Contact Name
James A Jones
Campaign Phone
8648668216
Qualifications in Brief
More than 20 years with United States Department of Justice/Homeland Security; NAACP =,Life Member: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; Southside Sankofa; Piedmont Community Actions, Mt. Moriah & Kingdom New Life Church, SIREN, Immigration Law Firm, Owner
contactphone
8648668216
I have a proven track record of community development and leadership and strategic, forward, progressive management. I founded and manage a successful Immigration Law firm with 3 offices and nearly 2 dozen staff. I served more than 20 years in federal civilian service with the US Dept of Homeland Security & Justice. I led a homeowners association of more than 700 units with more than one million dollars budget. I now serve many local organizations to uplift the community, including, Immigrant Connection, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Piedmont Community Actions, Southside Lions Club, Southside Sankofa, NAACP, NOBLE, SIREN, Mt. Moriah, Kingdom New Life, League of Women Voters, Wofford College (honors), Spartanburg High (honors).
YEPP! YEPP! YEPP!
Y- Youth empowerment, including a youth advisory council who reports directly to the Mayor.
E - Economic opportunity to ensure opportunities for ordinary Spartanburg citizens as we continue to grow and develop. I will push to unite local farmers with families to provide a sustainable supply of healthy nutrition for the people as well as income to our farmers.
P - Public participation in local government, including a Mayor's Advisory Council, expanded open records, open access to government processes, programs, etc.
P- Public safety reform, which includes a Citizens Review Board with subpoena powers, major investments in lighting, cameras, IT & security to open up our parks, recreation and public areas for longer periods.
We will govern in the sunshine in Spartanburg. My vision for city governance is to return power to the people. We will govern by community engagement first, then as the Mayor and city council decides. The city manager and other ministerial staff must take direction from the Mayor and council, not from developers and special interests, to only then tell council what they are to do. Our meetings, books, reports, budgets, funding strings will be open to the citizens. We will push for public input and public disclosure as much as legally possible. We will also generate innovative solutions to major concerns such as home access, youth engagement, public safety, and healthy food access and distribution. In short, people powered, people lead.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Contact Name
Jerome Rice Jr
Qualifications in Brief
Lifelong resident, 12 years City Council member, 4 years as Spartanburg Mayor, Drayton Mills Church Elder, Piedmont Community Action, Sanitary/Sewer District Commissioner, Sptbg. Memorial Auditorium Board, 30+ years educator
contactphone
(864) 596-2796
I am a lifelong resident of Spartanburg with 12 years of experience on City Council and four years as mayor, alongside more than 30 years as an educator, mentor, and coach. The father of four children, I’ve always believed in education, youth empowerment, and giving back to community. This diverse background in public service provides me with a deep understanding of local government, proven leadership, and a clear vision for advancing our city. As mayor, I have fostered collaboration, built bridges across diverse communities, and guided Spartanburg through unprecedented growth and development while cultivating partnerships that celebrate Spartanburg’s spirit, attracts families, businesses, and individuals who choose to call this city home.
Expand our Youth and Family Council to ensure their voices help shape city decisions while providing more mentoring, family services, and internships.
Protect our neighborhoods. Continue working closely with neighborhood associations and residents to ensure that revitalization efforts are community-led and reflect the needs of the people who live there.
I’m committed to making sure our police, fire, and first responders have the equipment, training, hand support they need to protect our community. We’ll continue to invest in competitive pay to attract and retain the best professionals.
Build on our “A Place Called Home” initiative by strengthening partnerships and expanding resources to help those experiencing homelessness.
When I first took office as Mayor four years ago, my goal was to be open, accessible, and active in every part of our community. I believe more than ever that communication is the foundation of effective leadership. Transparent, consistent communication must guide decision-making. It is essential to building trust, fostering growth, and ensuring that every resident feels informed and included. We need to do more than communicate—we need to overcommunicate everything Spartanburg has to offer: from transportation and homeownership opportunities to recreation, youth programs, business development, and family support services. The more informed our residents are, the stronger and more connected our city becomes.
Candidate has not yet responded.
