“The Tale of Two Counties” is more than a comparative analysis of the contrasting efficiencies of two county governments – Fairfield and Edgefield counties. It is also a call to arms to demand an effective and efficient government for Fairfield County citizens. Fairfield County’s budgeting priority should be to reach out to Edgefield County for […]
Secrecy Pandemic
March 20, 2015 By
The controversy encircling Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her use of private email to conduct public business provides our latest example of government in the shadows, a situation we know well in South Carolina. The idea that electronic communication of public business should be stored and made available to the public similarly to […]
The ‘Citizens-First’ Budget
March 20, 2015 By
The time has come for the Fairfield County Council to manifest a budget which is geared directly to addressing citizens’ needs and wants rather than supporting an inefficient and wasteful government. Fairfield’s urgent imperative to finally produce an enlightened budget is best supported in the form of a calculation which is reflective of our previous […]
Reverse Robin Hoods
November 28, 2014 By
Our State legislature has sat on the sidelines for too long as the utility companies have been permitted to legally rob their consumers for the last six years. Thanks to the S.C. Base Load Review Act, our legislature has placed the public in a very vulnerable position of economic servitude to the public utilities as […]
Wish List
November 21, 2014 By
Christmas came early to Fairfield this year. Yes the Council election results delivered a true gift of hope to all of Fairfield. The days of extravagance and waste are soon behind us. The days of transparency and common sense are soon upon us. Like children on Christmas Eve we anxiously await the beginning of our […]
Analyzing the Analysis
October 31, 2014 By
Our Fairfield County government has recently posted on its website a most revealing Council performance summary. The Tax and Services Analysis provides even more evidence of Council’s miserable history of mismanagement. In fact, this report could have been titled “An expose of Council’s big spending and mismanagement.” Please carefully review this insightful report prior to […]
Why I’ve Decided to Run
July 4, 2014 By
My name is Billy Smith, and I’m running for the District 7 seat on Fairfield County Council. I’m from Winnsboro, and I’ve lived in Fairfield County almost my entire life. Over the years, I’ve seen the areas around Fairfield County move forward while Fairfield County has stagnated. I’ve seen the quality of life in other […]
Public Loses in Agenda Ruling
July 3, 2014 By
In an opinion filed June 18 in the case of Lambries v. Saluda County Council, the Supreme Court of South Carolina ruled that a public body is not constrained by the FOIA from adding items to the agenda of meetings and discussing and acting upon those items without prior notice to the public. In reaching its […]
Den of Thieves
June 27, 2014 By
Exactly 40 years ago this summer, a brash, 36-year-old reformer running for governor called the S.C. state Senate “a den of thieves.” A majority of Democratic voters agreed with him, and Charles D. “Pug” Ravenel won the primary to become the Democratic Party’s nominee. But the good old boys had their revenge. The State Supreme […]
Cooperation is Key
June 20, 2014 By
A note of thanks for the vote of confidence in returning me to House Seat 41. I will work hard for us. Continue to pray for decisions made on behalf of the citizens in this state. As I reflect on the last 1 1/2 years in your seat for District 41 in the House of […]
