2026 Spartanburg County Council District 6 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

JESSICA COKER (i)

Website: www.cokerforcouncil.com

The Office You're Seeking: Spartanburg County Council District 6

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

I am a lifelong Spartanburg County resident, a wife, a mother of four, a CPA, and a small business owner in downtown Spartanburg. Alongside my mother, I help individuals and small businesses navigate tax planning, financial challenges, and growth opportunities every day. That experience gives me a firsthand understanding of the pressures taxpayers, families, and employers face. For the past six years, I have proudly served as the Spartanburg County Council representative for District 6, where I have worked to improve infrastructure, strengthen public services, support economic growth, and enhance quality of life across our county. I believe in responsible government, strategic growth, low taxes, strong public safety, and protecting what makes Spartanburg special while preparing for the future. In addition to my public service, I also serve as Treasurer for the board of a local private Christian school attended by two of my children.

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?

I have consistently supported responsible FILOT agreements throughout my six years on County Council because they are one of the most important tools South Carolina counties have to remain competitive for jobs and investment. However, not every project deserves incentives. I support a strategic, selective approach focused on companies that: 1. provide strong wages and career opportunities, 2. invest in workforce development, 3. support local businesses and community initiatives, 4. operate responsibly as good community partners, and 5. contribute positively to Spartanburg’s long-term future. I do not support incentives for projects that would overwhelm our infrastructure, negatively impact public safety or quality of life, or involve companies connected to foreign adversaries or industries that pose risks to our community. Economic development should improve Spartanburg — not simply increase its size.

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?

I strongly supported both the 2017 and 2023 referendums and proudly voted in favor of them both times. These initiatives allowed Spartanburg County to invest in critical infrastructure and road improvements without raising property taxes, without taking on debt, and without passing costs on to future generations through interest payments. Just as importantly, more than 30% of the revenue comes from visitors rather than local residents, making it one of the fairest and most fiscally responsible ways to fund major projects. I also appreciated that voters maintained direct control over the process by approving clearly defined project lists. Spartanburg County has demonstrated that we can invest in our future while remaining financially responsible.

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?

Keeping housing attainable starts with smart growth policies and efficient government. When unnecessary delays, excessive regulations, and unpredictable processes drive up costs for builders, those costs are ultimately passed on to families trying to buy or rent a home. I support streamlining permitting and development processes while still protecting public safety and infrastructure standards. At the same time, we must protect the character of our rural communities by encouraging stronger and more strategic urban development where infrastructure already exists. I also support expanding a variety of housing options so young professionals, families, retirees, and workforce employees can all find housing that fits their needs and budget. A growing economy depends on ensuring people can afford to live near where they work.

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?

I strongly support a “quality over quantity” approach to economic development. As a founding member of the Power Up initiative, I have worked to expand opportunities not only for major industry but also for the small businesses and entrepreneurs that are the backbone of our local economy. Diversification is critical. A healthy economy should include advanced manufacturing, life sciences, healthcare, logistics, technology, and locally owned small businesses so Spartanburg is not overly dependent on any one industry during economic downturns. Strategic economic development helps keep taxes lower for residents, creates better-paying jobs, and strengthens long-term financial stability for our county.

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?

Absolutely. As a founding member of Power Up Spartanburg, I have seen firsthand the positive impact this initiative is having on entrepreneurs and small businesses across our county. Small businesses create local jobs, revitalize communities, and keep investment rooted here in Spartanburg. Power Up provides valuable mentorship, networking opportunities, education, and resources that help entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain successful businesses. I believe we should continue expanding this initiative and building an environment where small businesses can thrive through lower barriers, strong partnerships, workforce development, and access to opportunity. My goal is to make Spartanburg County one of the best places in America to start and grow a business.

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, I would support investing in a new sports tourism facility if the majority of funding is generated by visitors rather than local taxpayers. Sports tourism has proven to be a major economic driver for communities across the Southeast, generating hotel stays, restaurant traffic, retail spending, and additional business activity that benefits local residents and businesses alike. Spartanburg already has an outstanding reputation for athletics and sports programming, and I believe we should build on that momentum to create a destination-level facility that serves both visitors and residents. If done responsibly, this type of investment can strengthen our economy, enhance quality of life, and create amenities local families can enjoy for years to come.

JOHN MOORE, JR.

Website: n/a

The Office You're Seeking: County Council District 6

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

I have in lived in Spartanburg for 41 years. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Caterrace Moore. We have two girls, ages 13 and 10. We have lived on the Westside of Spartanburg in the same home for 17 yrs. I grew up in downtown Spartanburg on the Southside in the home with my grandparents. Growing up on the Southside with my grandparents taught me a lot of principles, life lessons, critical decision making and discernment. My grandfather raised us to put GOD first, family second, and the rest will follow. I graduated from Spartanburg High School and graduated from Spartanburg Community College with a 3.5 GPA. I worked at the local hospitals for 15 years as a Surgical Technician and ending my career as a Neuro Surgical Sales Representative. In 2021 I suffered a stroke. Three weeks later, I returned to work for about a year and then realized life can be short and I should do what I love and allow me to spend more time with my family. So, with a few rentals for stable income, I started my career in real estate which I love and understand. I currently serve on Spartanburg Association of Realtors (SAR) Community Service Committee. I was President of the Community Service Committee this past year. I am also a member of SAR’s Government Affairs Committee. I volunteer regularly at Spartanburg’s Soup Kitchen. I am a member of Spartanburg’s Board of Zoning Appeals. After witnessing the community going unheard and their true feelings and thoughts not being conveyed, I decided to run for County Council District 6 to be the voice of the people for the people. I understand that I am not there to voice my thoughts or opinions but yours and that’s what I will do.

Yes I support FILOTS, but we must have strict guidelines. For example, number of jobs created for the community, impact studies on schools, infrastructure studies, traffic studies, publish tax incentives, community meetings, full disclosure of any developer relationships, campaign contribution, etc and a claw back clause if certain things aren’t met. TRANSPARENCY TRANSPARENCY TRANSPARENCY

Yes, I support the 2017 and 2023 referendums. Spartanburg has to continue to have transparency, paper trails, public input, and keep the voters informed.

This is great question for me being a real estate agent. My answer would be supply and demand. We must make sure we have adequate numbers of houses to meet the demand. The projects/plan has to have a percentage of their plan for low-income families. Infrastructure per planning is a must; not an option. Roads, schools, utilities, and PUBLIC SAFETY is a definite and must be supported $. We must foresee reasonable growth. TRANSPARENCY TRANSPARENCY TRANSPARENCY

Yes of course,. Again we must have reasonable foresighted transparent growth without overburdening our taxpayers.

I will answer this question from firsthand experience. My wife and I are in the middle of opening a senior hub in Spartanburg city,. This will be the only private senior center in the city of Spartanburg. We couldn’t wait to work with Power UP Spartanburg for assistance, direction, partnership etc. We were met with the opposite at Power Up Spartanburg. Power Up Spartanburg charged us more of our personal money than we received, which was unfair and we would not accept it. After a few emails, Alan Smith and John Kimbrell met with my wife and her business partner and all of the personal money was returned. Thanks Alan and John, but it was not a smooth transaction, nor an organized process and we ended with no further assistance at this moment. Thankfully the only thing we lost was time and a few connections within Power Up. If Power Up/OneSpartanburg worked accordingly, then yes, I would support it. Since it doesn’t, I would like to implement working with strong, successful, well known, proven local entrepreneurs and complete transparency along the way.

Yes this is something our community definitely needs. Personally, my kids were able to participate in many sports and I was able to coach multiple sports as well at Upward Sport Facility. It also raised tax capital from visitors while visiting our great city and this is always great.

ALEX TURNER

Website: www.electalexturner.com

The Office You're Seeking: County Council District 6

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

I am a husband and father to a seven year old boy and nine year old girl. I have a BS from Clemson University with a minor in business. I am a Tradesman who works for myself and right now I am growing a honeybee business. I have been a volunteer fire fighter since 2012 and I currently am the treasurer of the 1% committee. I am a deacon and volunteer in my church where we have been members since 2008. I am for life, liberty, freedom, and less government. I want to see our infrastructure repaired and an audit of county funds.

FILOTs need to be reevaluated because most give tax discounts beyond the 4 or 6% advertised deep in the paperwork. For example, in the selective source revenue credit section for project, Pinto credited the 44.5 million down to 1.7 million tax revenue. This is not beneficial nor transparent and has caused great animosity in the voter base. As a leader, I think the way forward is to post everything possible on the website for public viewing and input. I would support local businesses first before outsiders and partner with them to train the future workforce. The lower the taxes, the better for our homeowner community and that includes local business. I feel current council is giving away our infrastructure to any business who says they will invest at the detriment of home owners and small business to cover the lost revenue. We need higher paying jobs that stay local. The FILOTs that have been broken have no penalty for breach. We mush hold the businesses accountable if jobs of investment are not by the contract. Most small businesses struggle to be competitive with the outside large businesses who receive FILOTS. I will have to review all the current active FILOTs to begin this process of discussion. The goal is to fund the infrastructure projects that must be done in the next 10 years to catch up to the unbridled growth we have experienced while not increasing traffic until roads have been widened.

First of all your statement says it is a tax. Therefore, it is a tax and my taxes did go up along with the value of my house tax. Tax revenue is the highest it has ever been. The interest on what is collected throughout the year raised 41 million dollars. I want an audit of where all the tax money goes. Then I will prioritize infrastructure with my plan to not just pave the roads one time as the current tax does but maintains the roads by a scheduled pavement plan on 5, 10, 25, 50 year cycles. In Spartanburg County we did not fund paving for 20 yrs and then decided paving one time will fix it. We need a real long term plan to pave before the road is falling apart and widen roads with turn lanes. The core of engineers state the life of an interstate is 3 to 5 years because of the road traffic. Its not to hard to infer that the high traffic roads should be on a schedule for resurfacing every 5 years. This means the money needs to be set aside for this scheduled project. I will see that this plan is implemented. We are going to have to make some tough decisions regarding how to pay for 1,789 miles of roads, but with my plan we can get there without raising taxes again. We need to explore impact fees on new subdivision and development so that new construction is paying for the infrastructure and not the citizens. Needs before wants.

As a county council member I have no authority over inflation which is caused by the printing of money at the federal level. That is the driver of soaring housing prices. We currently have four subdivisions going in around my house so the number of houses is not the issue. The median price is around $400,000 because of inflation. Town homes would be the solution to lower cost housing but the market will dictate that. Zoning and planning has become the most pressing issue with the overdevelopment crowding our roads. I would work with the planning committees to find a solution to the random development. We need to do a better job of determining what areas can handle the growth and which cannot without new infrastructure. I would partner with the many non-profits here in Spartanburg who would love to help coach buyers. We cannot continue on the develop at all cost idea. We must expand and rebuild our infrastructure before inflation kicks in again!

Home owners and small business already carry the burden of the tax base. I have lived in the upstate my entire life. Nafta affected us the most losing the textiles which then shifted into the automotive industry. I would court higher paying jobs to diversify jobs. For example, Scout Motors took their corporate jobs to Charlotte NC even though we gave 1.5 billion to that project. I would not let companies take advantage of our natural resources and infrastructure, but I think they should pay their share of the tax burden. We have to get a hold on the infrastructure before we continue allowing every lot to be developed. I have never seen land or taxes go down in value. In fact, homeowners are taxed on unrealized gains, which I do not agree with. Plans that call for impact fees do not limit growth they simply slow it down and that is exactly what Spartanburg needs right now. Needs before wants.

County council prioritized large business over small. The FILOT program gives discounted taxes to large business while charging small 10.5% with no breaks. Yes, I support small business and the way to do that is through lower taxes and training partnerships with other businesses in the upstate. I want to see more trade schools opened because the majority of small business have 10 or less employees. This means they are trade oriented. Currently District 6 schools turn away high school students who want to learn a trade because there is no room. I will develop a partnership with businesses to fund private training facilities.

The 30 million dollar park that was approved should provide the necessary fields in Woodruff. The real loss is the business that actually organized the athletic events. Most small businesses would take over this initiative if they could get funding and help. That is why tax discounts should help small business too. The park service has developed many recreational areas that just need to be organized to bring in the sport tourist again. I see the Saluda Grade trail as more beneficial for tourist and locals if it can be developed because it requires only maintenance and security for operation.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

FRANKLAND WATTS

*Not on ballots until November's General Election

Website: www.franklandwatts.org

The Office You're Seeking: Spartanburg County Council 6

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

I am Frankland Watts, a 23 years old, and a professional in policy research and political science. I was raised in a single-parent household after losing my father to cancer, and I developed a strong appreciation for hard work and resilience at an early age. These experiences instilled in me the values of selflessness, courage, and compassion- qualities that our current politicians lack. While working full-time during university as a retail associate and pharmacy technician at Walgreens, I secured academic honors and completed a historical thesis examining the effects of federal education policy on minority students. I have also remained actively engaged in the community, raising over $2,000 in parternship with local small businesses to support the Upstate’s homeless population and helping provide more than fifty essential care packages to those in need. Through these experiences, including struggling with post-graduate unemployment and student loan debt- I have developed an understand of the pressures facing young people and our working families. I am committed to advancing policies that support our local economy, expand access to affordable housing, promote transparent politics, and support our small businesses. I will never put this organization or corporations over working families and small businesses. I will make sure the elite and power-hungry stay out of Spartanburg County. I believe we can create a community where every resident has a fair and equitable chance to thrive.

It is clear that South Carolina’s legislature and tax structure lags behind many other states. As a result, counties across our state are often forced to step in to help level the playing field. I will always pressure other members of the council and our legislative delegation to support tax reforms that prioritize our residents and small businesses over corporations and elite interests. Fee-in-Lieu of Taxes (FILOTs) agreements play an important role in our local economy, but I will not support them if them unless they clearly put our residents first. Companies such as BMW and Michelin demonstrate how FILOTs can contribute to economic growth and job creation. For me to support a FILOT agreement, it must include: > Livable wages for employees > Clear transparency in job creation commitments > Strong environmental protection standards > A commitment to creating entry-level jobs Additionally, I believe companies- especially in the industrial and manufacturing sectors- should establish internal pathways for employees who wish to transition from production roles into administrative positions. I will never support FILOTs for companies that fail to meet these standards. I also oppose the use of FILOTs for AI data centers.

Unfortunately, I was not of age to vote in the 2017 referendums. However, I strongly support penny sales taxes when they are used to improve local infrastructure and schools. I believe this approach should always be the first option considered before raising property taxes or taking on additional public debt. These referendums give constituents a direct voice in funding decisions, and that level of public input should be utilized more often in local governance.

My main policy platform is to increase the availability of affordable housing across Spartanburg County. Steps to make housing more affordable and improve access to employment, I will propose the following policies: > Restore our Community Development Departmnet funding back to previous levels and prioritize those funds for housing production > Update zoning to allow mixed-used development by-right near industrial centers and high-employment areas > Create an workforce transit route, in partnership with SPARTA, to connect industrial parks and close proximity neighborhoods > Structure as a 12 month pilot program with ridership targets and expand/decrease as needed > Design routes around shift-based work schedules > Encourage cost-sharing and funding from employers served by the routes > Increase the goal rate from 2 affordable housing units per year

I believe a more nuanced understanding of economics is needed in the question prompt. High-quality job creation and high-impact economic growth are not mutually exclusive, but can be mutually reinforcing when strategically planned. My support will always be in advancing both objectives. Attracting and expanding financial, industrial, and technology-sector employment is essential to increasing average wages and job growth. In turn, a stronger tax base increases investments for additional affordable housing initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and other public priorities.

Small businesses are a foundational component of Spartanburg County’s economy and play a critical role in job creation.They are among the places residents enjoy and value the most. Programs such as Power Up Spartanburg provide meaningful support for entrepreneurial development. However, when public funds are utilized to fund this organization, public reporting and transparency are essential to ensure trust and responsible leadership. I would support continued county investment in Power Up Spartanburg only if the organization strengthens its public reporting requirements to include: > Full disclosure of all revenues and expenditures > Clear reporting of administrative costs and employee compensation > Reporting of lending activity to small businesses > Creation of grants in addition to small business loans Should these conditions not be met, I would not support continued county investment in Power Up Spartanburg. Instead I would advocate for the establishment of a public, county-administered agency to carry out the same functions. This structure would give the county, tax-payers, and elected officials greater accountability and oversight.

Yes, I would support a new sports tourism facility only if the majority of funding is generated through visitors and private investment, rather than relying on county taxpayer dollars. Any county participation in this facility, should only be structured through loans that minimize direct public funds. Instead, county investments in the leisure sector should focus on enhancing public parks, recreational spaces, and pedestrian friendly infrastructure.

FORWARD PARTY CANDIDATE

AMANDA CLUBB

*Not on ballots until November's General Election




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2026 Spartanburg County Council District 6 Election

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

JESSICA COKER (i)

JOHN MOORE, JR.

ALEX TURNER

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

FRANKLAND WATTS

FORWARD PARTY CANDIDATE

AMANDA CLUBB

What Our Members are Saying