Landrum’s Republican precinct invited candidates for Landrum City Council and Spartanburg County Schools District One Board of Trustees to talk with residents Oct. 24 about what they would like to do if voted into office.
Bob Walker with the Landrum Republican precinct said he felt it was important for someone in the community to provide a non-partisan event for residents to meet those running for elected office.
“We consider this an excellent opportunity to share with the candidates some of their time and learn more about each one of them,” Walker said.

Dr. Ray Henderson
Dr. Ray Henderson, a former team physician for Spartanburg High School and Wofford College, was the first candidate to speak.
Henderson said he would be a strong supporter of fiscal responsibility and encourager of parental involvement in the education process.
“I feel that every child deserves an opportunity at a satisfactory and complete education,” Henderson said. “I feel that each child should be considered as an individual as to which path they choose to follow and should be encouraged to do so.”
Henderson was born in Durham, N.C. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in general science from Wake Forest University and continued to Wake Forrest Medical School in 1954. He spent six years in graduate training, which were interrupted by two years as a battalion surgeon for the military.
He spent 47 years as an orthopaedic surgeon and retired in 1999. Henderson and his wife have been married for 56 years. They have three children and eight grandkids. The couple moved to Campobello in 1983.

Gorden Lee
Gorden Lee is a lifelong resident of Landrum, who until four years ago worked full-time running his family’s dairy farm. Lee is now the assistant super at Village Greens Golf Course but remains in cattle business on the side.
Lee’s father was a District One board member who served for 10 years and Lee hopes to carry on his legacy.
“We presently don’t have a voice from Landrum on the school board. I battled with this for a long time and I think that needs to change,” Lee said. “I would be representing all the schools in the district but I love the Landrum community and the people. I look forward to the possibility of the challenge.”
His wife teaches at Landrum High School and his children attend O.P. Earle Elementary.
Lee is a deacon at New Prospect Baptist Church and was a committee member with Spartanburg Co. Soil and Water.

Phil Mosley
Phil Mosley is a general contractor and lifelong resident of Landrum and Campobello. He is currently an incumbent on the District One board of trustees.
“I’ve been a very lucky person in getting to serve on the school board,” Mosley said. “We’ve got some fantastic things going on in our district. We’ve got administrators that are second to none.”
Mosley said the greatest challenges right now surround funding and keeping up with changing technologies.
“Of course, state funding and federal funding with any government department has been cut. It causes us to look deep – we’ve tightened our budget and yet still kept our central theme of a quality education,” he said.

Travis Sloan
Travis Sloan, who has served on the board of trustees since 2003, is also seeking re-election.
“I’m not a politician, I’m a father,” Sloan said. “I feel that it’s important that we have parents on the school board because I feel like we can hear what’s going on in the school board every day.”
Sloan lives in the Holly Springs area with his kids and wife, who is also a teacher at Landrum High School. He said his aim in another term is to keep the bar raised high for the district and its students.
Sloan said he initially found his interest in education through his father, who was an educator in District Five for 38 years.
He said there would be a bigger gap to make up between the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the state than there was to bring the district up to No. 2 last year. He said this means continuing to hire quality teachers and supporting them in their endeavors.
“We have to increase the height of that bar. We have to challenge our kids,” he said.  “More than anything, we want to remain student centered in District One.”

Jeff Sumner
Jeff Sumner hopes to be elected to his first term as a board of trustees member for District One.
Sumner has been married to his wife, a teacher, for 13 years and they have one son in fifth grade at Inman Intermediate.
“My intention is just to be fair all across the board, well-grounded by facts and common sense,” Sumner said. “I want to continue to ensure adequate teacher-student ratio so each teacher can give each student the proper attention. When we hire good teachers we also need to continue to train them at all times.”
He said he’d like to ensure good communication between the trustees and the community as well.
Sumner himself was educated in District One. He is a member of Holston Creek Baptist Church. He is an Awana Club team leader with third – sixth grade boys, which he said is a great joy in his life. He is also a coach, referee and mentor for Upward sports programs. Sumner has been employed with the Inman-Campobello Water District for 24 years.
“I very much would like to be a part of the team that would go the entire distance in succeeding to make District One the No. 1 district in the state of South Carolina,” Sumner said.

Board of trustees candidate Derrall Beason was not in attendance because of a prior commitment out of town.
Also speaking at the meeting were Landrum City Council candidates. There are three open seats on the council this election, with four candidates in the running.
“We’re not here as a Landrum precinct to endorse any candidates,” Walker said. “We wanted to give the candidates the opportunity to come forward – share with us anything they want to share with us.”
Johnny Carruth was the first to speak.  He said he planned to do his best to ensure tax dollars are spent appropriately.
“The way our town is – it’s friendly – let’s try and keep it that way,” Carruth said. “There will be some compromises, there’s no doubt about it, but I promise you I will do the best I can for all the citizens and have another voice they can talk to on the council.”
Jon Matheis spoke next. He is currently on the council for his fourth year. He said the council has done a lot of good work over his last term but he believes there is always room for improvement.
“I would certainly like again to be elected as my job, I feel, is not done,” Matheis said. “Bring me your concerns and I’ll work on them as well as I can.”
Candidate Joyce Whiteside is also seeking re-election. She said her top priorities are to finish work currently on the table.
She said this includes items such as the town’s sidewalk project, work to the depot and seeking new industry and business.
“We need to find ways to generate revenue to the city so our citizens do not have to endure a tax hike,” White side said. “We can take a serious look at our spending – let’s put our spending in proper priorities and be more efficient in what we do.”
Randy Wohnig became a member of council originally to fill an unexpired term of James Conard. He was re-elected four years ago and seeks to continue serving Landrum.
Wohnig and his wife moved to Landrum from Charlotte 10 years ago.
“I wish I had been here 25 years ago because it’s just a good life,” Wohnig said. “I love serving in the community.”
Wohnig said he has been a part of raised taxes in the area in the past but he’s also been a part of common-sense management of town funds. He said he tries to use common sense in his approach to government.
“Things cost more, and taxes do have to raise on occasion to provide services, but this council has not been outrageous with its money at all. We’ve been very conservative and I’ve been happy to be a part of that,” Wohnig said.
Anyone within city limits will vote Nov. 8 for Landrum City Council and the District One Board of Trustees. Outside the city limits voters will just be voting for school board candidates.