Election Information:The Statewide General Elections will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Your address indicates you live in the district for this race.EARLY VOTING: If you prefer to vote prior to November 3, 2026, you can vote during a two-week early voting period Monday, October 19 through Friday, October 30. Early voting centers are open Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Check the Richland County Voter Registration and Elections website Early and Absentee Voting | Richland County SC or https://scvotes.gov/voters/early-voting/ for early voting locations.ABSENTEE VOTING: You may be eligible to vote absentee by mail. For details on eligibility and how to submit your request, see this SC Election Commission Voting Absentee page: https://www.scvotes.gov/absentee-voting.Position Description:The nonpartisan board of 3 at-large members and 4 members who represent geographic election districts submits an operational budget to the County Council for approval, hires the superintendent, draws attendance zones, sets the calendar, and adopts policies for the board and district. Members serve 4-year terms.This race is for 1 seat.
Education
Attended Kaplan University
Qualifications
Staunch ally of Richland One and an advocate for special needs students
Campaign Phone
8034772823
Campaign Email
info@black4r1.com
I believe technology has an important place in education, but a screen should never become a substitute for a teacher, a conversation, a book, a hands-on experience, or a child's opportunity to simply be a child. I support reasonable, age-appropriate limits on screen time in our schools while preserving technology as a powerful educational tool. We need to teach students how to use technology - not allow technology to use them.
We cannot prepare students for tomorrow by pretending AI doesn't exist. We need to teach them how to use it responsibly. AI should be a tool that enhances learning, not a shortcut around learning. Our responsibility is to give students the skills to use emerging technology ethically, critically, and effectively while preserving the fundamentals of education: thinking, learning, creativity, communication, and human connection.
I believe families should have educational choices, but the school board also has a responsibility to understand the financial and enrollment consequences of those choices. I would support transparent, data-driven analysis of charter-school enrollment and its impact on our district's budget. If students are choosing other public-school options, we should listen to the reasons why - not simply complain about the competition. We should identify what our families value, strengthen the programs and opportunities we provide, and make sure every taxpayer dollar is being used responsibly.
I believe the school board has a responsibility to make our district a place where great teachers want to work and build a career. Recruitment gets teachers through the door, but retention is about giving them reasons to stay.
That means listening to our teachers, supporting them in the classroom, providing competitive compensation, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, creating opportunities for professional growth, and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed.
When we invest in our educators, we are investing directly in our students. My goal is simple" great teachers in every classroom, supported by a school system that respects their profession, values their voice, and gives them the tools to succeed.
Education
Undergraduate: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN; Law School: Northeastern University School of Law; Post-Law School: Georgetown University Law Center
Qualifications
I have served on the Richland One School Board of Commissioners for five years. I am currently serving as the Chairperson of the Board and have been in that role for almost two years. Before serving on the board, I was a middle and high school teacher in Richland One. I also co-founded an educational non-profit that I ran for eight years.
Campaign Phone
803-351-0436
Campaign Email
robert@robertlominack.com
I believe we need to engage with our teachers and families to determine the appropriate amount of screen time for students. This will differ depending on the age of the student, the grade level, and the course. However, I do believe we need policies in place that provide clear guidance on these limits.
AI is not going anywhere, so we must teach students how to use it responsibly. At the same time, we have to ensure we are still teaching them to think critically and independently. Getting the right answer is sometimes less important than the process of finding it. The overuse of AI robs students of the opportunity to develop the critical thinking skills crucial for their future.
The Board and districts must constantly adapt to changes in student enrollment, whatever the reason. While we should plan ahead using charter school enrollment estimates whenever possible, our primary focus must be on expanding our own offerings. Now more than ever, we need to proactively retain our students by ensuring our schools serve them better than any charter alternative.
The school board should always be responsive to issues that will help the administration recruit and retain teachers. For example, we have to work with the administration to make sure the application process for new teachers is streamlined and efficient. We also need to hire the best school leaders who will support our teachers. One way to do that is to guarantee that teachers and staff have a voice in the hiring process. In our district, we recently made that change. Now, a teacher, a staff member, and a community member are part of the hiring process, and it has already resulted in some great hires.
