How will Blythewood candidates navigate change as Scout Motors transforms the town?
Blythewood voters will soon choose a mayor and several town council members on Nov. 7.
Mayor Bryan Franklin is running for reelection against current Town Councilman Sloan Griffin. Four candidates are running for two at-large seats on the town council, including incumbents Eddie Baughman and Donald Brock, Jr., and newcomers Andrea Fripp and Patricia Hovis.
The winning local officials will have a hand in shaping the community as plans for Scout Motors’ $2 billion electric vehicle plant unfold.
Here’s what the candidates had to say in their own words.
Mayor of Blythewood
Bryan S. Franklin
Age: 56
Occupation/place of employment: Director of logistics, 81st RD, Fort Jackson
Education: B.S., The Citadel; MHA, Chapman University; MSS, U.S. Army War College; Ph.D.(c) Columbia International University
Prior experience: Mayor Pro Tempore, Whitakers, NC; Chairman, Blythewood Planning Commission; Town Council, Blythewood, SC; Mayor, Blythewood, SC
Website: www.re-electmayorfranklin.com
Why are you running for election in Blythewood?
After 24 years as an Army veteran, I’ve continued to serve the public at my hometown level. I believe in giving back for all the blessings I have received. I want to use the leadership skills I acquired as a military leader to help my community thrive during these times of rapid growth, uncertain turmoil and economic disparity by promoting neighborly communication, fellowship opportunities and community involvement. We must come together now, at a local level, to promote opportunity and ensure our community takes care of the least of us so that we all thrive as one Blythewood.
Blythewood faces three main challenges: 1. Massive growth of housing and business development. 2. Inadequate streets to handle the influx of increased traffic. 3. Unavailability of recreation space for our growing youth and elderly population.
Solutions: 1. We changed our existing zoning regulations to enforce the largest lot sizes allowed. 2. I prioritized our road expansions in order to be: Blythewood Road to Muller Road, McNulty Road from Main Street to Blythewood Road, Creech Road extension to U.S. 21/Main Street; and Muller Road to Fulmer Road. 3. We purchased 40 acres of land for public use! Let’s develop it!
Funding: This will not cost any citizen any more than is already being paid into the Richland County penny tax. We simply prioritized what we wanted and just need to follow through. Traffic was addressed above. This is a priority for Blythewood! We recently met with SCDOT for a feasibility study for connecting Blythewood and Langford Roads. These projects, once completed, will ease our traffic problems and improve safety. If the demand signal for a bus service from Columbia to Blythewood warrants it, I will ask Comet to bring a stop to Blythewood.
Bottom line: We need to be able to come home from work, pick up our kids, get them to sports/band practice and back home without undue delays and traffic. It’s not healthy for any of us. I need your help to fix this problem in an effective way.
What should the Town of Blythewood government do to manage the changes that the Scout auto plant will bring to the community?
If reelected as your mayor, I will continue the collaboration with Richland County, S.C. Department of Commerce, S.C. Department of Transportation and S.C. DHEC to ensure we welcome Scout Motors in a neighborly and responsible way. This includes a development that is environmentally safe and sustainable into the future. We will continue working with the Richland County Penny Tax Commission and SCDOT to ensure road expansions and traffic improvements are completed before the plant is in operation, including the addition of a new exit/interchange on I-77 to give commuters alternate routes to save time and resources. Our town center will be expanded along McNulty Street to allow for more business opportunities, and Creech Road will be extended to Main Street to promote business and more efficient traffic flow. I will also advocate for the bulk of the 4,000+ new jobs to be offered to Blythewood and Midlands residents first, before offering them to other states. I will also welcome Scout Motors into the Blythewood community. to partner with us on achieving my strategic vision of providing more recreational opportunities, cultural observances and festivals, tourist attractions and events, and preserving more green space in our area. Working together is the most efficient way to achieve amazing results for our citizens here in Blythewood and the Midlands of South Carolina. My philosophy is: Resisting change is common, but preparing for change is common sense.
Sloan J. Griffin III
Age: 37
Occupation/place of employment: Deputy director of emergency management/911 for Fairfield County, recovery operation reservist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Education: Bachelor of science in fire and emergency management (Magna Cum Laude), Purdue University
Prior experience: Currently elected to Blythewood Town Council (2020-present), 1 year Town of Blythewood Planning Commission and 15 years public safety experience (fire serivce and emergency management).
Website: www.sloangriffin.org
Why are you running for election in Blythewood?
As your next mayor, it’s time to end hiding behind attorneys, and it’s time to get this town on track for the future. I’m running to put control of your government back in your hands and out of the hands of special interest groups. We should adequately inform you of things happening that will or may affect you and your families. I also believe in listening and acting on your thoughts. This brings me to the topic of transparency; politicians often talk about having open transparency and never deliver. My transparency policy on day one will allow for a no-notice request to review all books at no cost to you daily. Most importantly, you’ll continue to get my reputation for serving and not acting on personal interest. Together, we will build a better, brighter Blythewood that listens and delivers. Together, we will make Blythewood a much safer and environmentally friendly place that celebrates our history of arts and culture. We’ll also provide a local government that responds to your needs as a government should. Blythewood residents, I’ve shown you that not only do I listen, but I get results. I don’t speak with empty promises and platitudes, which motivates me to serve you all with unwavering commitment every day on Blythewood Town Council. If you desire change, please support me with your vote to serve as mayor on November 7, 2023.
What should the Town of Blythewood government do to manage the changes that the Scout auto plant will bring to the community?
The Town of Blythewood government should listen to its most important voices: the residents. As a member of the Town Council, I’ve consistently voted no because the town did not properly notify residents of the expected changes nor address their concerns. As mayor, I will ensure that Scout Motors understands the importance of protecting our environment, manages our residents’ concerns, and adequately invests in the needs of the community. That is why, within my first 100 days in office, I will commission a Livability Committee to serve as a sounding board and provide advice and recommendations to staff on any and all questions concerning parks, recreation, healthy living initiatives, trees, and natural assets, greenways and trails, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and policies. The Livability Board may be called upon for advice and recommendations to the Town Council in any or all of the following areas of concern: to create and promote an enjoyable place to live, learn, work, and play, to support safe and vibrant spaces and neighborhoods, to promote cultural, socioeconomic, and age diversity, to encourage committed civic involvement and responsibility, to provide sustainable and healthy choices for transportation, food, and energy use, and to enable faithful stewardship of natural and historic resources.
Blythewood Town Council
Eddie Baughman
No responses received
Donald Brock, Jr.
Age: 43
Occupation/place of employment: State of South Carolina
Education: Masters
Prior experience: Blythewood Town Council (2019-2023)
Website: N/A
Why are you running for election in Blythewood?
If reelected, I will continue to serve with integrity and transparency for the next four years. As a resident of the Oakhurst neighborhood, my children and I have truly grown to love Blythewood since we moved here in 2016. When asked why I initially decided to serve, I always come back to the same answer: I want to have a positive influence in the town where my children are growing up. I want to continue my journey as your town councilman because I want to finish what I started. From day one, I have preached fiscal responsibility, and this town has made some positive strides in that direction. But the work is far from over and it is my goal to continue pushing for financial reform within the town’s budget. Blythewood will never break free from the special interest groups and have nice things if we do not curb the outlandish spending and giving away of taxpayer dollars. Prior to my election in 2019, I served nearly three years on the Planning Commission, with the last couple as chairman. The work that our volunteer committees perform for the town is immeasurable and as a community, we do not thank them enough. Which brings me to my next goal: to ensure that our volunteers and members of council are connected to the constituents we represent. The town needs regular updates from Town Hall, from all members of the governing body, not just the mayor. We can all do better, and I seek to ensure that our residents are keenly aware of the issues we currently face and those we will face. If you want a candidate who is pro-business, vote for me (and check my voting record). If you want a candidate that practices the fiscal responsibility this town desperately needs, then vote for me. Over the past four years, I have been the most consistent member of council and that trend will continue if given four additional years. And by the way, I will not run for a third term; frankly, I believe term limits are a good thing and should be respected.
What should the Town of Blythewood government do to manage the changes that the Scout auto plant will bring to the community?
The only constant in life is change, or so I’m told. So now that Scout is here to stay, how will the Town of Blythewood government manage the tremendous impact that this investment will have in the community. Fortunately for the town government, current and future, they will not be undertaking the challenges alone. We have to continue to build and nurture our relationships with state and county officials, and there are candidates who have established personal and lasting relationships with those stakeholders and there are those who have not. Over the past four years, I have developed those relationships, many that have evolved into friendships, and have the experience and vision to mitigate the risks and enhance the positives that Scout Motors brings to the Midlands. While there are many who openly oppose and object to Scout (and I hear them), I continue to believe that the benefits outweigh the negatives and overall, the entire region will benefit.
Andrea Fripp
Age: 52
Occupation: Loan Officer/Movement Mortgage
Education: I have worked mainly in banking and finance and currently as a mortgage loan officer. Prior to lending, I served as a local government finance officer.
Prior experience: I have been civically engaged throughout my personal life and professional career and have a long history of volunteerism.
Website: www.frippforblythewood.com
Why are you running for election in Blythewood?
I am running because Blythewood deserves transparency and better communication between council and the residents. Blythewood needs a council that is civil and is focused on addressing the issues that are important to the community.
What should the Town of Blythewood government do to manage the changes that the Scout auto plant will bring to the community?
The town government should first begin with being more transparent and informing the community of the changes as they happen and work with the residents to address their concerns. As a body the council should be more reflective of the community they serve.
Patricia Hovis
Age: 60
Occupation: Program chair criminal justice, York Technical College
Education: MPA, Columbus University; MSCJ, Troy University; graduate certificate, University of South Carolina
Prior experience: I have not held public office but I have experience participating in volunteer work in the community. I have been involved with NAMI (National Alliance Mentally Ill), Ronald McDonald House, Bible Camp, and AARP Safe Driving Instructor
Website: https://www.facebook.com/triciahovisblythewood
Why are you running for election in Blythewood?
I am running for Blythewood Town Council because I respect the history and purpose of local government. I want to be a participant in the process rather than the observer that I have been in the past. I also want town council to have a proactive seat at the table while conducting the business of the people. I am running because I have the life experience and education to make progress through consensus. When I heard a current council member accuse a local heritage preservation volunteer of trying to “siphon” funds from the town, I was stunned. It is entirely possible to disagree, articulate your position, and respectfully find a solution. I am running because I think there should be a mechanism for the community to have council members explain why they voted a particular way on a particular issue. Community members attend regularly scheduled meetings where council controls the agenda but I think the community may want to set an agenda periodically. I am running because I think town council can work smarter by improving processes. Examples include simplifying grant applications, improving internet communications, and offering more education on complex agenda items.
What should the Town of Blythewood government do to manage the changes that the Scout auto plant will bring to the community?
I think the Town of Blythewood should regularly engage with Richland County Economic Development and leadership from Scout Motors to ensure the citizens of Blythewood are a priority at every juncture. We need to work together so that trust is earned and maintained among all stakeholders. The citizens of Blythewood have witnessed land and site development at a record pace. With progress comes a responsibility to be transparent, the need to prioritize the sustainability of our natural resources, and to allow for respectful discourse. I think it is also important that we focus on unbiased information when trying to understand just exactly what changes have been made, and what changes are planned for the future. And this requires hard work. It requires research, methodical inquiry, reading, critical thinking and most of all, energy and dedication. My goal is make sure that the Town of Blythewood , as stakeholders in the construction of the Scout Motor plant, has a proactive role in the process. We are not a secondary entity, rather local government has a responsibility to ensure that we can grow while at the same time preserving the beauty and heritage that makes Blythewood a wonderful town to call home.
