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District 1 hopefuls eye Nov. 4

3 Fort Mill residents get ready to hit the campaign trail

By Jonathan Allen

(Published September 02, 2008)

Bryan Smith

After a long, hot summer, York County Council District 1 candidates are gearing up for the fall campaign.

Incumbent Republican Paul Lindemann and Democratic challenger Marion Davenport are planning campaign kickoff events in the coming weeks.	Green Party candidate Bryan Smith plans to take advantage of any community events between now and Election Day to get his message out.
"As far as the campaign goes, I'm just getting ready to get really active," Smith said.
"I'm hoping to get out into the community and talk to people face-to-face."
Smith's platform includes a plank on nearly every major issue facing the council.
His solutions for Pennies for Progress budget overruns include prioritizing the more than 30 unfinished projects already approved by voters according to need, citizen benefit and geographical fairness.
He said the county needs an advanced, environmentally sound solid waste disposal facility with intensive recycling programs and should consider a waste to energy component to reduce reliance on landfills and cut pollution.	"Being part of the the Green Party, I keep in mind the environment," Smith said.
Lindemann's arrest on a driving under the influence charge in Columbia over the summer has resulted in a lot of media coverage in recent months, but he said it's actually garnered him more support. He said he hopes to raise $10,000 for the campaign, enough to build a "war chest"

His message to voters is that he is willing to work for people to create jobs and be savvy with tax dollars, Lindemann said.

"I want to continue working with the schools and the Economic Development Board and all the rest of the area entities to create jobs and bring in more industry," he said.

On the waste management plan, he said Green Eagle, which is suing the county, was never treated fairly. He said he was in favor of putting new regulations on landfills, but that the county still needs the ones it has.

Davenport said, "I plan to do a lot more listening than talking. I want to get a good understanding of what matters to the people of District 1."

Despite Lindemann's assertion of better communications, "I am concerned about the (waste management) lawsuits. Communication from the beginning would have helped the situation."

Fort Mill, Tega Cay, the unincorporated parts of the the township and the schools all need to be in a continual dialogue, Davenport said.

"Obviously, what the planners do affect the schools," she said. "What the schools do affects recruiting commercial businesses."

The Democrat is in favor of beefing up the county's recycling programs and said the county needs to do a better job of publicizing the convenience centers, especially to new residents.

Davenport doesn't plan to raise or spend nearly as much money as Lindemann.

"I expect to spend a whole lot more foot power and listening time," she said. "You can't really promise to do anything, but you can promise to listen to their concerns and to make sure they are voiced during any discussion on the issue."

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