WEEKEND: Spartanburg County Sheriff Race – Nine GOP Candidates Facing Off (Ep 498)

Just the Truth Podcast with Joey Hudson

 

The race to lead the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was set in motion when former Sheriff Chuck Wright resigned in May 2025, after taking leave in April. Governor McMaster appointed Jeffery Stephens as interim sheriff in the interim. With Wright’s departure, nine Republican candidates filed to run in the special election, with the primary set for Tuesday, August 5, 2025, early voting through August 1, and a likely runoff on August 19 if no candidate secures a majority. The special general election will follow on November 4.

🧾 Candidate Breakdown

1. Nick Duncan
   A career lawman who left the Sheriff’s Office in 2023 after a previous Republican primary run in 2024. Duncan is pitching a platform centered on restoring trust, transparency, and “honesty” to the office. He’s also at the center of controversy—claims suggest a “hit list” within the office targeting associates, but state investigators found no wrongdoing tied to those allegations (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
2. Andy Clark
   A recent retiree from Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (retired January 2025), Clark emphasizes experience and stability. In one-on-one interviews he outlined plans for immediate reforms, though specific policy proposals weren’t deeply detailed in the initial coverage (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
3. Randy Hollifield
   A veteran law enforcement officer within the Sheriff’s Office. His framing: leadership built on being “Firm, Fair and Consistent.” Hollifield speaks directly to deputies encouraging them to maintain professionalism despite internal turmoil, pledging continuity with accountability (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
4. Ric Stephens
   A unique profile: local and federal law enforcement, including work with the Secret Service task force and United Nations, as well as an advanced degree in Forensics. He says he wouldn’t remove current staff—his focus is to tackle three priorities fast: Drugs, Traffic, and Crime. He stresses global experience adapted to local results (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
5. Bill Rhyne
   Retired state trooper with prior tenure in Spartanburg Sheriff’s Office. Rhyne hits the pitch that “this isn’t politics, it’s people.” His focus is community safety, deputies’ respect and morale, and a county‑wide Sheriff’s Office “that truly serves every corner” (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
6. Adam Crisp
   Former deputy at the Sheriff’s Office, Crisp positions himself as a reform candidate. His message: restore accountability and deliver tangible outcomes—not empty rhetoric. He defines the campaign as service‑oriented and addresses a public distrust gap in leadership (https://www.foxcarolina.com, https://www.foxcarolina.com).
7. Rusty Clevenger
   Serving Spartanburg County as Coroner since 2009, he brings decades of experience in investigations. Clevenger wants to depoliticize the Sheriff’s Office and “protect the integrity” of law enforcement personnel so they can focus on community safety—honest, transparent leadership is his promise (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
8. Robert J. Cheeks
   Former Spartanburg Police Department officer (from 2010), now with the Sheriff’s Office since 2016. Cheeks highlights a hands‑on leadership style: building trust, listening, engaging directly, and building communities “from the inside out” (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
9. Joseph A. Pilato
   Veteran officer with over 30 years across Texas, Florida, and South Carolina—14 years most recently embedded in Spartanburg PD until his resignation on June 19. Pilato officially filed his campaign paperwork June 20, aiming to bring seasoned multi‑state experience to local leadership (https://www.foxcarolina.com).

⚖️ Missing or Former Candidates

• Joseph Hawes, Chief of Police in Pacolet, expressed intent but did not file by the deadline of June 21 (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
• Gregg Satterfield, formerly Duncan Police Chief, initially joined the race but dropped out on June 12, citing personal reasons (https://www.foxcarolina.com).

🎤 Campaign Dynamics & Events

• The Spartanburg County GOP hosted a forum on July 11 at Converse University. Eight of nine filed candidates participated. Adam Crisp was the only one who declined to appear (https://www.foxcarolina.com).
• The Fourth District Republican Club scheduled a second public forum and straw poll on July 31 — all nine candidates attending before the campaign enters final stretch toward August 5 primary (https://www.foxcarolina.com).

🔍 Themes & Talking Points

Several common themes surfaced across the candidate pool:

• Restoring Trust & Transparency: Multiple candidates—including Duncan, Crisp, Clevenger—emphasize fixing internal trust issues after the Wright resignation scandal.
• Experience & Continuity: Candidates like Clark, Hollifield, and Rhyne lean on institutional knowledge and career service in law enforcement.
• Reform & Results-Focus: Stephens and Crisp highlight immediate action plans addressing pressing issues: crime, drug trafficking, traffic safety, gang activity.
• Non-Politicized Leadership: Clevenger, Cheeks, Rhyne stress separating office leadership from political influence, allowing deputies to serve effectively.

🗓️ Timeline Recap

Event

Date

Filing closes

May–June 2025

Early voting for primary

July 21 – August 1

Republican primary election

August 5

If no majority → runoff

August 19

Special general election

November 4

🏛️ Summing It Up

At stake in Spartanburg County’s sheriff’s race is more than just a name in the deputy’s chair—it’s a chance to reset the culture of the office. With Wright’s sudden resignation grating nerves county‑wide, each candidate is pitching a version of trust, service, and reform.

• Veterans Duncan, Clark, Hollifield, Rhyne offer continuity with the promise of better transparency.
• Outsiders or reform-minded candidates like Crisp, Stephens, Clevenger, Cheeks and Pilato aim to shake up the status quo with new leadership styles and a focus on immediate results.

As the early voting period closed August 1, the campaign heads into its final countdown, with runoffs nearly guaranteed among nine contenders. It’s shaping up as a pivotal moment for law enforcement leadership in Spartanburg County.

 

 

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