2026 Spartanburg County Council District 5 Election

*CANDIDATES' VIEWS IN THE Q&AS LINKED BELOW DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF ONESPARTANBURG, INC. CANDIDATE RESPONSES ARE THE CANDIDATES' OWN WORDS, HAVING COME FROM EMAILED RESPONSES.*

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

BRENT COBB

Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577458847287

The Office You're Seeking: Spartanburg County Council - District 5

Tell us about yourself, your involvement in our community, and what you are for.

My name is Brent D. Cobb, and my life has been defined by service—to my country, to veterans, and to the community I’m proud to call home. I began my military journey in 1994, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps while still in high school. I later continued my service with the South Carolina Army National Guard. Returning to active duty after September 11, 2001, I served in a range of operational and leadership roles. I retired in 2020 as a Master Sergeant, concluding my career as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer and ROTC Instructor at Furman University. After the military, I continued serving as Deputy Director of the Greenville County Veterans’ Affairs Office, working to improve support for veterans across South Carolina. Today, I serve as Director of Veterans Services in Spartanburg, where I remain committed to ensuring veterans receive the care and respect they’ve earned. I’m also active in the community—serving as President of the SFC Charles A. Judge Memorial Stand Down, supporting the U.S. Military Academy application process, and working with Warriors Once Again to help homeless veterans. I proudly support Palmetto Boys State by sponsoring a participant each year due to the influence it had on me in 1994. I’ve been honored with awards including the Order of the Palmetto and the Order of the Silver Crescent, along with several military awards from both the United States and allied nations, but my greatest reward has always been the opportunity to serve. My wife, Jessica, and I live in Lyman, South Carolina, where we are active in our church. Our family inspires my continued commitment to making Spartanburg County a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

South Carolina’s Constitution sets a 10.5% property tax assessment on manufacturing property—well above the 4%–6% typical in competing Southeastern states. As a result, when companies meet qualifying investment and job criteria, tools like Fee in Lieu of Tax (FILOT) agreements are used to remain competitive and attract jobs and investment. FILOTs have been essential to attracting and retaining companies that have produced most of our community’s jobs. Do you support the use of FILOT agreements to offset this structural disadvantage? If yes, what specific criteria would you require to approve a FILOT? If not, what tools would you use to compete with lower-cost states and win jobs for the people of Spartanburg County?

Yes — I support the responsible use of Fee in Lieu of Tax (FILOT) agreements because they are a necessary tool to keep Spartanburg County competitive and continue bringing good-paying jobs to our community. Simply: South Carolina’s higher manufacturing assessment rate puts us at a disadvantage compared to neighboring states. If we don’t use tools like FILOT, we risk losing opportunities to places that are more aggressive and better positioned to attract industry. These agreements have played a major role in the growth and success we’ve seen across Spartanburg County, and we cannot afford to fall behind. That said, support for FILOT must come with strong accountability and clear expectations. I would require several key criteria before approving any agreement:
- * Proven Job Creation: The company must commit to creating a meaningful number of jobs with wages that meet or exceed the county average.
- * Significant Capital Investment: There should be a substantial financial investment that strengthens our local economy and tax base long-term. * Claw-back Provisions: If a company fails to meet its commitments, there must be enforceable provisions to protect taxpayers.
- * Infrastructure Readiness: Projects should align with our infrastructure capacity or include plans to support necessary improvements without burdening residents.
- * Community Impact: We must evaluate how the project affects traffic, schools, housing, and overall quality of life—not just the economic upside.
- * Transparency: Residents deserve to know what’s being offered and what the community is receiving in return. I believe in growth—but it has to be smart, balanced, and sustainable. FILOT agreements should not be giveaways; they should be strategic partnerships that deliver real value to the people of Spartanburg County. If we stay focused on accountability and long-term impact, we can continue to attract strong employers while protecting the interests of our citizens.

Spartanburg County voters approved a six-year, 1% penny sales tax in 2017 to replace outdated and inefficient facilities. Voters continued the measure another six years in 2023 to fund 577 road projects. Both measures delivered major projects with no debt, no interest, no property tax increases, and over 30% of revenue was and will be derived from visitors. Together, these measures reflect strong voter support for investing in growth infrastructure—differentiating Spartanburg from neighboring counties who have been unable to pass similar initiatives. Did you support the 2017 and 2023 referendums? If yes, why? If not, what specific alternative funding mechanism would you have used to deliver the same scale of projects without raising property taxes or taking on debt—and would it generate comparable visitor-funded revenue?

Yes, I supported both the 2017 and 2023 referendums—and I continue to support this approach. These initiatives are a smart, responsible way to invest in Spartanburg County’s future while protecting our residents. By using a penny sales tax instead of raising property taxes or taking on debt, we’ve been able to deliver critical infrastructure improvements without placing the full burden on the people who live here. What makes this especially effective is that more than 30% of the revenue comes from visitors—those who commute into our county for work, shop in our stores, dine in our restaurants, and use our roads every day. That means the cost is shared more fairly by everyone who benefits from Spartanburg County, not just our homeowners and families. This is exactly the kind of balanced, forward-thinking approach we need as our county continues to grow. We’re investing in safer roads, better infrastructure, and a stronger future—while keeping Spartanburg an affordable place to live. That’s a win for our community.

Given rising costs across the board, current residents and newcomers are finding it more difficult to afford housing. People want to live close to their place of employment, and companies want to locate in areas where housing is financially obtainable for their employees. What steps would you take to ensure housing is obtainable for current residents and newcomers?

Affordable housing means more than just lower prices—it means ensuring that individuals and families can live in safe, quality homes without spending an overwhelming portion of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. It’s about stability, opportunity, and keeping families rooted in the community, here at home. In Spartanburg County, this issue hits close to home. We want our children to have the opportunity to grow up here, build careers here, and afford to live here—not be forced to move away because housing costs have outpaced wages. At the same time, we cannot ignore the pressures of rapid growth and development. Growth brings opportunity, but without proper planning, it can drive up housing costs, strain infrastructure, and change the character of our communities. To address this, I support a balanced approach:
- Encouraging responsible development that includes a mix of housing options at different price points
  - Partnering with developers to prioritize workforce housing near job centers
  - Ensuring infrastructure and planning decisions keep pace with growth
  - Protecting existing communities while expanding opportunities for new residents We must be intentional. Growth should benefit everyone—not just a few. By planning smartly and acting responsibly, we can make sure Spartanburg County remains a place where families can afford to live, work, and build their future for generations to come.

Limiting economic development moves more of the tax burden to residents while also reducing job opportunities and the potential for higher wages. At the same time, economic growth must be managed with a focus on quality over quantity – a strategy that has seen some success with recent life science announcements, small business growth, and record per capita income. Would you work to continue high-quality job creation over low-impact growth? If not, how would you prevent increased tax burdens and declining opportunity for residents?

Absolutely—I strongly support prioritizing high-quality job creation over low-impact growth. Economic development should never be about growth for growth’s sake. It should be about creating opportunities that raise wages, strengthen families, and build long-term stability for our community. When we focus on attracting and supporting industries like life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades, we’re not just adding jobs—we’re adding careers that allow people to live, work, and thrive right here in Spartanburg County. At the same time, I recognize the concern about shifting the tax burden onto residents. The way to prevent that isn’t by slowing down growth—it’s by growing smarter. That means:
- * Targeting industries that bring strong wages and long-term investment
- * Supporting small businesses that reinvest in our local economy
- * Ensuring new development contributes to infrastructure and community needs We can absolutely strike the right balance. By focusing on quality over quantity, we protect our community’s character while still creating opportunity and keeping taxes manageable. The goal is simple: growth that works for the people who already call this place home—while creating a future our children can afford to be part of.

OneSpartanburg Vision Plan 2.0 data indicated small business growth and creation below the national average. One goal of the Spartanburg County Vision Plan is to “strengthen the small and local business impact on the economy.” In 2023, the County and OneSpartanburg, Inc. partnered to create Power Up Spartanburg – a new initiative designed to make Spartanburg the best place in America to start or grow a small business. Since inception, the initiative has engaged 2,672 small businesses leading to measurable small business growth across the county. Would you support the continuation of Power Up Spartanburg? If so, why? If not, what specific plan would you implement to strengthen and grow small businesses across Spartanburg County?

Yes, I strongly support the continuation of Power Up Spartanburg. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy—they create jobs, keep dollars circulating in our community, and give Spartanburg its unique character. The fact that Power Up Spartanburg has already engaged thousands of small businesses shows that we’re moving in the right direction and building real momentum. That said, this isn’t something we can simply maintain—we need to build on it. I would support expanding access to resources like mentorship, workforce development, and capital so that entrepreneurs not only start businesses here, but succeed long-term. We should also make it easier to navigate permitting and reduce unnecessary barriers that can slow growth. As someone who believes in smart, sustainable growth, I see small business development as a key part of strengthening our local economy while preserving what makes Spartanburg special. By continuing to invest in initiatives like Power Up Spartanburg and listening directly to our business owners, we can create an environment where small businesses thrive, families prosper, and opportunities continue to grow right here at home.

With the loss of public tournaments at the Upward Sports facility and its $15M annual impact, would you support investing in a new sports tourism facility (that would be available for residents’ use) if most of the funding is generated by visitors? If not, what is your alternative plan to replace this economic impact?

Yes—if the majority of funding comes from investors and visitors, I would support developing a new sports tourism facility. Our residents should not be asked to carry the financial burden of replacing a $15 million economic impact loss. Instead, we need a smart, creative approach that brings in outside dollars while still delivering value to the people who live here. That means structuring this project through public-private partnerships, leveraging hospitality and tourism taxes, and attracting regional and national tournament organizers who will drive visitor spending. At the same time, the facility should remain accessible for local families, schools, and community leagues—ensuring our residents benefit directly without footing the bill. If we’re going to replace that economic impact, we should do it in a way that grows our economy, supports local businesses, and protects taxpayers. That’s the kind of responsible, forward-thinking leadership our community deserves.

BETTY MONTGOMERY

Website: www.BettyMontgomery.com

The Office You're Seeking: Spartanburg County Council District 5

Tell us about yourself, your involvement in our community, and what you are for.

I have lived in Spartanburg County for over 50 years and know the county well. Walter and I raised our 4 wonderful children on a working cattle farm in Campobello and I now have 14 grandchildren that live in the area love to come visit the farm. I have a small warehousing business along with other interest in Spartanburg County. I have served on 4 college boards at different times, USC-Upstate, Converse, Wofford and presently Spartanburg Methodist. I have been on numerous boards in Spartanburg : Spartanburg Regional Hospital, The Spartanburg County Foundation, Red Cross, and many other organizations. I am have been involved in politics over the years on the sidelines and worked for Ross Perot for 4 years and lobbied against NAFTA, which fought having unlimited imports from other countries like India and China. I got involved with his campaign because he was the only one that talked about keeping manufacturing jobs in the USA. Spartanburg County’s rural communities deserve growth that strengthens our way of life, not projects that strain our land, water, roads, and power grid without clear benefits for the people who live here. I support economic development, good jobs, and new investment. However, it has to be the right kind of development, in the right place, with full transparency and community input from the beginning.

FILOT has served Spartanburg County in the past. WE would not have BMW, Michelin, Dr. Pepper, Milo Tea, etc. if they had not had some incentive to locate here. We have to come up with a way to actively monitor FILOT to make sure that companies do what they say they will do and if not, we need to take away FILOT. We have to fix the system.

We needed to upgrade our roads and it was a fare way to spread the burden of the penny sales tax to people outside our county that use our roads.

When I am elected to County Council I will study this issue in greater detail. There is a lot of moving parts that are involved in this issue and I need to understand a lot more before I make a statement. I will promise to study this issue and do what is best for my district.

I support economic development, good jobs, and new investment. However, it has to be the right kind of development, in the right place, with full transparency and community input from the beginning. I realize we would not be able to have all the infrastructure we need with the property tax rate we pay on property if we did not have businesses paying the taxes to go along with what we pay. I am against raising property taxes.

New businesses come and then others close so we have to have new businesses starting up. I am for new job creation and will work hard to have the right businesses come to Spartanburg County.

We need responsible planning, infrastructure first so that our residents have the infrastructure they need: police, firemen, schools, roads, etc. I would have to study this issue more to learn more about our housing needs. I have written for the newspaper for about 20 years and I always study what I am writing about. When elected to County Council I will do my homework to learn about issues so that I can make a good informed decision that is right for the people of my district.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

GARRETT GIBSON

*Not on ballots until November's General Election

Website: WWW.garrettgibsonforSC.com

The Office You're Seeking: County Council District 5

Tell us about yourself, your involvement in our community, and what you are for.

I’m a public school teacher, small business owner, and father who’s committed to serving Spartanburg. Through my work in education and the arts, I’ve seen the challenges people face along with the strength of this community. That’s what finally pushed me to step up. I’m for working families. Strong schools, reliable infrastructure, affordable housing, and transparent leadership that puts people ahead of special interests. I believe Spartanburg can and should be a place where if you work hard, you can build a stable life.

I support bringing good jobs to Spartanburg, but not blank checks for corporations. FILOT agreements should only be used when they deliver living-wage jobs, local hiring, transparency, and accountability when companies don’t follow through. I won’t support any deal that shifts the tax burden onto working families.

Yes, I supported them, because investing in infrastructure matters. That being said, sales taxes hit working families the hardest. Going forward, corporations should pay their fair share, and investments should prioritize residents.

Housing shouldn’t be treated like a commodity for out-of-state investors. I would focus on limiting large-scale corporate home-buying, giving first-time buyers a fair shot, and discouraging properties from being held vacant. At the same time, we need to build more affordable housing and make sure public incentives actually benefit residents.

Yes, I support high-quality job growth, as long as it means more than just numbers. I’m more concerned with jobs that pay well, hire locally, and contribute fairly. If “growth” comes at the cost of low wages and strained infrastructure, I can’t support that.

I support small businesses, because they’re the backbone of our economy. But we need to focus on helping them actually succeed, which means access to funding, real support, and keeping local dollars local so that we don’t watch the same building turn over multiple businesses in just a few years.

I’m open to it if it truly benefits Spartanburg residents. But that means clear returns, no hidden costs, fair-paying jobs, and guaranteed community access. We shouldn’t be relying on these big projects alone, though. Supporting local businesses and events matters just as much. If we invest, it should be because it works for working people, not just because it looks like growth.




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2026 Spartanburg County Council District 5 Election

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

BRENT COBB

BETTY MONTGOMERY

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

GARRETT GIBSON

What Our Members are Saying