Simple Civics: Greenville County
Trash pick up. EMS and 911 service. Roads and sidewalks. Business licenses. School bus routes. These are the things that impact your day-to-day life, and they are all part of local government. But hardly anyone pays attention to local government - until they have a problem. We want to change that. Simple Civics: Greenville County is here to help you learn about and get involved in your local government in Greenville County, South Carolina. Whether you live in downtown Greenville or Possum Kingdom, Marietta or Mauldin, Greer or the Golden Strip, if you care about your community, this podcast is for you. Join us every Tuesday for simple civics lessons on local government in Greenville County, South Carolina.
Episodes
Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 22? Meet Leslie Fatum and Lynda Leventis-Wells, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.
How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 ...
Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 16? Meet Lynn Ramirez, one of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where she stands on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Republican Mark Willis was invited to participate but did not respond to our numerous requests.
How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the...
Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 5? Meet Neal Collins and David Jones, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.
How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minute...
Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 20? Meet Robert Giles and Chuck Saylors, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.
How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes...
Who's running for Greenville County Council in District 28? Meet Kyle Long and Thomas Sanders, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.
How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for the...
Who's running for Greenville County Council in District 19? Meet Benton Blount and Cody Dean, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.
How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for thei...
Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 18? Meet Becky McLaughlin and Ann Marie Middleton, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.
How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given ...
Greenville County needs 2,000 poll workers to run the November 2026 election. Dennis Stone of the county elections board explains what poll managers actually do, who can serve, and the simple steps to sign up at scvotes.gov.
Episode Resources:
- Apply to be a poll worker (statewide, any SC county)
- Greenville County Elections: sign up, training, and polling locations
Simple Civics:
Six Greenville County School Board seats are up this November, and with no primary and no runoff, the most votes wins. Catherine Schumacher and Derek Lewis map out which areas are voting, why these nonpartisan races matter to everyone, and where to find unedited candidate interviews, questionnaires, and forums before you head to the polls.
Episode Resources:
Dolly Parton's treasured legacy lives on in Greenville County. In this tribute episode, we explore how her Imagination Library has mailed 95,000 free books to local children, share how any family with a child under five can enroll for free, and celebrate that the program will continue for generations.
Episode Resources:
- Families can enroll by clicking here: Greenville County's Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Application
- Gr...
How does a fast-growing county protect its farms, parks, and historic places before they disappear? Carlton Owen of the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust explains how $7 million in local tax dollars leveraged $43 million in protected land, and how landowners and residents can get involved.
Episode Resources:
Vincent Sheheen spent twenty years in the statehouse before coming home to be mayor of Camden. He joins Katy Smith to talk about the growth worries that unite South Carolinians across party lines, how a small city can welcome newcomers without sprawling, and why Camden is worth your next weekend.
Episode Resources:
Greenville County has no shortage of services for parents. What it lacks is the connective tissue that helps families actually reach them. Derek Lewis talks with Dr. Tim Green of Openfields and Catherine Schumacher of Public Education Partners about the Parenting Landscape Assessment, why availability is not the same as access, and the "No Wrong Doors" initiative now taking shape.
Episode Resources:
Vincent Sheheen, Mayor of Camden and former state Senator, House member, and gubernatorial candidate on why South Carolina elects a coroner, why the state owns nearly every road, and why counties had no council until the 1970s.
Episode Resources:
- Listen to Bourbon in the Back Room Podcast
- “The Concise Guide to South Carolina State Government” by Vincent Sheheen
Simple Civics:
Urban forester Mindy Mohrman joins Kelly Byers to walk through Greenville's Urban Forest Comprehensive Plan: what it covers, what the canopy data and tree inventory show, and why a healthy urban forest depends on private landowners as much as the city. Residents can weigh in at a virtual meeting on August 19th or through a short survey open until August 21st, both at greenvilletreeplan.com.
Episode Resources:
The first day of kindergarten and the last first day of senior year are both bigger deals for parents than anyone admits. Two Greenville school counselors share what actually helps, from picture books and goodbye handshakes to handing your senior the car keys on their own college deadlines.
Episode Resources:
Simple Civics:
Simpsonville is one of the Upstate's fastest-growing cities - and its 125th anniversary is a reminder of the importance of celebrating and preserving the past while looking to what's next. Hear from Simpsonville's city administrator, Tee Coker, on downtown's $23M makeover, who pays for it, and what's at stake.
Episode Resources:
Why do companies choose Greenville County? Site selection expert Susan Donkers reveals the hidden science behind corporate location decisions - and how everyday citizens help win (or lose) the deals that shape our community.
Episode Resources:
Simple Civics:
Fluor Field is more than a ballpark. Greenville Drive president Jeff Brown shares how a family-owned mini Fenway sparked $300M in economic impact and transformed Greenville's West End through public-private partnership.
Episode Resources:
Simple Civics:
South Carolina's 50 state parks largely pay their own way. Gwen Davenport of SC State Parks on the model, the $99 passport, beating the crowds, and the CCC legacy.
Episode Resources:
- Ultimate Outsider Program and 50-Park Challenge
- SC State Parks Annual Passport Information
- Play It Forward: CCC History and "Parkitecture"
Simple Civics:
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