls if they haven’t already, but there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes for election officials, candidates, and campaign volunteers. This episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look from pre-dawn to finalizing election results. On this episode we talk with John Michael Catalano, outreach and special projects coordinator with the South Carolina Elections Commission, and Derrick Lewis, who has concluded hi...
Jun 11, 2024•24 min
Meet Dale Arterburn and Mike Ellis, candidates for Greenville County Coroner. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Dale Arterburn: https://www.daleforcoroner.com/ Mike Ellis: https://mikeelliscoroner.com/ Coroners Office: https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Coroner/ Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a ...
May 30, 2024•23 min
Meet Brice Garrett and Jay Gresham, candidates for Greenville County Clerk of Court. Also meet Mike Fortner and Hobart Lewis, candidates for Greenville County Sheriff. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Clerk of Court Links: Brice Garrett: https://brice-garrett.com/ Jay Gresham: https://www.votejaygresham.com/ Sheriff Links: Mike Fortner: https://www.votemikefortner.c...
May 30, 2024•36 min
Meet Michelle Goodwin-Calwile, candidate for South Carolina Senate District 7, which generally represents Pleasant Valley, Belle Meade, West Greenville, Downtown Greenville, Nicholtown, and some of Sans Souci. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. This race also features candidate Karl Allen, but he did not respond to our many invitations to participate. Links: Michelle ...
May 29, 2024•13 min
Meet Jason Elliott, candidate for South Carolina Senate District 6. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. This race also features candidates Ben Carper and Dan Nickles, but they did not respond to our many invitations to participate. Links: Jason Elliott: https://www.votejasonelliott.com/ Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Green...
May 28, 2024•13 min
Meet Troy Prosser, Daniel Rumfelt, and Kerri Smith, candidates for South Carolina House of Representatives District 28. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. This race also features candidates Chris Huff and Allen Kellett, but they did not respond to our many invitations to participate. Links: Troy Prosser: https://troy4schouse.com/ Daniel Rumfelt: https://danielrumfeltf...
May 23, 2024•30 min
Meet Wendell Jones, candidate for South Carolina House of Representatives District 25. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. This race also features candidate Bruce Wilson, but he did not respond to our many invitations to participate. Links: Wendell Jones: https://www.wendellkjones.com/ Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenv...
May 22, 2024•13 min
Meet Paul Wickensimer, candidate for South Carolina House of Representatives District 22. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. This race also features candidate Stan Tzouvelekas, but he did not respond to our many invitations to participate. Links: Paul Wickensimer: https://www.paulforhouse.com/ Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civic...
May 21, 2024•11 min
Meet Sarah Curran and Stephen Frank, candidates for South Carolina House of Representatives District 20, generally representing the Taylors area. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Sarah Curran: https://www.votesarahcurran.com/ Stephen Frank: https://www.facebook.com/votestephenfrank/ Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics:...
May 16, 2024•18 min
Meet Patrick Haddon and Nate Marcionette, candidates for South Carolina House of Representatives District 19, generally representing Berea and Western Greenville County. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Patrick Haddon: https://www.facebook.com/HaddonforHouse/ Nate Marcionette: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557948426258 Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.g...
May 15, 2024•18 min
Meet Tramaine Booker and Alan Morgan, candidates for South Carolina House of Representatives District 18, generally representing northeastern Greenville County, including Greer. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Tramaine Booker: https://bookerforschouse.com/ Alan Morgan: https://morganforsc.com/ Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Si...
May 14, 2024•22 min
Meet Tom Bates and Mike Burns, candidates for South Carolina House of Representatives District 17, generally representing northern Greenville County. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Tom Bates: https://www.batesforhouse.com Mike Burns: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0257954515 Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple...
May 09, 2024•18 min
Meet Garey Collins and Butch Kirven, candidates for Greenville County Council District 27, generally representing the Simpsonville area. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Garey Collins: www.collinsfor27.com Butch Kirven: www.butchkirven.com Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater G...
May 08, 2024•20 min
Meet Ennis Fant, Derrick Quarles, and Lisa Sweeney, candidates for Greenville County Council District 25, generally representing the Augusta Road areas of Pleasant Valley and Belle Meade. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Patrick Prince has also filed to run, but he did not respond to numerous requests to participate in the podcast. Links: Ennis Fant: https://www.fan...
May 07, 2024•27 min
Meet Frank Farmer, Ethan Jedziniak, Jay Rogers, and Nia Thomas, candidates for Greenville County Council District 22, generally representing North Main, Wade Hampton in and near the city of Greenville, the north side of I-385, and Pelham Road out to Boiling Springs Road. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Frank Farmer: https://frankforgreenville.com/ Ethan Jedz...
May 07, 2024•31 min
Meet Chris Harrison and Curt McGahhey, candidates for Greenville County Council District 21, generally representing the east side, including the Parkway, Batesville Road, Garlington, and Roper Mountain Road. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Chris Harrison: https://harrisonforcouncil.org/ Curt McGahhey: https://www.mcgahheyforcouncil.com/ Sample Ballot: www.sc...
Apr 30, 2024•22 min
Meet Ken Matesevac and Alex Reynolds, candidates for Greenville County Council District 20, generally representing the Taylors area and some of Travelers Rest. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Also running is incumbent Steve Shaw, but after scheduling for an interview twice and missing the first and canceling the second, Mr. Shaw declined to participate. Links: Ken ...
Apr 23, 2024•18 min
Meet Mike Barnes and Kelly Long, candidates for Greenville County Council District 18, generally representing the Greer area. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors. Links: Mike Barnes: https://www.facebook.com/VoteMikeBarnes/ Kelly Long: https://votekellylong.com/ Sample Ballot: www.scvotes.gov _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project ...
Apr 16, 2024•20 min
Have you ever wondered about the special purpose districts that operate behind the scenes in South Carolina? In this episode, we sit down with C.D. Rhodes to shine a light on these little-known but vitally important entities. From fire protection to water and sewer services, special purpose districts play a crucial role in our communities - but their origins and operations remain a mystery to most. Join us as we explore the history and complex challenges facing these districts today, and discove...
Apr 09, 2024•25 min
37 candidates have filed to run in June 11th primary races touching Greenville County, SC for offices like County Council to Sheriff to state House, Senate, and Congress. Almost HALF of them will have no competition in November, meaning your primary votes are tremendously important. But in 2022, only 14% of voters turned out in the primary. This episode runs through some of the details around our statewide primary, how it works, and who's on the ballot. Links: Register to vote and check your reg...
Apr 02, 2024•16 min
Are you curious to learn how South Carolina's counties evolved into the local governments we know today? In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the groundbreaking Home Rule Act with special guest C.D. Rhodes, a partner at Pope Flynn and a leading authority on local government powers. Discover how the events of 1973 and 1975 drastically reshaped the political landscape, shifting power from state senators to local citizens, and learn why understanding Home Rule is crucial for engaged communi...
Mar 26, 2024•19 min
Ever wondered how cities grow? In this episode, we explore annexation in South Carolina with Scott Slatton, an expert from the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Scott breaks down the process, benefits, and challenges of annexation, sharing insights about donut holes, land use, and the tug-of-war between rural and urban interests. Join us for an engaging look at the little-understood but crucial topic of how cities expand! Links: Municipal Association of South Carolina _ Produced by Podcas...
Mar 19, 2024•21 min
How are nonprofits dealing with growth in Greenville? In this episode, we sit down Tobin Simpson of Project Host and Catriona Carlisle of Meals on Wheels to learn how these leaders are rising to the occasion with creativity and collaboration. Discover the secrets behind their innovative approaches to fighting hunger, from serving up hot meals and social connections to empowering unemployed individuals with culinary training and how you can get involved. Links: Meals on Wheels Greenville Project ...
Mar 12, 2024•26 min
Partnerships between schools and industry are the best way to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow, and thanks to partners like Fluor, Greenville County Schools is offering cutting edge opportunities to students from preschool through graduation. Today, we talk with Katie Porter, Greenville County Schools CTE Innovation Center Director, Thomas Riddle, Assistant Director of the Roper Mountain Science Center, and Torrence Robinson, Senior Corporate Philanthropy and Foundation Executive at ...
Mar 05, 2024•32 min
Today we explore the making of Greenville's "Seen, Heard, and Valued" mural, a nearly 50-foot-tall artwork celebrating stories of hope from those who have experienced homelessness. We hear from the artist, Nick Burns ("Ninja Picasso"), Triune Mercy Center Facilities Manager Don Austin, and Triune Mercy Center Pastor Jennifer Fouse Sheorn about the mural's message and its role in sparking conversations about compassion and action. They are interviewed by Susan McLarty, Executive Director of Green...
Feb 27, 2024•24 min
Put more money in your pocket this tax season, and help your neighbors file their taxes for free! Today we're talking with Cody Carver, Director of Community Initiatives and Investments at United Way of Greenville County, about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and how it offers free tax preparation help to those who qualify. Find out if you're eligible, what documents you'll need, and how to schedule your appointment. We'll also hear from Cody about the tremendous difference VI...
Feb 20, 2024•16 min
The Reedy River plays a vital role in Greenville County's history and its ongoing development. Join us as we speak with Scott Butler, President of the Board of Friends of the Reedy River, to explore the river's geography, its role in economic growth, and the ongoing efforts to protect its health. We'll discuss the importance of environmental policy and how you can take action to help preserve this beautiful natural resource. Links: Friends of the Reedy River website Don Koonce episode on textile...
Feb 13, 2024•18 min
Today we hear from local officials about the realities of public service, revealing the demanding nature of their so-called part-time roles. Councilman Benton Blount, Councilman Karuiam Booker, and Trustee Anne Pressley share insights into the learning curve, community impact, and the importance of engagement in governance. Through their stories, we gain a deeper appreciation for the dedication required to make a tangible difference in the lives of constituents. Listen as they reflect on the cha...
Feb 06, 2024•25 min
Today we talk with Jason Zacher on the Greenville Chamber's role in policy and advocacy in Columbia. We discuss the significance of community involvement in policy-making and the importance of personal advocacy in informing legislative decisions and how small businesses are often on the front lines of understanding pain points for residents and the business community at large. Links: Greenville Chamber Legislative Agenda Jason Zacher on the intersection of business and nonprofit interests Jason ...
Jan 30, 2024•25 min
Today we interview three Greenville County student body presidents, exploring their perspectives on school pride, leadership, and community impact. These leaders from Greenville Senior High Academy, Carolina High, and Eastside High School share insights on their diverse schools, mental health, and community engagement in shaping a student's journey. Discover how these students are not just future leaders, but influential voices in today's educational landscape. Links: Launch Greenville Internshi...
Jan 23, 2024•29 min
