Laurens County Republican Party Forum: County Council Candidates Address Growth, Public Safety, and Fiscal Accountability

The Laurens County Republican Party hosted its 2026 Candidate Forum on the evening of May 21 at the Laurens County Museum, 116 South Public Square in Laurens, drawing a solid group of voters ahead of the June 9 Republican primary. Among those seeking their votes were candidates for Laurens County Council Districts 1 and 4, who delivered remarks that centered on the county’s most pressing local challenges: rapid growth, public safety, infrastructure, and fiscal responsibility.

County Chair Valerie Jones opened the event, noting the party had hosted a series of candidate forums this election cycle featuring statewide office seekers including Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, and candidates for governor, state treasurer, and U.S. Senate. Former representative Stewart Jones was recognized among elected officials in attendance.

County Council District 1: Garrison Running Unopposed

Nancy Garrison, running unopposed for County Council District 1, used her time at the forum to lay out a vision for responsible growth and transparent government, making clear that running without opposition does not diminish her sense of accountability to the voters.

“Growth is coming whether we’re ready for it or not,” Garrison said. “The real question is, are we going to shape that growth responsibly, or are we going to let it shape us?”

Garrison pushed back on the widely held assumption that growth automatically lowers taxes, a point she said is often misrepresented to the public. “Responsible growth means making sure development pays its fair share, and that we are planning ahead instead of asking citizens to continue to absorb the costs later.”

She called for proactive infrastructure planning, protection of property rights, attention to stormwater and traffic concerns before they become crises, and stronger support for volunteer fire departments and emergency services. She also emphasized the need for citizen-driven discussions about land use and planning, saying growth should happen “responsibly and predictably, rather than piece by piece with no clear direction.”

“I do not claim to know everything and every answer,” Garrison said, “but I promise you this: I will do the work. I will ask questions, I will listen to the people of this county, and I will always make decisions based on facts, fairness, and the best for Laurens County as a whole.”

County Council District 4: Poole and Wilson Make Their Case

The contested District 4 race featured Jimmy Poole and Lonnie Wilson, both of whom centered their remarks on public safety, fiscal accountability, and strategic growth management.

Poole, a veteran and lifelong Laurens County resident, cited overcrowded roads, traffic congestion, drainage deficiencies, and subdivisions being approved faster than infrastructure can support as top concerns. “We need comprehensive planning, greater transparency with developers, and infrastructure investments that keep pace with the demands being placed on our communities,” he said.

Poole emphasized his lifelong connection to the county, noting that while he left for eight years of military service, he could not stay away. He pledged an open line of communication with constituents and said he would direct people to the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce as a key resource for small businesses navigating growth and competition from larger corporations.

Wilson, a former Army veteran and engineer who served as president of the Cross Hill Fire District before recently stepping down from that post, made public safety the centerpiece of his remarks. “Every person elected to an office needs to be looking at public safety first. That is where the dollars need to go first,” Wilson said.

Wilson cited ambulance shortages across the Joanna, Mountville, Cross Hill, and Waterloo areas, a six-position staffing shortage at the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, and the absence of a local law enforcement training facility as crises requiring immediate action. He also called out what he described as misplaced spending priorities on the current council. “We need to deliver the services first, not buy pretty shiny things,” he said.

Wilson also raised the matter of Airbnb properties on Lake Greenwood operating without paying hospitality or accommodation taxes. “We’re paying that difference,” Wilson said. “If we’re going to be bringing people in, we need to collect those taxes from those people.”

Both candidates expressed strong support for impact fees to ensure new development funds the infrastructure it demands. Wilson raised concerns about the methodology of the county’s current impact fee study, noting the firm hired has not engaged the people most directly affected. “They haven’t talked to the sheriff’s department. They haven’t talked to the assessors. They haven’t talked to the planning department. Those are the people that know exactly what the impacts are.”

Wilson cited data suggesting new subdivisions in the northern part of the county are generating costs of roughly $1.50 to $1.80 for every dollar they produce in revenue, calling the gap an urgent problem that demands attention. He also called for one-, five-, and ten-year planning frameworks to get the county moving in a more proactive direction. “I think we can get things going in the right direction, spend the money in the right direction, and start being better stewards of the dollars that are coming into the county,” he said.

When asked about retaining law enforcement talent, both candidates acknowledged that Laurens County officers often use the county as a training ground before moving to higher-paying positions elsewhere. Poole pointed to technology investment, training, and improved compensation as tools for retention. Wilson called for full staffing at the Sheriff’s Office, a dedicated local training facility, improved 911 technology, and better communication systems for patrol vehicles.

The South Carolina Republican primary is June 9. Early voting runs May 26 through June 5.