Richland County Council, District 5 Choose 1
Election Information:The Statewide Democratic and Republican Primary Elections will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2026. You may vote in either the Republican or the Democratic primary. Your address indicates you live in the district for this race.EARLY VOTING: If you prefer to vote prior to June 9, 2026, you can vote during a two-week early voting period Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, June 5. 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 SCVOTES.gov 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:Richland County Council is composed of eleven members, one from each district, elected to 4-year terms. As the governing body of the county, it enacts laws by ordinance and may also adopt resolutions. The Council hires the county administrator, sets budgets, levies taxes, approves contracts, agreements and bids, and appoints board and committee members.
Biographical Information
Campaign Address
PO Box 5081
Columbia, SC 29250
Columbia, SC 29250
Campaign Phone
7745718653
Campaign Email
Chelsea@RichardForRichland.com
Campaign Website
http://RichardForRichland.com
Education
PhD, Epidemiology, University of South Carolina (2021); MSPH, Epidemiology, University of South Carolina (2015); BS, Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston (2012)
Qualifications
Vice President of Operations, Central Carolina Community Foundation (2025-Present); Adjunct Faculty, University of South Carolina (2022-Present); Richland Library Board of Trustees (2022-Present)
1. What partnerships would you support to improve public safety in the county?
I am supportive of partnerships that: (1) center community; (2) build relationships and resilience upstream through a preventative and educational approach; (3) are coordinated across public, private, and non-profit sectors, building on what already has momentum and reduces duplication of effort. It is important that our safety infrastructure, like public health, built environment, law enforcement, and emergency services, is strong in “blue sky” times, so that when emergencies occur, community members know their neighbors, what actions to take, and where to turn for help. There are strong examples of these partnerships happening in parts of the county that could potentially be expanded to more communities with additional investment.
2. What tools would you use to guide planned development in the county?
I believe the procedures the county already has in place to guide planned development are solid. If they are followed properly and include mechanisms for public input at multiple parts of the process, these procedures align with my core principle of co-designing with community, i.e., “nothing about us, without us”. It is important that master plans are accessible and transparent to residents and revisited regularly.
3. What steps will you take to ensure free and fair elections in the county?
(1) Oppose any county or state rules that limit access to voting; (2) Be accessible and responsive to voters about their concerns and follow through; (3) Ensure county election commission staff are communicating with voters about how to register, their options for voting, and, if there are any changes to polling locations, that those are communicated through multiple channels as early as possible; (4) Hold county election commission staff accountable to any disruptions or barriers to voter access; (5) Support local news infrastructure, so residents have access to reliable information about elections, candidates, and actions of elected officials and publicly funded entities
4. What will you advocate for in the county's transportation improvement plans?
For District 5, key investments in connectivity and pedestrian safety are needed. The momentum and transparency of Richland County’s Penny Tax program must continue. I will ensure penny tax dollars are used wisely in ways that are co-designed with the community and key leaders. I am excited to support City and State projects, like the Congaree Riverfront District, Assembly Street Connector, and Devine Street Corridor. Further, I will ensure that all parts of the district have what they need, like improved road conditions, added speed humps, and sidewalks where feasible. Finally, I will ensure our public transportation infrastructure is supported and its riders are treated with respect and able to get to where they need to go safely.
5. What are your priorities for action?
(1) Expand Child Care Options. I will use my expertise to champion community-led, innovative financing to support families and care providers.
(2) Ensure High-Quality Schools. I am committed to collaborative leadership to support our students and staff.
(3) Manage Smart Growth. I will advocate for transparent growth that connects our neighbors to career pathways and supports large and small entities.
(4) Reimagine Affordable Housing. I will build on partnerships to revitalize vacant housing units and secure the attainable housing our residents deserve.
(5) Modernize Infrastructure & Safety. I will ensure fiscal stewardship and community-led planning to modernize our corridors to be safe and accessible for everyone.
Biographical Information
Campaign Address
3114 Duncan St Columbia, SC 29205
Columbia, SC 29205
Columbia, SC 29205
Campaign Phone
803-386-1798
Campaign Email
allison@allisonterracio.com
Campaign Website
http://www.allisonterracio.com
Facebook
http://facebook.com/AllisonTerracio
Education
BS from Centre College (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology major, Spanish minor)
Qualifications
During her two terms on Council, Allison has seen Richland County through COVID-19 by ensuring public health measures and allocating federal funds, provided key constituent services, attending community meetings to guide policy initiatives, opposed tax incentives for gun manufacturers, fought for Bailey Bill recipients, ensuring they could repair older homes without massive tax increases, supported of arts and culture, and expanded housing afforability policy and funding. .
1. What partnerships would you support to improve public safety in the county?
I believe public safety improvements extend beyond law enforcement engagement and emergency responses. It is important to prevent situations that lead to criminal activity, risky behaviors, and unsafe living and working conditions. Improving public safety means partnering with community organizations that provide activities for children and young people, support housing stability, and connect people to well-paying employment. In my time on Council, I have supported the Sheriff's Department, strengthened our Code Enforcement personnel, and allocated funds to many community partners. Looking forward, investment will need to be made into Fire Services to support the work they do for public safety, health, and property protection.
2. What tools would you use to guide planned development in the county?
During my service on Council, I have revised the Land Development Code, creating a Code that accurately describes how land is used and anticipates how residents will use properties in the future. Looking ahead, we will address the Comprehensive Plan. We have already received input through public meetings and small group presentations. It is most important to hear from the people affected by future development rather than impose decisions. In District 5, most of the opportunities for planned development are in the unincorporated areas around University of SC properties and in the St. Andrews/Skyland area. I have already worked to protect Historic Olympia and will work next to invest in the Broad River corridor to reflect needs there.
3. What steps will you take to ensure free and fair elections in the county?
County Council funds the Voter Registration and Election department, and I will ensure that the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget is sufficient to administer free and fair elections in our current environment. While the Election Commission is appointed by the Richland County Legislative Delegation, it is important to maintain a good working relationship and to communicate with them about needs and funding. As of this response, only one location is listed for early primary voting, and I have already advocated for multiple locations around the county so that people can participate in early voting in a way that is convenient for them. Additionally, I will request that the COMET provide free rides to the polls on Election Days.
4. What will you advocate for in the county's transportation improvement plans?
In all of my constituent communications around transportation, people and neighborhoods have advocated for improved pedestrian infrastructure and safety, particularly sidewalks and crosswalks, including ensuring that these structures are ADA-compliant and friendly to folks who use wheelchairs and other aids. Additionally, I hear regularly from the bike community, who are well-informed and educated about best practices. My approach is to 'not let the car always win' and focus on people-centered transportation. The 2024 Transportation Penny allocates a higher percentage of neighborhood improvements than road widenings, and I am proud of that. As the current Chair of the COMET board, I advocate for public transit for everyone.
5. What are your priorities for action?
Since 2018, I have focused on transit/transportation and housing affordability and availability. For housing, I have both earmarked funding to aid down payments and advocated for economic development incentives. I plan to continue this work. The Comprehensive Plan, which outlines our vision for the future and will guide zoning in the County, is another focus. It is both important to protect and preserve our historic neighborhoods and plan for future development. The Broad River corridor has been identified as a priority investment area for the county, and I believe this is an opportunity to right-size the commercially-zoned areas there and also incentivize an increase in attractive, affordable housing while preventing sprawl.