2019 Public Policy Guide

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POLICY AGENDA & ADVOCACY GUIDE greenvillechamber.org

What’s Inside:

Business Policy Priorities for 2019 How To Become a Better Advocate How You Can Make a Difference

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Letter From The Chair The Greenville Chamber is the voice of business, and we are focused on making it easier to do business in the upstate. Our team works hard to advocate and educate the business community on public policy issues that impact your bottom line.

The 2017-2018 legislative session featured a number of landmark victories that we spearheaded: the final passage of new, sustainable, and substantial funding for our roads, legislation that will expand our available workforce, and critical new legal protections for our manufacturers.

Your business faces challenges coming from all directions.

Partisan gridlock prevents elected officials from solving the problems our nation faces. Political populism and polarization have skewed our discourse and make it harder than ever to seek compromise.

Amid all of this, the Chamber’s mission is clearer than ever: “to lead, convene, and mobilize the business community to drive regional economic growth.” Our Advocacy programs do just that.

TA B L E O F CONTENTS

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Guiding Principles Advocacy Agenda Federal Agenda State Agenda Local Agenda

Advocacy Committees

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Directory of Officials

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How to Get Involved Committee Listing

Federal Officials State Officials SC Senate SC House of Representatives Greenville County Council Municipal Officials

As your advocate from Main Street to the halls of Congress, the Greenville Chamber works to promote public policy that will improve the conditions for Upstate business. Together, with our 11 chamber partners across the Upstate, the Upstate Chamber Coalition leverages the power of more than 8,000 businesses and their 250,000 employees to get things done.

On the following pages, we outline our federal, state, and local agendas for 2019. This was created with the input of nearly 1,500 businesses and their employees. We’ll tackle everything from promoting international trade deals, raising state teacher pay, and working for sustainable local economic growth.

Thank you for your support of the Greenville Chamber. We look forward to working with you this year!

Phillip Kilgore 2019 Board Chair, Greenville Chamber 3

GUIDING PRINCIPLES The Upstate business community must do all we can to shape the direction of our community and the policies we need to extend our economic progress in this age of political uncertainty.

The Greenville Chamber will make it easier to do business in our region so our Investors may grow and create jobs. We will keep that focus whether we are debating trade deals with distant counties, working on reforming our burdensome tax system, or working for more efficient transit to move our neighbors.

“Few relationships are as critical to the business enterprise itself as the relationship to government...

To a large extent the relationship to government results from what business do or fail to do.”

-Peter Drucker

S TA F F A N D VO L U N T E E R S Phillip Kilgore 2019 Board Chair Max Metcalf Vice Chair of Business Advocacy Milton Shockley Chair, Business Advocacy Committee Carlos Phillips President/CEO Jason Zacher Senior Vice President of Business Advocacy (864) 239-3718 (office) (864) 787-6608 (cell) jzacher@greenvillechamber.org Twitter: @jasonczacher

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Madison Hall Government Affairs Manager (864) 239-3748 (office) (843) 621-0371 (cell) mhall@greenvillechamber.org Twitter: @MHall_GC 2018 INTERNS Elizabeth Noland Converse College Walker Seman Furman University Stephanie Tutunjian Clemson University

UPSTATE CHAMBER COALITION www.upstatechamber.org Twitter: @UpstateChamberSC FB: UpstateChamberCoalition Instagram: UpstateChamberSC MEMBER CHAMBERS: Anderson Area Chamber Cherokee County Chamber Clemson Area Chamber Fountain Inn Chamber Greenville Chamber Greater Greer Chamber Greater Easley Chamber Greenwood Chamber Laurens County Chamber Oconee County Chamber Simpsonville Area Chamber Spartanburg Area Chamber

U N I T E D S TAT E S F E D E R A L AG E N DA Trade

International trade powers the Upstate’s economy. The Upstate Chamber Coalition supports trade deals that will expand our access to international trade and open markets for Upstate goods.

•The Upstate Chamber Coalition opposes the “national security” tariffs levied on our nation’s allies.

•The Upstate Chamber Coalition supports restoring the Export-Import Bank’s ability to finance major projects and urges the President to nominate, and Congress to confirm, nominees who support the Bank.

• We support a fully-funded and staffed U.S. Commercial Service, which levels the playing field overseas for U.S. companies and attracts foreign investment into our country.

Regulatory Climate

Burdensome federal regulations cost our economy more than $2 trillion each year – or about a quarter of a million dollars to the average American company.

• The Upstate Chamber Coalition supports the ongoing administrative review of, and the reduction or elimination of, burdensome federal regulations.

• We also strongly support Senator Tim Scott’s efforts to require immediate stays on regulations with a major economic impact pending judicial review.

Infrastructure

Our nation’s crumbling infrastructure is both a drag on economic growth and an opportunity to transform our economy.

• We support the bipartisan calls for increased and long-term funding legislation to repair our crumbling infrastructure.

• We support the continued funding of the Charleston Port deepening project.

Immigration

Legal immigration is directly tied to economic growth. Immigration brings a disproportionate number of entrepreneurs into our economy and brings in young workers to offset the retiring population of Baby Boomers. We urge Congress to work on common sense immigration reform that addresses the long-term needs of the American economy.

• We ask Congress and the Trump Administration to expand legal immigration by reforming and expanding skilled worker programs such as the H-1B and L-1 visas.

• Congress needs to take immediate action to give DACA recipients legal status so they remain in the United States.

SC DACA RESIDENTS AND ECONOMIC GAINS BY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 3 TOTAL DACA RECIPIENTS

TOTAL DACA RECIPIENTS

300

TOTAL DACA ELIGIBLE ANNUAL GDP LOSS FROM REMOVING DACA WORKERS

800

= $14,000,000

1,500

TOTAL DACA ELIGIBLE

2,000

ANNUAL GDP LOSS FROM REMOVING DACA WORKERS

= $61,000,000

Source: University of Southern California

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S O U T H C A R O L I N A S TAT E AG E N DA Education and Workforce

With the local unemployment rate at 3 percent, more than ten thousand jobs are unfilled in the Upstate during any given month. We must invest in education – from kindergarten to college – and look at innovative ways to expand our workforce.

• Teacher Pay: The Upstate Chamber Coalition urges the General Assembly to increase teacher pay above the Southeastern average by 2021-2022.

• Freedom for Education Schools: The Commission on Higher Education needs to give our state’s four-year universities the flexibility to innovate teacher education to meet the demands of the teacher shortage.

• Technical College Pay: As we lean on our technical colleges to keep up with our workforce demands, the General Assembly needs to fund increased salaries for technical college professors and instructors.

• Workforce Housing: We support the passage of legislation that allows new, market-based avenues so local builders and developers can build critical housing for our workforce.

• Professional Licensing: The General Assembly needs to immediately give the 2,800 young adults legally living in the Upstate under the DACA program the right to receive state licenses to work.

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Pension Crisis

Our state’s $24 billion unfunded pension liability is a fiscal crisis that will dramatically increase costs for the business community and decrease our competitiveness.

• The General Assembly needs to finish reforming the system by closing the state pension system to new employees and switching to a defined contribution plan.

• Government subdivisions should be allowed to leave the system so they may pay more competitive salaries.

• Any changes must preserve the promises made to those currently in the system.

Infrastructure

We scored a major victory in 2017 with the passage of the comprehensive infrastructure funding legislation. While we continue the implementation of that road funding plan, we need to turn our attention to the other critical facets of infrastructure that power our economy.

• Mass Transit: Transit is not a social service, it is an economic development and business retention imperative.

If our state is going to attract headquarter companies, and compete with larger metropolitan areas, it is critical that the General Assembly begin increasing state support for mass transit in our metro areas.

S O U T H C A R O L I N A S TAT E AG E N DA • Commercial Aviation: The General Assembly needs to dedicate a stream of funding — such as the tax on rental cars — to our commercial airports so they can expand passenger and cargo service and boost our economy.

Taxes and Regulation

The Greenville Chamber and the Upstate Chamber Coalition will work at the state and local levels to cut red tape for small business, make our region more economically competitive, and lower the barriers to entry for local entrepreneurs.

• Tax Reform: We have long supported efforts at comprehensive tax reform in South Carolina. The Upstate Chamber Coalition supports efforts to make our state tax code more fair, equitable, and competitive for business.

• Angel Investor Tax Credit Expansion: The General Assembly needs to immediately reauthorize the successful Angel Investor Tax Credit program that encourages South Carolinians to fund our own high-impact start-up companies.

• Regulatory Reform: New regulations should require a public economic impact - not simply a state fiscal impact.

Regulations above a certain economic impact should have public disclosure and a waiting period before being approved by the General Assembly.

• Overturn “Plaintiff Chooses”: The General Assembly needs to re-institute the “joint and several” protections in court cases involving multiple parties. We should ensure that businesses with a small impact on an injury do not shoulder 100% of the financial burden because they have deep pockets.

Energy

The Upstate Chamber Coalition supports the orderly sale of Santee Cooper – or consider other solutions – to protect wholesale, retail, and industrial ratepayers, as well as provide continuous economic development support across the state.

STARTING TEACHER SALARIES FOR GREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOLS & SCHOOL SYSTEMS OF PEER METROS 2018-2019

1. MONTGOMERY COUNTY , M D $49,013 5. DENVER, CO $42,790 9. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK $34,000

3. HENRICO COUNTY, V A $44,660 4. NASHVILLE, TN $43,363

7. CHATTANOOGA, TN $39,592 2. AUSTIN, TX $47,713

8. GREENVILLE, S

C

$35,755

6. WAKE COUNTY, N C $41,213

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LO C A L AG E N DA Infrastructure

A crumbling and inefficient infrastructure is not simply a problem for state and federal officials. Greenville needs to take a serious look at our underfunded and inefficient local infrastructure.

• Sewer Service: We ask the County Council to fund a study to examine the consolidation of our sewer districts in order to promote economic growth, save precious tax dollars, and protect the environment.

• Greenlink: The Greenville Chamber urges the City of Greenville and Greenville County to fund Greenlink’s Transportation Development Plan and give our transit system the funding it needs to expand our economy. This includes both (in 2019): - The $2.75 million in one-time money needed to meet capital expansions, and - The $1.4 million in recurring dollars needed to provide on-going services.

Workforce Housing

We support efforts to expand the availability and affordability of housing options in our community for young professionals and working families.

The Chamber asks that the 2019 comprehensive plans seek to enhance feasibility of affordable housing (for the least among us) and workforce housing (for the teachers, firefighters, police, and service workers who drive our economy).

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Permitting / Growth

Greenville’s rapid growth comes with the immediate need for the City of Greenville, Greenville County, our smaller municipalities, and our special purpose districts to address our challenges while preserving our region’s long-term economic growth. We believe that the city and county must learn both from the mistakes of our past and the mistakes of other fast-growing communities while working on the 2019 comprehensive plan process.

• We ask that you promote inclusive economic growth by ensuring that mobility, connectivity, and availability of affordable and workforce housing are priority considerations both during the planning process and future budget appropriations.

• We insist that the comprehensive plans be written to have teeth for the future, and the councils need to commit to a timeline to re-align other development ordinances (such zoning ordinances and the county’s area plans) to reflect the goals of the comprehensive plans.

D I D YO U K N OW ?

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Creating opportunities since 1962. www.gvltec.edu/

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H OW TO G E T I N VO LV E D

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Join our Advocacy Committees

The Greenville Chamber has four issue-based Advocacy committees where you can engage: Business Advocacy, Transportation and Infrastructure Issues, Healthcare Issues, and Environmental Issues. These committees are an opportunity to hear from experts in these policy areas, network with Chamber Investors with similar interests, connect with your local elected officials, and stay abreast of new legislation and regulations. The Business Advocacy Committee crafts the Chamber’s Annual Legislative Agenda. These committees are open to all chamber members and are a perfect first step for getting involved. More info on these committees can be found on the next page.

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Stay Informed by Joining our Grassroots List

You’re busy running your business, so we know that you don’t have time to pour over jargon-heavy

legislation or stream hours-long committee meetings. By joining our Grassroots list, you’ll receive weekly updates from the Chamber’s Advocacy staff on important legislation that affects business. These weekly updates are jargon-free and give you a snapshot of what your Chamber is working on. They will also let you know of upcoming legislative events from our 12 chambers in the Upstate Chamber Coalition. If you’d like to be added to our Grassroots list, email Madison Hall at mhall@greenvillechamber.org.

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Advocate for Your Business

As legislation moves through the process, we often call on Chamber Investors to help our bills clear legislative hurdles. You can advocate for pro-business legislation or squash anti-business legislation by responding to the Chamber’s Calls to Action. If there is an issue that you’re passionate about, take a few minutes to write your representative an email or give them a call. Personal contact is always the best option over automated emails. And you don’t have to wait for a Call to Action from us – we’ve put together a how-to guide on page 20 about effectively setting up meetings, crafting your message, and lobbying for your issues.

Advocating for your business is one of the best ways to get involved in shaping policy.

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Attend One of Our Many Advocacy Events

The Greenville Chamber holds many Advocacy events throughout the year. Whether you’re interested in running for office, want to learn about how to advocate for your issues, want to learn more about policy, or like to meet members of our local, state, and federal delegations, the Greenville Chamber holds events that offer all of these opportunities and more. Take a look at our upcoming 2019 events at www.greenvillechamber.org, or contact the Chamber’s Advocacy staff for more information.

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A DVO C AC Y C O M M I T T E E S Interested in joining one of our committees? Our Business Advocacy Committees are open to any Chamber investor to join.

Business Advocacy Committee

Get your Fix: Our Business Advocacy Committee is an opportunity to receive legislative updates from the local, state, and federal levels of government, hear from policy experts, network with fellow political geeks, and develop deeper relationships with your elected officials.

The Business Advocacy Committee helps set the Chamber’s legislative agenda in the fall of each year.

•Chair: Milton Shockley •Committee Meets Second Friday of the Month (except July and December)

Transportation & Infrastructure Issues Committee The Road to Prosperity:

Our Transportation Committee hosts guest presentations on important infrastructure issues such as road, rail, air, and public transportation projects, the port, and their impact on local economic development.

This Committee sets the Chamber’s local and state infrastructure priorities – focused on economic development.

•Chair: Bob Knight •2019 Meeting Dates: 1/18, 3/15, 5/17, 8/16, 10/18

Healthcare Issues Committee Building a Healthy Greenville: Our Healthcare

Committee provides a forum for discussion on issues of policy, affordability, access to care, and community health topics with a mission to improve the health of the greater Greenville area.

•Chair: TBD •2019 Committee Dates: 2/5, 4/2, 6/4, 9/3, 11/5

Environmental Issues Committee The Intersection of Industry and Compliance:

Our Environmental Issues Committee hosts speakers from SCDHEC and industry leaders to talk about water and air quality, energy, regulatory compliance, and other related topics.

•Chair: Charlie Isham •2019 Committee Dates: 1/29, 3/26, 5/21, 7/30, 9/24, 11/26

Coffee and networking begins at 8am.

Committee programs begin at 8:30am.

Locations may change monthly. Please visit www.greenvillechamber.org for more information on times and speakers.

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L E V E L S O F G OV E R N M E N T Federal Government

State Government

U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate

State House of Representatives State Senate

• Trade •National Security •Immigration

• Business & Environmental Regulations

• Licensing

• Infrastructure • Taxes • Transit • Housing

• Education • Elections

• First Responders • Waste Disposal

Local Government

County Council & City Council 13

U P S TAT E F E D E R A L O F F I C I A L S

Senator Lindsey Graham (R)

D.C. Office: (202) 224.5972 Upstate Office: (864) 250.1417 District Staff: Van Cato, State Director Angie Omer, Upstate Regional Director

Senator Tim Scott (R)

D.C. Office: (202) 224.6121 Upstate Office: (864) 233.5366 District Staff: Danielle Gibbs, Regional Director

Congressman Jeff Duncan (R-3)

D.C. Office: (202) 225.5301 Anderson Office: (864) 224.7401 District Staff: Jordan Christian, Regional Director Jordan.christian@mail.house.gov

Congressman William Timmons (R-4) D.C. Office: (202) 225.6030 Greenville: (864) 241.0175 District Staff: Hope Blackley, District Director

Congressman Ralph Norman (R-5) D.C. Office: (202) 225.5501 Rock Hill Office: (803) 327.1114 District Staff: David O’Neal, District Director

S O U T H C A R O L I N A S TAT E O F F I C I A L S

Governor Henry McMaster (R) (803) 734.2100 www.governor.sc.gov

Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette (R) (803) 734.2080 www.ltgov.sc.gov

Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) (803) 734.3970 www.scag.gov

Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh E. Weathers (R) (803) 734.2210 www.agriculture.sc.gov

Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom (R) (803) 734.2121 www.cg.sc.gov

Secretary of State Mark Hammond (R) (803) 734.2170 www.scsos.com

State Treasurer Curtis Loftis (R) (803) 734.2101 www.treasurer.sc.gov

Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman (R) (803) 734.8500 www.ed.sc.gov

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S O U T H C A R O L I N A S E N AT E

Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee) - District 1 thomasalexander@scsenate.gov

Mike Gambrell (R-Anderson) – District 4 mikegambrell@scsenate.gov

Glenn Reese (D-Spartanburg) – District 11 glennreese@scsenate.gov

Karl Allen (D-Greenville) - District 7 karlallen@scsenate.gov

Shane Martin (R-Spartanburg) – District 13 shanemartin@scsenate.gov

Rex Rice (R-Pickens) – District 2 rexrice@scsenate.gov

Richard Cash (R-Anderson) – District 3 richardcash@scsenate.gov

Tom Corbin (R-Greenville) – District 5 tomcorbin@scsenate.gov

Floyd Nicholson (D-Greenwood) – District 10 floydnicholson@scsenate.gov

Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) – District 14 harveypeeler@scsenate.gov

Scott Talley (R-Spartanburg) – District 12 scotttalley@scsenate.gov

District 6 Election is March 26

GENERAL INFORMATION General Assembly Website: www.scstatehouse.gov

Senate Switchboard: (803) 212.6200

Ross Turner (R-Greenville) – District 8 rossturner@scsenate.gov

Danny Verdin (R-Laurens) – District 9 dannyverdin@scsenate.gov

Send Mail to: The Honorable (Senator’s Name) South Carolina Senate P.O. Box 142 Columbia, SC 29202

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H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S

Rita Allison (R-Spartanburg) – District 36 ritaallison@schouse.gov

Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville) – District 24 brucebannister@schouse.gov

Mike Burns (R-Greenville) – District 17 mikeburns@schouse.gov

Bill Chumley (R-Spartanburg) – District 35 billchumley@schouse.gov

Gary Clary (R-Pickens) – District 3 garyclary@schouse.gov

Neal Collins (R-Pickens) – District 5 nealcollins@schouse.gov

Bobby Cox (R- Greenville) – District 21 bobbycox@schouse.gov

Chandra Dillard (D-Greenville) – District 23 chandradillard@schouse.gov

Jason Elliott (R-Greenville) – District 22 jasonelliott@schouse.gov

Mike Forrester (R-Spartanburg) – District 34 mikeforrester@schouse.gov

Craig Gagnon (R-Abbeville) – District 11 craiggagnon@schouse.gov

Doug Gilliam (R-Union) – District 42 douggilliam@schouse.gov

Jonathon Hill (R-Anderson) – District 8 jhill@schouse.gov

Davey Hiott (R-Pickens) – District 4 davidhiott@schouse.gov

Max Hyde (R-Spartanburg) – District 32 maxhyde@schouse.gov

Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville) – District 19 dwightloftis@schouse.gov

Steven Long (R-Spartanburg) – District 37 stevenlong@schouse.gov

Josiah Magnuson (R-Spartanburg) – District 38 josiahmagnuson@schouse.gov

John McCravy (R-Greenwood) – District 13 johnmccravy@schouse.gov

Adam Morgan (R-Greenville) – District 20 adammorgan@schouse.gov

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Dennis Moss (R-Cherokee) – District 29 dennismoss@schouse.gov

Steve Moss (R- Cherokee) – District 30 stevemoss@schouse.gov

Mike Pitts (R-Laurens) – District 14 mikepitts@schouse.gov

West Cox (R-Anderson) – District 10 westcox@schouse.gov

Leola Robinson-Simpson (D-Greenville) – District 25 leolarobinsonsimpson@schouse.gov

Bill Sandifer (R-Oconee) – District 2 billsandifer@schouse.gov

Garry Smith (R-Greenville) – District 27 garrysmith@schouse.gov

Tommy Stringer (R-Greenville) – District 18 tommystringer@schouse.gov

Eddie Tallon (R-Spartanburg) – District 33 eddietallon@schouse.gov

Anne Thayer (R-Anderson) – District 9 annethayer@schouse.gov

Ashley Trantham (R-Greenville) – District 28 ashleytrantham@schouse.gov

Jay West (R-Anderson) – District 7 jaywest@schouse.gov

Brian White (R-Anderson) – District 9 brianwhite@schouse.gov

Bill Whitmire (R-Oconee) – District 1 billwhitmire@schouse.gov

Rosalyn Henderson Myers Anne Parks (D-Spartanburg) – District 31 (D-Greenwood) – District 12 rosalynhendersonmyers@schouse.gov anneparks@schouse.gov

GENERAL INFORMATION

General Assembly Website: www.scstatehouse.gov House Switchboard: (803) 734.3000

Mark Willis (R-Greenville) – District 16 markwillis@schouse.gov

Send Mail to: The Honorable (Representative’s Name) South Carolina House of Representatives P.O. Box 11867 Columbia, SC 29211

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GREENVILLE COUNTY COUNCIL M U N I C I PA L I T I E S Greer

Rick Danner, Mayor rdanner@cityofgreer.org (864) 801.2027 Jay Arrowood, District 1 Wayne GrifďŹ n, District 2 Mayor pro tempore Rick Roberts (R-21) rroberts@greenvillecounty.org (864) 877.9755

Joe Dill (R-17) jdill@greenvillecounty.org (864) 380.6534

Ennis Fant (D-25) efant@greenvillecounty.org (864) 467.2787

Kimberly Bookert, District 3 Lee Dumas, District 4 Wryley Bettis, District 5 Judy Albert, District 6

Travelers Rest

Brandy Amidon, Mayor (864) 834.8740 brandy@travelersrest.com

Mike Barnes (R-18) mbarnes@greenvillecounty.org (864) 877.9457

Bob Taylor (R-22) btaylor@greenvillecounty.org (864) 414.7219

Lynn Ballard (R-26) lballard@greenvillecounty.org (864) 243.0014

Grant Bumgarner Kelly Byers Harvey Choplin Rick Floyd Jeff George Brantley Vest

Fountain Inn

Sam Lee, Mayor sam.lee@fountaininn.org (864) 862.4421

Willis Meadows (R-19) Xanthene Norris (D-23) Vice Chairman xnorris@greenvillecounty.org wmeadows@greenvillecounty.org (864) 271.6798 (864) 419.8419

Butch Kirven (R-27) Chairman bkirven@greenvillecounty.org (864) 228.9300

John Mahony, Ward 1 Michael Maier, Ward 2 Rose Ann Woods, Ward 3 Phil Clemmer, Ward 4 Anthony Cunningham, Ward 5 Matthew King, Ward 6

Simpsonville

Janice Curtis, Mayor mayorcurtis@simpsonville.com (864) 619.8445

Sid Cates (R-20) scates@greenvillecounty.org (864) 268.2725

Liz Seman (R-24) lseman@greenvillecounty.org (864) 421.0837

Dan Tripp (R-28) dtripp@greenvillecounty.org (864) 963.1564

GENERAL INFORMATION

Greenville County consists of 12 council members. Together they constitute the legislative body for the county.

Website: http://www.greenvillecounty.org | Contact: (864) 467.7115 Mailing Address: 301 University Ridge, Suite 2400, Greenville, SC 29601

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Matthew Gooch, Ward 1 Stephanie Kelley, Ward 2 Jenn Hulehan, Ward 3 Sherry Roche, Ward 4 Ken Cummings, Ward 5 Lou Hutchings, Ward 6

Mauldin

Dennis Raines, Mayor mayorraines@mauldincitysc.com (864) 505.5417 Taft Matney, Seat 1 Carol King, Seat 2 Terry Merritt, Seat 3 Scott Crosby, Seat 4 Dale Black, Seat 5 Larry Goodson, Seat 6

GREENVILLE CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS

Knox White (R-Mayor) kwhite@greenvillesc.gov (864) 467.4590

George Fletcher (R-At Large) gfletcher@greenvillesc.gov (864) 380.6392

Lillian Brock Flemming (D-District 2) lflemming@greenvillesc.gov (864) 241.8677

Russell Stall (D-At Large) rstall@greenvillesc.gov (864) 430.0636

Amy Ryberg Doyle (R-District 1) adoyle@greenvillesc.gov (864) 232.7179

Wil Brasington (R-District 4) wbrasington@greenvillesc.gov (864) 421.3047

Jil Littlejohn (D-District 3) jlittlejohn@greenvillesc.gov (864) 271.6798

GENERAL INFORMATION

The City Council consists of the mayor and six council members. The mayor and two council members are elected at-large, while the remaining four council members are elected from single-member districts. Together they constitute the legislative body of the City. The City of Greenville operates under the Council-Manager form of government.

Website: http://www.greenvillesc.gov | Contact: Office of City Clerk cpitman@greenvillesc.gov (864) 467.4431

2019 G R E E N V I L L E

COUNTY ELECTIONS

For more information on 2019 elections, seats open, or instructions and deadlines for filing, please call each individual city.

2019 Elections Filing (partisan seats): Second half of March Filing (non-partisan seats): Late July to Mid-August Senate District 6 Special Election January 22nd – Primary February 5th – Primary Run-off (if necessary) March 26th – Special Election 2019 Party Primary: June 11 2019 Primary Run-Off (if needed): June 25 2019 General Election: November 5 Simpsonville City Council (non-partisan) Mayor – Janice Curtis Ward 1 – Matthew Gooch Ward 5 – Ken Cummings Ward 3 – Jenn Hulehan Fountain Inn City Council (non-partisan) Mayor – Sam Lee Ward 2 – Michael Maier Ward 4 – Phil Clemmer Ward 6 – Matthew King

Greer City Council (non-partisan) Mayor – Rick Danner District 1 – Jay Arrowood District 3 – Kimberly Bookert District 5 – Wryley Bettis Travelers Rest City Council (non-partisan) At large – Grant Bumgarner At large – Kelly Byers At large – Steve Waddell At large – Shaniece Criss Greenville City Council (partisan elections) Mayor – Knox White (R) District 1 – Amy Ryberg Doyle (R) District 3 – Jil Littlejohn (D) At large – George Fletcher (R) Mauldin City Council (non-partisan) Mayor – Dennis Raines At large seat 2 – Carol King At large seat 4 – Scott Crosby At large seat 6 – Larry Goodson

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TA L K I N G P O L I T I C S With local, state, and national issues impacting your bottom line, business owners have the right to talk about the impact of policy with their employees. With a major national election year coming in 2020, legislation pertaining to healthcare, labor, and tax issues will be proposed and a lot of promises will be made. Do your employees fully understand how these promises may impact their employer?

Here are some common-sense rules you should follow the next time there is a major political issue that could impact your company: • You may communicate your message to your employees using postal mail, advertising, direct mail, phone banks, or internal mail.

• You may not put any political messages into your employees’ paychecks.

• You can tell employees and their families about the impact a law, bill, regulation, or referendum may have on your business.

• You may not reward or punish your employees for their political actions.

• You can communicate with your employees and their families about legislation, regulations, or ballot referendums.

• You should not direct the political activities of your employees.

• You may encourage your employees and their families to support or oppose legislation, regulations, or ballot referendums.

• You may not tell employees how to vote. (That is a fine line that can be vetted by an attorney.)

Certain activities are prohibited by law so please consult your legal counsel with specific questions.

MEETING OFFICIALS Meeting face-to-face with elected officials or their staff is the most effective way to influence public policy. It will often take many visits, emails, phone calls, and other contacts to influence a position on a piece of legislation. Far too many people in politics today are confrontational, inconsiderate, and entitled, so politeness, consideration, and gratitude can go a long way toward wielding influence. The tips below can help guide you toward a successful visit.

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APPOINTMENT

• Make an appointment.

Don’t just show up.

• Give staff your contact information. In Columbia or Washington, schedules change fast. Meetings are commonly moved or delayed.

• Bring several people with you. Coalitions do better than singles.

5

LISTEN

• Ask the legislator for their position and listen carefully.

• Be patient and don’t interrupt.

• Stay passionate, but respectful, about your issue.

• Always remain polite and respectful.

2

RESEARCH

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6

REQUEST

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• Check an official’s website and Google for their positions before the meeting.

• Check your legislator’s voting record at scstatehouse.gov.

• Plan your responses about favorable or unfavorable votes.

Be polite and don’t comment off-the-cuff.

• Make as specific a request as you can.

“Please vote for H. XXXX” or “Please introduce legislation that will XXXXXX.” • Give them real, concrete examples, tailored as closely as you can to your local community, of why a bill should be supported, defeated, or introduced.

FOCUS

4

THANK YOU

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• Be on time. Legislators have a lot of demands on their time. If you’re late, you may not get another meeting.

• Stay on topic. Don’t use jargon or acronyms.

Speak about one issue at a time.

• You don’t need to be an expert, you’re their constituent.

• Thank them again for their service and for taking your meeting.

• Tell them you appreciate them “fitting you in” to their schedule.

• Thank the staff. They’re the ones who can get you in again, or “forget” to pass along a message.

POSITIVE

• Thank them for their service – no matter what you think of their record.

• Find common ground (through your research) where you can start the discussion.

• Don’t react negatively if you don’t like something that is said.

FOLLOW-UP

• If a legislator asked for more information, get that information and send it along ASAP. • Send a hand-written note thanking them for the meeting. This is the South, after all.

If a legislator asks you something you don’t know, simply say: “I don’t know, but I will get you that answer.”

Then, get him or her the answer ASAP.

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THE PRICE OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE Forget what you learned in Schoolhouse Rock!, a bill’s journey to becoming a law is actually a complicated one – wrought with twists and turns. That’s why two full-time, dedicated experts advocate for our Upstate business community at the Statehouse.

We let our businesses get back to doing what they do best, without having to worry about navigating the political maze.

Throughout the year, our lobbyists will attend 100+ meetings and log nearly 900 hours at County Square, the Statehouse, and in Washington fighting for Upstate businesses. Let our advocacy team become an extension of your team, bringing with them years of experience, in-depth knowledge of the legislative process, and relationships on both sides of the aisle founded on respect.

For Chamber Investors, a complicated process becomes simple. Take the survey to help shape the Agenda, then let us do the heavy lifting for you. Through every twist and turn, we’re there.

H OW A B I L L B E C O M E S A L AW (BEFORE SESSION) PREFILED COMMITTEE REFERENCE

FIRST READING

WITHOUT REFERENCE

AMENDED

AMENDED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

NO REPORT

COMMITTED OR RECOMMITTED

2ND READING

COMMITTEE REPORT

3RD READING

TABLED, CONTINUED, REJECTED

RETURNED TO HOUSE

AMENDED

SENATE 3 READINGS AFTER 1ST READING

CONCUR

NON-CONCUR

RECEDE

MESSAGE TO SENATE

CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED

INSIST

NO REPORT

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

RATIFIED

GOVERNOR

VETO

FREE CONFERENCE REPORT RECEIVED, ADOPTED

SIGNED OR WITHOUT SIGNATURE

FREE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED

FREE CONFERENCE POWERS GRANTED

VETO SUSTAINED

BECOMES AN ACT VETO OVERRIDDEN

Flowchart illustrates how a bill, originating in the House of Representatives, becomes a law.

Source: SCStatehouse.gov

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t

FREE CONFERENCE POWERS REQUESTED (2/3 VOTE)

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