Republican Stan Smith to seek Richland County Council seat
March 16, 2018
Saying he’ll be a “strong, unwavering advocate” for local taxpayers, Lake Murray businessman Stan Smith this week announced his candidacy for Richland County Council.
Smith, a Republican, is running in District 1, which includes Ballentine, Dutch Fork, Spring Hill, White Rock and portions of Chapin and Irmo.
“The taxpayers of this area need an effective advocate — someone who will take a strong stand against the frivolous spending which has given Richland County the state’s second-highest property taxes,” said Smith. “That’s the role I want to play on Council — the taxpayer watchdog.”
Smith said he’ll also push for good-government reforms to make county government more open, accountable and efficient.
“Frankly, Richland County suffers from low quality government. It’s too secretive, too unaccountable, too indifferent to the needs of ordinary taxpayers,” Smith said. “And the consequences have been real — improperly-awarded contracts, mismanaged projects and persistent misspending.
“The Supreme Court’s recent ruling about illegal penny tax expenditures ought to be a wake-up call. We should no longer be content with a system which is so ripe for abuse,” he said.
“Fundamental changes” are needed to improve county government, Smith said. He said the county must become much more transparent, making more financial records publicly available online, holding fewer discussions in executive session, and responding to information requests in a timely manner. “Transparency is the key to accountability,” he said.
He also says stronger fiscal oversight is needed to prevent misspending and abuse. And he said county officials must learn to set priorities, directing financial resources toward vital quality of life services rather than unnecessary “pet projects.”
Smith, who owns Stan Smith Realty, said he’ll emphasize his business experience during his campaign. There are currently no business people on Richland County Council, he said. “Business people often have a unique perspective, especially when it comes to finding solutions to tough problems. There really should be at least one business person on County Council.”
Smith is a 2002 graduate of the University of South Carolina. He’s married to the former Mary Douglass Hayne, and the couple have three children.
