Spartanburg County Council Chair Race Heads to Runoff Amid Data Center Debate
The Republican primary for Spartanburg County Council chair is heading to a runoff between William Crawford and Mike Stacy, with data center development being a central issue. Stacy's campaign was galvanized by his opposition to a proposed data center, Project Spero, which was ultimately voted down, and public outcry over another data center project. Voters cited data centers as a key factor in their choices for county leadership.
The Republican primary for Spartanburg County Council chair is heading to a runoff on June 23 between William Crawford, who secured 11,033 votes, and Mike Stacy, who garnered 8,071 votes. The issue of data center development has emerged as a dominant theme in the county's politics, heavily influencing voter sentiment and candidate platforms.
Mike Stacy, running as a political outsider, campaigned strongly on his opposition to data center projects. He was a prominent figure in local efforts against "Project Spero," a proposed data center by New York-based TigerDC, which was initially given early approval but ultimately denied by the county council. Stacy has also criticized OneSpartanburg, a key economic development partner of local government, and a previously approved data center project led by NorthMark Strategies on South Pine Street, which has faced recent public outcry.
Conversely, William Crawford, while stating he was against Project Spero, supports a balanced approach to economic development and has voiced support for OneSpartanburg. The contentious debate over data centers was a significant factor for voters like Laura Bailey and Shawn Yukniewicz, who both cited their concerns about such developments and voted for Stacy. The high voter turnout, exceeding initial expectations, underscored the public's engagement with these local issues.