Call To Action: Take a Stand for Integrity in Greenville County Governance

County Council is made up of 12 members each representing a single district, however, the power is concentrated in the hands of 2 or 3. As a result, There are a number of issues plaguing the Greenville Community due to the lack of integrity in County Council Leadership. Take a stand for Greenville and demand accountability and integrity in our leaders. Send a clear message to county council that Greenville residents will not accept:
  • Increased compensation of high-ranking county employees at the expense of front-line employees
  • Mismanagement of EMS
  • Financial mismanagement at Sheriff�s office
  • Refusal to fund Greenlink
  • Marginalization of women and exclusion of ethnic minorities in governance leadership

Doing nothing is not an option. Get involved to protect Greenville's future. Here are some things you can do.

  1. Get the facts. Educate yourself on the issues.
  2. Attend Council meetings 1st & 3rd Tuesdays. Show solidarity with the community.
  3. Join Vision25 Speakers Bureau. Speak to council about community concerns.
  4. Bring awareness of issues to the larger community. Write news editorials, post info on social media, share info with organizations you support
  5. Support & Sign �No-Confidence� petition. Encourage others to sign
  6. Build unity. Don�t create division or spread misinformation �
  7. Fast and Pray for GOD to intervene on our behalf.

It will take all of us working together to get the best resolution for all of us. Let's make a change!

Council Debrief: March 19, 2019

On behalf of Dr. Smith, Executive Director of Vision25, the following message is sent.

Hello, Everyone. Once again I want to thank all who continue to show up for county council meetings on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. The solidarity of District 25 on critical governance issues is bringing a lot of pressure to bear on County leadership � and the cracks in their armor are beginning to show.

Just one month after Councilor Dan Tripp told us �We�ll outlast y�all�, the council can�t even approve meeting minutes without a fight. Last night, several councilors objected to the mandated vote taken on a new contract for embattled county administrator, Joe Kernell, before the full council had the chance to review it. After a heated, tension-filled discussion, the minutes from the March 13th special meeting were approved over the objections of councilors Ballard, Fant, Meadows, Norris, and Roberts.

In spite of the outcome of last night�s vote, please remain encouraged. As Lisa Sweeney so eloquently stated, we will not be placated by empty lip-service and proclamations from County Council. District 25 means business and we�re not going away. Remember, we�re playing the long game. We may not win every skirmish, but from where I�m sitting it looks like we�re winning the war!

Council Debrief: Mar 6, 2019

On behalf of Dr. Smith, Executive Director of Vision25, the following message is sent.

Hello, Everyone,

Once again, I want to thank each of you that took time to attend County Council on Tuesday evening. I was unable to be there in person, but I have heard from many of you concerned about the Council's unfavorable disposition towards matters of specific concern to District 25 and the unseemly conduct of certain councilors toward Councilman Fant.

I wish that I could say that this meeting was abnormal and that the Council just had a bad day. Unfortunately, the behavior you witnessed last night is habitual and deeply rooted in the perceived superiority of certain councilors. What does seem to be exceptional is the intense display of hostility last night towards Councilman Fant, his supporters and those he represents.

From what I understand, last night the community was stripped of the right to a public hearing regarding bringing sewer to the southern part of the county where 90% of the impact is in Districts 25 and 26. I have heard from you that:

  • You heard disinformation spouted from an opposing councilor about the intent of a particular sewer company to raise fees in the impacted area.
  • You listened to a second councilor speak about his district on the opposite side of the county not wanting sewer 10 years ago.
  • You even heard from a non-resident of District 25 or 26 talk about the detriment a sewer system may cause to Greenville's comprehensive plan.

At the end of it, you watched the council vote down the motion (6-6) to recall and reconsider a public hearing despite the pleas of Councilors Fant and Ballard whose districts are primarily impacted.

Well, sisters and brothers, none of this is unexpected. Our local governing body is at war with us and we simply can no longer allow their behavior to go unchecked. This is psychological warfare that won't be won on feelings and emotions or by protests and begging. We have to deal in wisdom, intellect, truth and confidence to defeat this enemy.

I encourage you to get prayed up, get informed on the issues, and stand for the survival of our community.

Council Debrief: Feb 20, 2019

On behalf of Dr. Smith, Executive Director of Vision25, the following message is sent.

Hello, Everyone.

I want to thank each and every one of you that braved the cold and rain to attend county council last evening. There was a tremendous showing of solidarity from across the Greenville Community and the message to the Council was clear - This is not about black and white. It's about what's right.

Last night was a great start but we have to be prepared for the long haul. Just as our message to Council was clear, their message to the Community through the lips of Councilor Dan Tripp was just as clear - "We'll outlast y'all."

Well, we will see. This fight is not about any one of us. It's about every one of us.

The fight won't be easy but as a community we're equipped to win - we just have to know that.

I encourage each one of you to stay focused, committed and remember "the harder thing to do and the right thing to do are usually the same thing".