Hello REALTORS®,
It’s a new year. Our cities, most of which held elections in November, have sworn in new officeholders and elected new leaders. I follow these changes each year, and I thought you might want to read a summary of the changes.
Realtor Achievements
Four Realtors recently took office:
- Bob Fedder, broker-owner at Axcent Realty, Easley City Council.
- Charles Morgan, Realtor at Keller Williams Oconee, Westminster Town Council.
- Jimmy Powell, Realtor at Bob Hill Realty, Westminster Town Council.
- Judy Shaw, Realtor at Blackstream International, Six Mile Town Council.
In addition, Realtor Allie Winter, Justin Winter and Associates, was elected Mayor Pro Tem of Pickens City Council.
Great job, Realtors!
New Mayors
Around the Western Upstate, four new mayors and 21 new councilmembers took office. These are the new mayors:
Pendleton: Sarah Stokowski succeeded long-time mayor Frank Crenshaw.
Pelzer: Chase Smithwick succeeded mayor Will Ragland.
Central: Mayor Pro Tem Ken Dill succeeded mayor Andrew Beckner.
Seneca: Mayor Pro Tem Ronnie O’Kelley succeeded long-time mayor Danny Alexander
West Pelzer Special Election is January 20
A special election for Mayor of West Pelzer is set for January 20. Mayor Jim Riddle resigned after two years in office. Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Lee is currently serving as interim mayor. Councilman Rick Sanders, who was elected in November, is the only candidate to file for the special election.
2026 Elections
2026 is often called the mid-terms because the President is not on the ballot, but in South Carolina most key offices are on the ballot:
- Governor and Lt. Governor
- Secretary of State
- Treasurer
- Attorney General
- Comptroller General
- Superintendent of Education
- Commissioner of Agriculture
In addition, voters in the Western Upstate will elect:
- US Senate (Lindsay Graham)
- US House 3 (Sheri Biggs)
- Solicitor 10 (Micah Black)
- Multiple SC House Seats
- County Council seats in all three counties
- Probate Judge in all three counties
- Multiple School Board Seats
In addition, residents in Anderson will vote in April on four city council members and mayor. And residents in Williamston, Clemson, and Starr will vote on their city councils.
Your Western Upstate Association of REALTORS® will provide a voter guide before each election.
Advocacy Updates
Anderson County Council recently ended a moratorium on most types of housing developments. County Council has considered more than 30 new ordinances since June 2024, and several more are on their current agenda.
Pickens County enacted a new moratorium in December, their third in four years, on certain commercial uses as well as residential development in the Highway 8 area southeast of Easley.
Clemson City Council is locked in a legal fight over how it defines apartments in its rental registration ordinance. City Council invoked the pending ordinance doctrine on a yet-to-be released revision to that definition. A property owner successfully argued that his rental properties are apartments, which are exempt from the city’s rental registration ordinance.
Support RPAC
Our success in government affairs relies on elected officials who are friendly and supportive of real estate. Through RPAC, we support pro-real estate candidates who understand the importance of a vibrant economy for real estate. Supporting RPAC is easy. Your association includes a voluntary contribution to RPAC on your annual dues invoice. Pay it, and you are an RPAC supporter. If you haven’t supported RPAC this year, I encourage you to do so by clicking here. Michael Dey, Director of Government Affairs