Get to know candidates for Clarendon County Council District 2 seat

After nearly 16 years, A.C. English, Clarendon County Council District 2 representative, announced earlier this year he will not run for reelection for his county seat.

There are two candidates for the seat currently held by English Jr. Both are running on the Republican primary ballot. The primary election will be held Tuesday, June 11.

Jose Calvo

What are you running for?

Clarendon County Council District 2

Why are you running?

I think the leadership of Clarendon County has to change. I attend the majority of county council sessions as a Clarendon County resident. It seems that most council members never query or ask why something is proposed, requested or resolved when it comes before the council. Who, what and where? How will the funds be used, who will be responsible, who will give receipts, and what advantages will Clarendon County residents receive? The manner in which council manages the finances of our community has to be more transparent.

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

On a local level, I currently hold the positions of vice chairman of the Clarendon County GOP, and I am the president of the Jordan Republican Precinct.

How long have you lived in your district?

Since November 2020

Current job/profession:

Retired after working in many positions for 40 years in AT&T.

What makes you qualified for the seat?

Throughout my 40-year career at AT&T, I was trained and was in charge of a multimillion-dollar application that handled all of the tracking, orders, design, scheduling and salary commissions for a workforce of over 20,000 team members and thousands of customers worldwide. I was the escalation manager, executive support manager and the one in charge of handling all issues. My job and upbringing have provided me with the necessary business skills, as well as ethics, responsibility and transparency, which I believe are the most important principles to represent the people of Clarendon County.

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

The concepts of responsible stewardship, which call for the cautious and responsible administration of something entrusted to us - in this example, Clarendon County - are lacking in terms of fiscal discipline in financial concerns and unrestrained expenditure.

Controlled spending: To put a stop to unrestricted spending, ask the tough questions and respond to every request with responsibility. What matters most is how Clarendon County residents will benefit from this.

Open communications: Make sure the constituents are informed when it is appropriate.

Better roads: Work with the administrator and CFO to ensure there is a strategy and budget for road repair and improvement.

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

Some road improvements have been made, and new signage has been put up. In addition to making sure that all of the roads have the appropriate signage, I would want to see a greater effort made to pave and upgrade more roads. The communities' fundamental needs are for adequate mail delivery and access to emergency services and assistance.

Are you actively involved in the community? How so?

I've grown very interested in the Clarendon County community since coming to Manning, and I try to attend the majority of county council meetings, as well as the planning commission, school board, voter registration board and other political gatherings. I believe it is vital to be aware of and attend the numerous events taking place in Clarendon County. To support local businesses, I attend a variety of community events, including Duckfest, Sip N Stroll, Striped Bass Festival and Puddin' Swamp Festival. I've attended and volunteered for several Bookbag Drives for students. I attended the EVOLVE event for the schools. These events promote community enrichment and highlight the positive qualities of our county.

Anything else you want to add?

The tremendous rise from $4.6 million in 2008/09 to a daunting $14.7 million in the 2023/24 Clarendon County budget represents an alarming 217% increase in debt. In [the] 2023/24 fiscal year we will have paid $318,374 in interest alone! There has to be changes made to get this under control. I believe a debt increase of this inflated amount is disproportionate for a county of our size (31,144 people as per 2020 US Census). It is a reflection on a lack of fiscal responsibility. We need change, and I believe I can help bring change to Clarendon County.

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Kurtis Rodine

What are you running for?

Clarendon County Council District 2

Why are you running?

I am running for county council because I feel like I have a lot to offer the people of Clarendon County.

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

I have never worked as a public servant before, but I do stay on top of what is going on politically.

How long have you lived in your district?

I have also been a resident of Clarendon County for over 30 years, and I know the issues we have faced.

Current job/profession:

Currently, I work as a family nurse practitioner at Low Country Urgent Care where I have been for the last four years. I treat patients of all ages, and anyone that comes into the clinic knows that I love my job taking care of the families of Clarendon and surrounding counties.

What makes you qualified for the seat?

I am more than qualified for this position, as I ran my own business for about 15 years before going back to school for about eight years to become a nurse practitioner ... I am not afraid to question the status quo to make sure we are doing all we can for our community.

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

In my experience, I have noticed that many of our elected officials forget that they work for the people and not the other way around.

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

As a county councilman, I will continue with the transparency and responsible spending that Fawn Pedalino has been working towards.

Are you actively involved in the community? How so?

As a family, we like to stay involved in the community by attending the various festivals and parades.

Anything else you want to add?

In business, this would most definitely be my greatest career accomplishment, but in reality, being a husband, father and pappy are my most cherished accomplishments. ... In closing, I feel like I will be the best candidate for this position while continuing with transparency and responsible spending.