Will Richland County councilman seal re-election? Or will challenger launch comeback?
Of all four Richland County Council seats involved in runoff elections next Tuesday, voters in District 9 came the closest to avoiding another vote after the June 9 Democratic primary.
First-term incumbent councilman Calvin “Chip” Jackson came close to winning the Democratic nomination outright. He won 2,504 votes, or 49.68%, in a four-candidate field. If he’d won an outright majority, he would have been set for another four-year term, since the Democratic nominee faces no opposition in November.
Instead, voters on Tuesday will decide between Jackson and Jonnieka Farr, a business analyst who finished runner-up on June 9. Farr won 1,218 votes, or 24% of the vote. The winner will represent the Pontiac area near the Kershaw County line.
The State asked both candidates about their positions ahead of the June 23 runoff.
Jonnieka Farr
Age: 46
Education: BA in Sociology from State University of New York Potsdam
Political Experience: Chair of the Richland Democratic Women’s Council
Professional Experience: I work in state government currently as a business analyst with former experience as a social worker for the state. I have worked in state government for 19 years. I am also a board member for the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council.
Where did you grow up?
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia. I was in a military family that was stationed at posts including Fort Bragg, Augsburg Germany and Fort Drum.
What’s the biggest difference between you and your runoff opponent?
I’m just committed to being engaged in the community. I believe in its strength. I attend a lot of community meetings, so I have my ear to what is going on. I want to be more involved and work side-by-side with the community as we look for solutions, so that no one in our county or district is left behind. We’re dealing with COVID-19, an economic recession and now an awakening to racial disparities. We need leadership that listens in our community.
What’s the biggest challenge facing District 9?
The outstanding issue is finishing our roads. We’ve been waiting on that. We also have a safety issue. There’s been a series of car break-ins. Whether the Sandhills area is viable, with businesses leaving there. But the big issue is trust. I feel like I have to talk people off a ledge sometimes because there’s such disdain for County Council. There’s no trust there. I assure them I will be accountable and accessible. I talk to a diverse group of people who call or email the county, and they don’t get a response. I want to make sure they have a proper response.
What do you think Richland County does well?
Richland County’s leadership on some environmental issues, including its vote to ban single-use plastic bags outside of the city. The County issued a $1 million grant to help small businesses recover from the economic downturn that came from the coronavirus. I’d like to do more if elected, but this is a good start.
What do you think County Council should do better?
Transparency and oversight. Richland County residents deserve to know how Penny Tax money is being spent and that it’s being spent on what county council said it is being spent on. Communicate more with constituents. This could be done by sending more newsletters and doing better with notifying the public of informational meetings. Also by providing more frequent updates via various social media platforms to reach constituents of all demographics. Being more transparent so that concerns that people currently have about the business dealings of county council are not misconstrued. Being more present in their own communities so they can hear the concerns and issues that their constituents have They can then bring that information back for more discussion with the county council. I believe council members should foster the platform of being engaged within their communities. Pushing to increase more constituent involvement not just waiting for constituents to come to them.
How should Richland County move forward with the $1 billion penny roads program despite ballooning costs endangering some projects?
I acknowledge that the roads program costs are rising, and some of this may be due to increased costs as time has passed. However, we do not want the safety of our constituents to be further compromised; therefore, we should finish all road projects that are currently under way. At the same time, we should re-prioritize the road project list based on public safety, infrastructure needs and increase in traffic demand.
How can the county settle an outstanding $40 million dispute over management of the program with the S.C. Department of Revenue?
Seeing that we are not privy to all of the details of the proposed settlement discussions currently, but from what I do know of it, we’ve spent enough money on dragging out the case through the SC Supreme Court for them to tell us what we’ve known all along. We shouldn’t waste more money and energy fighting an extended settlement agreement at this time. We should be focusing on properly using county taxpayers’ money and rebuilding trust in county government. One way to do this focusing and rebuilding is to have better guidelines and/or procedures for how money should be spent going forward put in place. These guidelines or procedures should be well defined so that no question should be brought as to whether or not something is proper.
What are the top three issues in this campaign, and how specifically would you address them?
I see these three as the campaign’s top issues: roads and infrastructure, the importance of small businesses, and community engagement. I am pushing to have all current projects that are currently underway finished and to re-prioritize the project list. Infrastructure isn’t just roads; it’s water and sewer systems, it’s medical facilities, it’s broadband Internet and green spaces. Increasing broadband and WiFi access to Richland County residents should also be a top priority. All residents in our county should have access to the Internet in the 21st century. We need to secure funding for our part of the Three Rivers Greenway and other green spaces, as well as ensure that our waterways are clean by limiting the amount of water pollutants discharged in our county. Neither will happen without a fresh commitment to community engagement. To rebuild trust in county government, County Council is going to have to redouble efforts to reach people where they are, whether that means increasing their social media presence or town halls and regular newsletters. Supporting our small businesses is also an integral part of community engagement. It is stated that for every dollar spent in a small business, 63 cents of that dollar remains in the community. So, not only do small businesses create jobs but they can foster community engagement.
Tell us something important about you that you want voters to know?
I would like the voters to know of the vision I have for our county. I envision a proactive community where leadership listens and every voice is heard. I want people to understand that I believe that all of our voices matter and that we should create an environment where everyone has a chance to thrive. What I truly desire to do is bring people together, uniting them regardless of backgrounds or political ideas, but merely doing what is right for the betterment of all of us.
Calvin “Chip” Jackson
Age: 65
Education: USC Columbia, BA in Journalism, USC Masters of Public Administration, Graduate of Leadership Trident in Charleston, SC, Graduate of Leadership South Carolina in Columbia, Graduate of The South Carolina Executive Institute, Columbia, SC
Political experience: Elected and served eight years (two terms) on Richland School District Two Board of Trustees, served as chairman of the school board for 2 terms, currently serving on Richland County Council representing District 9 (first term)
Professional experience: Worked for 30 years in public education and higher education, worked as an admission officer for USC, worked as Assistant College Registrar at the College of Charleston, worked as College Registrar at the College of Charleston, worked as Dean of Admissions Records and Financial Aid for Trident Technical College, worked as Director of the Palmer Campus of the Trident Technical College System, worked as Senior Policy Analyst (SERVE) University of North Carolina at Greensboro, worked as Director of State Charter Schools for the SC State Department of Education, worked as Deputy State Superintendent of Education for SC State Department of Education.
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Columbia, Richland County, and have lived in Richland County all my life except for the years I worked in Charleston. I attended elementary, middle, and high school in Columbia: AC Moore Elementary, Hand Middle School, and Dreher High School.
What is the biggest difference between you and your runoff opponent?
I have no comment on the differences between myself and my opponent. I think she’s a good person. Her heart’s in the right place. I think she’d do a good job if she’s elected. I’m running again because I want to complete the projects I’ve started on County Council, on all the issues confronting the district.
What is the biggest challenge facing District 9?
One challenge the district needs to face is how best to support economic development, while making sure there is not more development than our current infrastructure can handle. Also, making sure our schools in the district are the best available, because education is the key to everything that happens in the district.
What do you think Richland County Council does well?
Richland County has an outstanding workforce of more than 3,000 dedicated employees. The outstanding services they provide include a strong law enforcement agency, a committed emergency management agency, a hard-working public works department, a successful economic development department, a vastly improving transportation department, an acclaimed and accredited financial department, and several other highly professional departments who provide high quality and responsive services to the citizens of Richland County every day. These are the true unsung heroes. Richland County Council does a great job of ensuring that these individuals work for an organization where they are respected, protected and compensated for the outstanding work they perform.
What do you think Richland County Council should do better?
Richland County Council must continue to evaluate its policies, procedures, and practices so that they are fully transparent and focused on the expressed needs of its taxpaying citizens. It must work harder to close the inequity gaps in our county that directly affect the quality of life and services for some our citizens who are most vulnerable. It should also do a better job of being proactive by keeping the public informed of issues that affect all of us. It should work harder to engage the public in advance of making decisions by holding more public forums, community meetings and town hall sessions. This will provide public feedback where and when it matters the most.
How should Richland County move forward with the $1 billion penny roads program despite ballooning costs endangering some projects?
At Richland County Council meeting on May 5, 2020, the Council passed a motion that will ensure that Richland County moves forward in a methodical way in completing all of the projects that were originally approved by the voters in 2012. This major milestone was achieved as a result of two years of hard work and the hard decision to redesign the program. The motion approved by the Council was for the Transportation Penny Staff to thoroughly review all remaining projects, looking closely at safety issues, traffic volume and capacity and economic development. As a result of this thorough review, the staff will modify the scope of some projects to ensure these issues are addressed. These projects will be critically examined, thereby ensuring that we will no longer have project costs that are substantially higher than the funding established by the referendum. Therefore, I am confident we will be able to complete these projects, rather than relying on past practices, which would have yielded a higher number of undeveloped projects by the end of Penny Transportation Program.
How can the county settle an outstanding $40 million dispute over management of the program with the S.C. Department of Revenue?
The County can settle the 40 million dollar outstanding dispute over the management of the Penny Transportation Program with the South Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR) by continuing to engage in a fact-based, honest and open dialogue with DOR. On matters that Richland County and DOR have reached similar decisions on a path forward, that County has acted promptly in addressing those issues. In areas where Richland County and DOR have a difference of opinion, it’s essential that both sides continue to address those matters, until we can reach an agreed-upon resolution. The formal process has been agreed upon by both the County and DOR. I also believe it will be essential, now that the program has moved in-house, that the County continues to bolster its efforts with checks and balances, as we operate and manage this billion dollar transportation program. This must include formal audits and reviews by internal folks before hand, but most importantly, by independent professional audit firms with the.experience and credentials to handle projects of this size, scope and magnitude.
What are the top three issues in this campaign, and how specifically would you address them?
The most important issue for me in this campaign should be facts vs. fiction. Facts should matter as it relates to County Council issues.
The Transportation Penny Program and its faulty beginning in 2014 has been a problem for the last six years. On May 5, 2020, I as the Chair of the Council Penny Transportation Ad Hoc Committee, presented a plan that was approved by Council that will transform the Penny Program from a deficit program to a surplus program. After two years of chairing this committee on the most controversial countywide issue, the results of this transformative plan will ensure that all road projects approved by the voters in 2012 will now be done. This was not an easy thing to do, but it was the right thing to do. The big winner will be the taxpaying citizens of Richland County.
The second should be increasing transparency. As Chair of the above mentioned committee, I began the process of having regularly scheduled public committee meetings to ensure that all of the issues being discussed would be done on a regular basis and be done in the full view of the public. Next, I began a monthly reporting of the events of the committee meeting to full council and the public. Finally, I changed the procedure for public review of all projects, that now require a public presentation, public input and a response to the public, before projects are given final approval.
The final issue for me is how to ensure that economic development is done in a manner that benefits the growth of the county, but not at the expense of public infrastructure, rising costs for services or impeding the quality of life that is so essential to all citizens of the county. As Chair of the Economic Development Committee, we have agreed to pursue land and space that fits the economic footprint and blueprint of our county. I strongly support the views and desires of the members of council who feel there has been an unbalanced approach to economic development countywide. As Chair of this committee, I have instructed the staff to develop a professional economic development proposed strategic plan that will address all of the critical areas of need county wide. This plan will be done with involvement of as many stakeholders as possible. This will ensure that the final product represents the entire county. The Strategic Planning process has been initiated and will begin in the next few months.
Tell us something important about you that you want voters to know.
My faith plays a major role in all that I do personally and professionally. It influences my thinking and my actions. I believe in honesty and integrity and strive everyday to display those traits. I am a strong family man. I am a proud new grandfather for the first time of a 4-month-old granddaughter, who lives in another state. However, the work that I do in Richland County is influenced by my desire to make it a county where she will one day want to live. I hate injustice of any kind. I speak the loudest for those voices are often not heard because of reasons they have no control over. That’s why I decided to use funds allocated to me as a member of Council to provide the Coroner’s Office with the needed funds to significantly improve the final resting place for the less fortunate members of our community. This act was done to show that those who died and are unable to have a proper burial would be provided one in a cemetery that was reflective of our compassion as our brother’s keeper. I am proud of the work I have done over the past 35 months. I look forward to serving ALL of my neighbors with the same level for the next four years. I will do what is right and not what is easy.
This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 11:33 AM.
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