--- title: "Florence Politics & Government News" url: https://www.hereflorence.com/politics/ date: 2026-04-15T14:04:12-04:00 modified: 2026-04-18T18:36:44-04:00 author: "" site: "HEREFlorence" attribution: "HEREFlorence" --- # Florence Politics & Government News *Source: [HEREFlorence](https://www.hereflorence.com/politics/) — April 15, 2026 by * Florence SC Politics & Government # Spartanburg Politics & Civic News Covering **Florence City Council**, **Florence County Council**, **SC General Assembly**, and your **federal representatives** in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Florence County residents. City Council County Council SC Senate SC House US Congress Elections Civic Issues POLITICS NOW HEREFlorencePolitical coverage for Florence, SC◆CITY COUNCILMeets 2nd & 4th Monday — 295 E Main St, Florence◆COUNTYFlorence County Council — 366 N Church Street◆VOTER INFORegister at scvotes.gov — Photo ID required◆FOLLOW#FlorencePolitics for live updates◆HEREFlorencePolitical coverage for Florence, SC◆CITY COUNCILMeets 2nd & 4th Monday — 295 E Main St, Florence◆COUNTYFlorence County Council — 366 N Church Street◆VOTER INFORegister at scvotes.gov — Photo ID required◆FOLLOW#FlorencePolitics for live updates◆ Spartanburg County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the Upstate. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government via **SC-4 congressional district**, the **South Carolina General Assembly** and statewide offices, **Spartanburg County Council**, **Spartanburg City Council**, and one of **seven independent school district boards** — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county, from District 1 in Campobello-Inman to District 7 in the city itself. South Carolina is the only state in the nation where the full **SC General Assembly** elects justices to the **SC Supreme Court** — not the governor — making Statehouse races consequential even to courtroom outcomes. Spartanburg County’s federal representation runs through U.S. Sen. **Tim Scott** (R), Sen. **Lindsey Graham** (R), and U.S. Rep. **William Timmons** (R), whose **SC-4 congressional district** covers most of Spartanburg and Greenville counties. At the Statehouse, three senators hold seats tied to Spartanburg County: **Shane Martin** (Dist. 13), **Josh Kimbrell** (Dist. 11), and **Scott Talley** (Dist. 12). House seats covering the county include **Travis Moore** (Dist. 33), **Bill Chumley** (Dist. 35), and **Max Hyde Jr.** (Dist. 32). At the county level, **Spartanburg County Council** chair **Manning Lynch** leads the seven-member body alongside county administrator **Cole Alverson**. **Spartanburg City Council** is led by Mayor **Jerome Rice**, sworn into his second term in January 2026. **Spartanburg County Council** controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements — the deal structure that drew BMW and scores of manufacturers to the county. Downtown zoning decisions and the **Spartanburg Police Department** budget run through **Spartanburg City Council**, which meets bi-weekly at 295 E. Main Street. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the **SC General Assembly**, which convenes January through May. The **Spartanburg County Elections and Voter Registration Office** administers local balloting under **SC Election Commission** oversight. Sheriff **Bill Rhyne** — sworn in November 2025 after a competitive special election — and Coroner **Rusty Clevenger** both hold separately elected partisan offices. Each of the seven school boards sets its own millage and hires its own superintendent. HERESpartanburg covers **Spartanburg County Council** meetings (1st and 3rd Mondays at 366 N. Church St.), **Spartanburg City Council** bi-weekly sessions, **SC General Assembly** session January through May, federal delegation votes and town halls, all seven **school board** meetings from D1 through D7, and candidate filing windows ahead of the **2026 SC primary** (June 9, with a June 23 runoff if needed and a November 3 general). We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. Governor **Henry McMaster** and Lt. Gov. **Pamela Evette** set the statewide agenda; how that agenda lands in Spartanburg County is what we track. If it shapes how Spartanburg County is governed, it’s HERE. Live Updates ## HERE! NOW! — Politics Pre-Breaking Political Briefs — As It Develops Live Political Feed HEREFlorence · Politics Category Political briefs will appear here as they are published. Check back soon. **Tip line:** See something? Send tips to **[info@herecity.com](/section-sponsorship/)** or tag us **#FlorencePolitics** Community Accountability What's Wrong HERE? Report infrastructure issues, government failures, and civic concerns ### Report a Civic Issue Anonymous. No sign-up. Your report goes to the right people. Leave this blank 1 Category Category * — What type of issue? — Infrastructure Public Safety Schools & Education Zoning & Development Parks & Recreation Budget & Taxes Housing Transportation Environment Government Services 2 Location Location * — Where is it? — City of Spartanburg Boiling Springs Duncan Chesnee Inman Landrum Woodruff Cowpens Pacolet Unincorporated Spartanburg County 3 Describe the Issue Issue Title *120 chars max 0/120 Description *500 chars max 0/500 Neighborhood / AreaOptional — e.g. "Northside" Submit Issue 100% anonymous — no name, no email, no account needed HOW IT WORKS ### Your Voice. Their Responsibility. The only local news platform where citizens can publicly surface issues to elected officials and get answers. 1 Report Your Issue Select a category, choose your location, and describe the problem. No sign-up, no email, completely anonymous. Your identity is never collected or stored. 2 We Match You to Officials Our system identifies which elected officials and government agencies have jurisdiction over your issue — from the Mayor and City Council to your State Representative and U.S. Congressman. 3 Public Accountability Your issue is published publicly with the names of officials who can help. Politicians, campaign managers, and community leaders monitor this page. When their name appears next to a problem, they pay attention. Why Use This? **It's anonymous.** No name, no email, no account. Your privacy is absolute. **It creates a public record.** Issues don't disappear into a voicemail box or email inbox. They're visible to the entire community. **Officials are watching.** Every elected official in Spartanburg County knows their name appears here when constituents report problems in their jurisdiction. **Community upvoting.** Other residents can upvote your issue, showing officials how many people care about the same problem. ### HERE Answers Civic issues submitted by the community. Answers pending from officials. Public Safety OPEN City of Spartanburg (Downtown Spartanburg) ### Streetlight out at the corner of W Main St and Daniel Morgan Ave The streetlight at the intersection of W Main St and Daniel Morgan Ave has been out for at least two weeks. The area gets very dark after sunset, especially near the crosswalk, and it’s making it harder for drivers and pedestrians to see each other safely. Please inspect and repair the light as soon as possible. WHO CAN HELP [Jerome RiceMayor, City of Spartanburg](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/149/Mayor)[Chris StoryCity Manager, City of Spartanburg](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/148/City-Manager)[Spartanburg Police DepartmentSPD](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/182/Police-Services)[William TimmonsUS Representative, SC-4](https://timmons.house.gov) PENDING ANSWER We will post answers from these officials as soon as we get them. Thanks to all our elected officials! Jerome RiceMayor, City of SpartanburgChris StoryCity Manager, City of SpartanburgSpartanburg Police DepartmentSPDWilliam TimmonsUS Representative, SC-4 DEMAND ANSWERS [Post **@HERECityNetwork** *#SpartanburgStreetlightOutCorner*](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Streetlight%20out%20at%20the%20corner%20of%20W%20Main%20St%20and%20Daniel%20Morgan%20Ave%20%23SpartanburgStreetlightOutCorner%20%40HERECityNetwork) [Email **info@herecity.com**](mailto:info@herecity.com?subject=Streetlight%20out%20at%20the%20corner%20of%20W%20Main%20St%20and%20Daniel%20Morgan%20Ave%20%E2%80%94%20Spartanburg) We *will* get the answers posted HERE! 1 week ago 0 Government_services OPEN city_of_spartanburg (City Hall - 295 E Main St) ### City Attorney Search — Who Will Replace Bob Coler? Spartanburg needs a new City Attorney after Bob Coler retired on March 27. This is one of the most important hires the city will make this year. The City Attorney advises Council on legal matters, drafts ordinances, and represents the city in court. Who is being considered? What is the timeline? Will there be a public process or will Council make this decision behind closed doors? WHO CAN HELP [Jerome RiceMayor, City of Spartanburg](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/149/Mayor)[Chris StoryCity Manager, City of Spartanburg](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/148/City-Manager)[Spartanburg City CouncilLegislative Body, City of Spartanburg](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/150/City-Council)[Erica BrownCity Council Member, District 6](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/150/City-Council) PENDING ANSWER We will post answers from these officials as soon as we get them. Thanks to all our elected officials! Jerome RiceMayor, City of SpartanburgChris StoryCity Manager, City of SpartanburgSpartanburg City CouncilLegislative Body, City of SpartanburgErica BrownCity Council Member, District 6 DEMAND ANSWERS [Post **@HERECityNetwork** *#SpartanburgCityAttorneySearch*](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=City%20Attorney%20Search%20%E2%80%94%20Who%20Will%20Replace%20Bob%20Coler%3F%20%23SpartanburgCityAttorneySearch%20%40HERECityNetwork) [Email **info@herecity.com**](mailto:info@herecity.com?subject=City%20Attorney%20Search%20%E2%80%94%20Who%20Will%20Replace%20Bob%20Coler%3F%20%E2%80%94%20Spartanburg) We *will* get the answers posted HERE! 2 weeks ago 12 Community Voice ## Florence Speaks Voice your opinion on local political issues ECONOMY 437 responses #### How are rising gas prices affecting your household in Spartanburg? Cutting back on driving and errands 34% Spending less on dining out and entertainment 27% Changed my commute or started carpooling 19% Delaying major purchases 12% No major impact on my household 8% Poll opened April 14, 2026 GOVERNMENT 312 responses #### How should Spartanburg select its next City Attorney? Open public process with community input 41% National search with qualified candidates 24% Council should decide — they were elected for this 20% Promote from within City legal staff 15% Poll opened April 15, 2026 Political Coverage ## Local & State Political News Florence, Florence County, & South Carolina Capitol [All Political News →](https://www.hereflorence.com/category/politics-2/) Political news from the Daily Ops feed appears here. Check back daily for Florence & South Carolina political reporting. Evergreen Guides Political Resource Center Civic education & voter resources for Florence County residents [🗳️ Voter Registration Guide How to register in South Carolina, key deadlines, and what to expect at the polls. Photo ID required. Register at scvotes.gov →](https://www.scvotes.gov/) [🔍 How to Evaluate Candidates Research voting records, campaign finance, debate performance, and endorsements before Election Day. Read the guide →](#) [🗺️ Find Your District Look up your SC Senate, House, and Congressional districts after the latest redistricting. Find your rep →](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php) [🏛️ How SC Government Works The structure of City, County, State, and Federal government — who does what and where decisions get made. Read the explainer →](#) [🤝 Civic Participation Guide How to attend town halls, submit public comment, contact your rep, and volunteer on local campaigns. Get involved →](#) [📖 Political Terms Glossary Plain-English definitions of quorum, ordinance, referendum, appropriations, redistricting, and more. Browse the glossary →](#) Upcoming ## Civic Calendar Political Events & Deadlines — Florence County APR 16 Election — NOW Early Voting: Central Pacolet & Inman City Council Special Elections 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM · Voter Registration & Elections Office, 366 N Church St Suite 1630 APR 20 County Council Florence County Council Regular Meeting 5:15 PM · County Council Chambers, 366 N Church St, Florence APR 27 City Council Florence City Council Meeting 5:30 PM · County Council Chambers, Florence APR 28 Election Day Central Pacolet Town Council & Inman City Council Special Elections Polls open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Verify your polling place at scvotes.gov MAY 04 Democratic Party Florence County Democratic Party Monthly Meeting First Monday · Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 502 S Daniel Morgan Ave MAY 05 School Board District 7 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting 6:00 PM · District Administration Building, 610 Dupre Dr, Florence MAY 06 Election Day Florence Metro B Water District General Election Polls open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Verify your polling place at scvotes.gov MAY 18 County Council Florence County Council Regular Meeting 5:15 PM · County Council Chambers, 366 N Church St, Florence JUN 01 Republican Party Florence County Republican Party Meeting Check scgop.com for time and location · Florence County JUN 02 School Board District 7 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting 6:00 PM · District Administration Building, 610 Dupre Dr, Florence JUN 09 State Primary South Carolina Congressional, State & Gubernatorial Primary Election Polls open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Verify your polling place at scvotes.gov JUN 15 County Council Florence County Council Regular Meeting 5:15 PM · County Council Chambers, 366 N Church St, Florence JUN 23 Primary Runoff South Carolina Primary Runoff Election (if needed) Polls open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Verify your polling place at scvotes.gov NOV 03 General Election 2026 General Election — Federal, State & Local Races Polls open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM · Verify your polling place at scvotes.gov Finance Transparency HERE's the Money Trail Campaign finance & lobbying — South Carolina Ethics Commission data 💰 Money Trail SC Ethics Commission · Campaign Finance Reports LOCAL RACES — Florence County Candidate / Office Total Raised Total Spent Balance Last Filed **Jerome Rice** Spartanburg Mayor $39,367 $37,983 -$27 Q1 2024 **Kathryn Harvey** County Council Dist. 3 $68,466 $68,241 $225 Q1 2026 STATEWIDE — 2026 Governor's Race (Q1 Filings) Candidate / Party Q1 2026 Raised Party Local Tie Source **Alan Wilson** Attorney General $1,044,000 R Statewide SC Ethics **Pamela Evette** Lt. Governor $1,025,000 R Statewide SC Ethics **Nancy Mace** US Rep, District 1 $564,000 R Lowcountry SC Ethics **Ralph Norman** US Rep, District 5 $314,000 R Includes Florence County SC Ethics **Josh Kimbrell** State Sen, Florence Not Yet Filed R Florence SC Ethics **Jermaine Johnson** State Rep, Richland $160,000 D Statewide SC Ethics **Billy Webster** Fmr. Clinton Admin $158,000 D Statewide SC Ethics Source: [SC Ethics Commission](https://ethicsfiling.sc.gov) · Public Disclosure Reports · Updated April 2026 Elected Officials ## Your Florence Reps Verified Florence County representatives — city, county, state & federal City of Florence City Jerome Rice Mayor of Florence 295 E Main St · Florence, SC City Erica Brown City Council Member District 6 · Sworn in Feb 2026 City Chris Story City Manager Florence City Hall Florence County Council County A. Manning Lynch County Council Chairman 366 N Church St · Since 2019 864-596-2000 SC State Senate — Florence County SC Senate Josh Kimbrell SC State Senator Florence County R SC Senate Shane R. Martin SC State Senator Florence County R SC Senate Roger A. Nutt SC State Senator Florence County R SC House of Representatives — Florence County SC House Rosalyn D. Henderson-Myers SC State Representative District 31 · Florence D SC House Travis A. Moore SC State Representative District 33 · Florence R SC House Rob Harris SC State Representative District 36 · Florence R SC House Sarita L. Edgerton SC State Representative Florence SC House W. Scott Montgomery IV SC State Representative Florence US Congress — SC US House William Timmons US Representative SC Congressional District 4 R US Senate Tim Scott US Senator South Carolina R US Senate Lindsey Graham US Senator South Carolina R HEREFlorence · Free Newsletter ## HERE Politics Brief Local government news, voting alerts, and civic updates — free every weekday morning for Florence County residents. Subscribe No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Delivered by HEREFlorence. Quick Access ## Quick Resources Official links for Florence County civic engagement [SC Voter Registration (scvotes.gov) →](https://www.scvotes.gov/) [Florence City Council Agendas →](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/175/City-Council) [Florence County Council →](https://www.spartanburgcounty.org/174/County-Council) [SC General Assembly →](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/) [Find Your District (SC) →](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php) [Find Your US Rep →](https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative) [SC Ethics Commission →](https://ethics.sc.gov/) [Florence County Elections Office →](https://www.spartanburgcounty.gov/261/Elections-Voter-Registration) [City of Florence Official Site →](https://www.cityofspartanburg.org/) [Rep. William Timmons · US-SC4 →](https://timmons.house.gov/) [Sen. Tim Scott · US →](https://www.scott.senate.gov/) [Sen. Lindsey Graham · US →](https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/) @HERECityNetwork Live Feed [Follow →](https://x.com/HERECityNetwork) [Posts by @HERECityNetwork](https://twitter.com/HERECityNetwork) Follow the conversation #FlorencePolitics — tag @HERECityNetwork to be heard [Submit a Tip → info@herecity.com](/section-sponsorship/) HERE Politics — SC Sister Cities [Spartanburg](/politics/) [Columbia](https://herecolumbia.com/politics/) [Greenville](https://heregreensboro.com/politics/) [Charleston](https://herecharleston.com/politics/) [Myrtle Beach](https://heremyrtlebeach.com/politics/) [Rock Hill](https://hererock-hill.com/politics/) [Sumter](https://heresumter.com/politics/) [Anderson](https://hereanderson.com/politics/) [Florence](https://hereflorence.com/politics/) [Conway](https://hereconway.com/politics/)