Sumter County Council, District 6 (D): Gloria Rose Lee, James 'Jim' T. McCain Jr.

GLORIA ROSE LEE

Why are you running?

Many of the voters have come to me about the lack of basic services (roads, sidewalks, litter and education). My focus is basic services.

Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:

Yes, Sumter school board District 7, presently serving on the board.

How long have you lived in your district?

30-plus years

Current job/profession:

Program reentry and rehabilitative service, South Carolina Department of Corrections. I am responsible for developing and implementing programs to help individuals who have been released from prison or jail reintegrate into society. I work closely with community partners to provide a seamless network of support services to individuals. As a specialist, I work to reduce recidivism by addressing critical needs such as housing, employment, family unification, and given the resources to develop and implement reentry programs and services once released, including job training, education, substance abuse treatment, mental health services and other support services as needed.

What makes you qualified for the seat?

As a community activist, I am deeply rooted in the community tapped into the pulse of the community needs. My goal is work with the people, conveying complex ideas in an understandable manner. People want people who are running for office that they know genuinely have their best interest at heart. That person is me.

What challenges/concerns do you see in your district (up to 3) and how do you intend to improve them?

A) Economic development — District 6 is a major artery providing better roads, street signs, trees and brush being cut back, condemned buildings. Arbitrary zoning and rezoning changes are contrary to quality-of-life protections for residents in District 6. My plan is to foster economic development but significantly limit zoning changes and special exceptions that threaten quality of life for area residents.

B) Equity in education — Ensuring all schools in Sumter County have the resources, programs and professional staff to prepare students to be productive citizens is another major area of concern for residents in District 6. Far too long, Sumter School District schools have been undermined. My goal is to ensure that regardless of where you live in the county, the school your child attends will deliver a quality education, second to none. My plan to address equity in education includes establishing a formal partnership between council members and Sumter School District trustees. Providing the fiscal support necessary to recruit and retain quality educators, maintain facilities, establish STEAM programs and resources across the board in each of our schools is my priority in this regard.

C) Ingress and egress on private dirt roads is a major public safety, public health and quality of life issue affecting residents in District 6. My objective is to ensure we provide public services to every citizen in Sumter County. My plan involves streamlining budget priorities and expenditures to maximize funding for this and other basic services.

What successes have you seen in your district that you want to build on?

A) Receiving feedback from the community about more business coming into the community, meaning the community wants growth and revenue.

B) Knowing the people in this county want growth in Sumter School District, working with Sumter County Council and being transparent about the needs of the schools?

Are you actively involved in the community? How so?

— 30+ years, Sumter Community Neighborhood Group (chaplain, organizer, community support, youth advisor, aid seniors);
— 18+ years, life membership, Lincoln High School Preservation Alumni Association (chairperson of the youth pageant and scholarship program, assistant treasurer, former chaplain); and
— 35+ years of motivational speaking and writing monologues, teaching and training others in their advancements.
— I assist with South Sumter's annual Veterans Day event. I am an ordained minister.

JAMES T. 'JIM' MCCAIN JR.

Why are you running?

Current councilman running for reelection

Have you run for political office before?

Yes. Elected to current position in 2014.

How long have you lived in your district?

Born and raised in District 6, moved back to the home I was raised in in 2009.

Current job/profession:

Retired manager with UPS in Atlanta for 35 years

What makes you qualified for the seat?

I am the incumbent candidate with 11 years, 4 months of institutional knowledge and experience in the position.

What challenges/concerns do you see in your district (up to 3), and how do you intend to improve them?

Street conditions and blight are two concerns top of mind. I will continue using my experience and influence to continue what I have already done in these two areas as I have detailed in the next couple of paragraphs.

What successes have you seen in your district that you want to build on?

Obtained funds from the state to remove blighted properties in the greater Turkey Creek area of District 6.

Obtained a $1.5 million grant from Congressman Jim Clyburn to continue removal of blighted properties in District 6.

Obtained funds from the state to pave the entire Forest Hill subdivision in District 6.

Streets on the south side and west side of District 6 are being paved, as we speak, with more to come.

Came up with, and with the unanimous vote of county council implemented, the idea of placing paraprofessionals in targeted K through third grades to increase reading scores with those targeted students.

The per-capita income in Sumter County has increased to over $52,000 per year during my tenure as chairman of Sumter County Council with industries such as eVac and most recently the Georg Utz Company choosing Sumter. I will continue to work with Sumter County Council and our Economic Development team to bring even more industries with high-paying jobs to Sumter.

Are you actively involved in the community? How so?

Chairman of the trustee board at Westend Community Church.

Past chairman of the board of United Ministries.

Past member of the board of the Sumter YMCA.

I am a native of Sumter and son of educator and civil rights leader James T. “Nooker” McCain Sr. and educator Ida Mae Chennault McCain. I integrated the Sumter school system in 1965 by attending McLaurin Junior High School. I graduated from Edmunds High School and furthered my education at the historic Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon graduation in 1973, I began a 35-year career in management with UPS in Atlanta. I am also the proud father of three and have three granddaughters and two grandsons.

Upon retirement, I returned to Sumter in 2009 and have re-integrated himself into the community, which I call home. I currently serve as chairman of Sumter County Council.

I also serve the community by serving on boards and commissions, in addition to those listed above, in Sumter including:

— Vice chairman of the Governor’s Palmetto Pride Board;
— Chairman of the Sumter Area Transportation Study (SUATS) Committee;
—First vice chairman of the Board of Santee Lynches Regional COG;
— Chairman of the Chief Elected Officials of Santee Lynches Regional COG;
— Member of the Shaw/Sumter Community Council;
— Honorary commander of the 20th Fighter Wing;
— Member of the executive committee of the Main Street Society;
— Graduate of the 2016 class of Leadership Sumter;
— Graduate of the Tuomey Fellows Class XVll;
— Past chairman of the Board of the Sumter County Gallery of Art; and
— Past chairman of the South Carolina Association of Counties' County Council Coalition.