Former city councilmember Michelle Shain to challenge Knox White for Greenville mayor

Former Greenville city councilmember Michelle Shain, a Democrat, is running for mayor against longtime incumbent Knox White, The Greenville News has learned exclusively.

Shain's announcement marks the first time since 2007 that White has faced an opponent. If elected, she would be Greenville's first female mayor.

Shain, who filed Thursday morning, faces a steep political battle against White, a Republican whose Greenville roots — and pockets — run deep.

But Shain said she is prepared for the challenge.

"I think Greenville can do better," Shain said. "I think we are entrepreneurial. I think we are creative. And frankly, we're fearless. I think that it's time for a change."

Michelle Shain served on Greenville City Council from 1999 to 2007

Shain is originally from Tennessee and moved to Greenville in 1978. Her husband, Michael Shain, is from Greenville. They have three children and six grandchildren.

A graduate of University of Tennessee and the University of South Carolina, Shain has a lengthy career in public service. She served on City Council from 1999 to 2007 after campaigning on the hot-button topic of widening Augusta Road. Shain was against the measure, which eventually failed, although the city and state department of transportation implemented a road diet on Augusta Street in 2022.

An at-large representative from the Augusta Road area, Shain aided Greenville's revitalization through economic development efforts. She worked on many of the same projects that White did, forging many of the same connections with local developers.

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As chair of the economic development committee, she worked on the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research; the city's purchase of what is now the Greenville Convention Center; the Hollingsworth annexation for the Verdae community; the River Place development downtown; building Falls Park and Liberty Bridge; and the construction of a baseball stadium in the West End.

"Economic development is high priority, because without it, we can't compete," Shain said.

Shain left City Council after two terms, feeling like her work was done. She ran against Bruce Bannister for Statehouse district 24 in 2007, Speaker David Wilkin's seat, but ultimately lost to Bannister.

Since then, Shain has focused on her work, including running her own public affairs firm, serving as an adjunct professor in USC's college of social work, stepping in as interim executive director of the YMCA and A Child's Haven, and serving as director of philanthropy for Greenville Health System.

Social justice is a priority in her work, she said. Shain currently serves on GOAL Justice, or Greenville Organized for Accountable Leadership, a group of congregations working to address housing and mental health issues in Greenville. Shain, who is Jewish, said the group's justice-oriented mission called back to her religious faith.

She hopes to bring those same coalition-building skills to the mayor's office.

"I'm bringing a lot of experience and a lot of networks," she said.

Michelle Shain: 'I am not Knox'

Shain is going from helping White get elected in 1995 to challenging him for office in 2023. The race marks a shift in their bipartisan political relationship.

White, Shain and other councilmembers often collaborated during their time in office, finding common ground on projects that grew Greenville. White has done good things, Shain said, and she doesn't want to diminish that.

But Shain wants to make one thing clear: she is not Knox White.

"I don't believe in punishing people. I believe in trying to find a way forward," Shain said. "I think we owe people a choice here ... we owe people comparability and accountability. And there are things that he has not addressed that were unintended consequences (of the city's growth)."

Shain is running on her experience in City Hall, as well as her work in minority neighborhoods and the business community.

She wants to see Greenville focus on initiatives to fund affordable housing, like establishing impact fees or a business improvement district downtown, which would supplement public services for homelessness by generating multi-year revenue through a compulsory assessment on local businesses. She also wants to focus on workforce development with local partners like Greenville Tech, economic development and mobility, and diversity.

White is running on managing Greenville's growth, creating more green space, traffic calming measures and making "record investments" in neighborhoods and affordable housing, among other issues.

The incumbent mayor raised $57,302.23 as of fourth quarter 2022, according to public campaign filings. Shain said she will begin raising money once she files to run and is leaning on a group of 30-something supporters to help raise her campaign's profile.

Another key difference? The candidates' term lengths. Shain left office after two terms 16 years ago and returns to face White, who has remained in office for 28 years despite campaigning on promises to establish term limits in 1995.

White hasn't faced a challenger since Republican Billy Mitchell ran against him in 2003 and 2007. It's been even longer since he ran against a Democrat; Stephanie Duncan and Joe Armstrong ran against him in 1999. White won 75% of the vote that year.

As political pressure has mounted for officials to address Greenville's lack of affordable housing and the city's priorities, White is seeking what may be his final term.

Shain wants to change that.

"Twenty-eight years he's had to do a legacy. And a legacy is an ego thing," Shain said. "I just think we don't owe somebody an election to gain a statue."

Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporter for The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her on Twitter @maconatkinson. 

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville SC mayor's race gets new challenger, Michelle Shain