Tuesday, May 30, is election day in Seneca to fill a vacancy on city council. The election is non-partisan and the person receiving the highest number of votes wins.
What you need to know about voting:
All Seneca City Council seats are at-large. If you live in the city limits of Seneca and are registered to vote, you may vote.
There are two ways to vote:
- Vote early through Friday at the Oconee County Elections Office at 415 South Pine Street in Walhalla
- Vote on May 30, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., at Seneca Middle School
About the candidates:
There are five candidates. Your association formed a Candidate Screening Panel which screened the candidates. Three of the five candidates participated.
The candidate screening panel recommended to the Board of Directors, and the board approved, this report:
Kyle Nicholson: Qualified
Nicholson is a native of Seneca and lists his profession as sales. He told the association he is studying for the real estate exam and plans to become a licensed real estate agent. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Charleston Southern University. He and his wife are the founders of Rock the Ranch, a local charity.
Ernest Riley: Qualified
Riley previously served on city council until he was defeated in 2014. He has since served on the board of the Appalachian Council of Governments, including as chairman. Rile is a retired educator. He also has been a strong advocate of the city’s ordinance prohibiting short-term rentals, which conflicts with the association’s position that short-term rentals be allowed but properly regulated.
Delanio Taylor: Qualified
Taylor is a former professional football player who owns a local restaurant and catering company called Big D’s House of Barbecue. He also coached football at Seneca and Easley high schools and has funded scholarships for local children to participate in summer football camps.
Donna Peppers: Not Interviewed
Media reports state that Peppers owns and operates a home child daycare center.
Jim Sites: Not Interviewed
Media reports state that Sites is a retired nuclear supply chain engineer with Duke Energy.
About our Candidate Screening process:
Your association’s Board of Directors forms a screening panel of members who either live or work in the jurisdiction where an election will occur, and who support RPAC. All candidates are asked to complete a questionnaire and interview with the panel.
Your association will take one of four positions on each candidate:
- Recommended
- Qualified
- Not Qualified
- Not Interviewed
Your association will Recommend only one candidate. Recommended candidates are also considered for support from RPAC.