Spartanburg County chair candidates address data centers, transparency at town hall
News ClipFOX Carolina·Spartanburg County, SC·4/3/2026
Candidates for Spartanburg County Council chair discussed data centers and transparency at a town hall, weeks after a proposed data center project in the county was scrapped due to significant public opposition. Data centers have become a key issue in the upcoming elections, with candidates and voters emphasizing the need for transparency and controlled growth.
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Gov: Spartanburg County Council, Manning Lynch, Paul Abbott, Anna Angermeier, William Crawford, Mike Stacey, David Whitener, One Spartanburg, Cowpens Mayor Jarred Spencer, Lekesa Kesha Whitner, Leon Wiles, state legislature
Four Republican candidates vying for Spartanburg County Council chair participated in a town hall at the Mayo Area Fire Department, where data centers and county transparency were primary concerns for voters. The forum occurred weeks after a major data center project in the county was abandoned following significant public opposition. Current Chairman Manning Lynch is not seeking re-election, leaving an open race where data center policy is a key issue.
Councilman Paul Abbott, who organized the event, noted that the state legislature is currently working on regulations for data centers. Candidates Anna Angermeier, William Crawford, Mike Stacey, and David Whitener addressed the issues. Whitener spoke against