Q&A with Mike Kellems

Dede Biles, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Jun. 5—Mike Kellems is a candidate in the Republican primary race in Aiken County Council's District 2.

His opponent is Russ Tony Ferrara.

Voters will go to the polls June 14.

Incumbent Camille Furgiuele announced earlier this year that she wouldn't be seeking a third term.

Kellems works for BK All American Company in a project management and construction safety role.

He has been the chief of the New Ellenton Fire Department for 14 years and a member of the department for more than 30 years.

Kellems also serves on the New Ellenton Commission of Public Works.

Q. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing your district, and Aiken County as a whole, in the next several years and what should be done to address them?

A. I think the speed at which our county is growing is a concern. Although it is welcomed, it does bring with it concerns for our infrastructure.

Now is the time to have a study done on the current infrastructure in the fast growing areas, with anticipation of where the growth will continue. From that study, we will need to get in front of any upcoming needs in order to support the continuing growth.

Q. What new businesses would you like to see attracted to your district and Aiken County, and what do you think should be done to bring them here?

A. I would like to see more food restaurants (Chick-fil-A, Zaxby's, Wendy's, McDonald's) come to the municipalities of New Ellenton and Jackson.

Other retail such as an auto parts store and a cellphone provider would be beneficial.

This would also help to reduce traffic on the Southside of Aiken.

I would like to see if the county and the municipalities could partner together for tax incentives to attract business to the immediate areas of these smaller cities.

Q. What is the one thing you would like to do to make your district a better place to live and how would you go about making it happen?

A. I plan to push for more economic growth in or around the smaller municipalities of District 2.

I think this would help with traffic in Aiken. It would help save people money on gas with not having to travel as far to a restaurant, grocery store or local merchandise store.

I would like to see a partnership with the cities and the county that would entice growth to spread outward some into our county.