Editor’s note: The Bulletin asked municipal candidates to provide biographical information. Below is the information provided by Landrum candidates for city council. Incumbent council candidates Jon Matheis, Joyce Whiteside and Randy Wohnig and challenger John Carruth are vying for three open seats.
John J. (Johnny) Carruth
Johnny Carruth was born in 1950 to Jack and Alma Carruth. He has lived most of his life in Landrum, attending Landrum schools and furthering his education at Spartanburg Junior College and numerous trade schools.
He is married to Tammy Rhymer Carruth, and they have three children, Nicole, JJ and Katherine Anne.
Carruth has been employed by General Electric, Duke Energy and Fluor Daniel; he is currently employed by Carruth Furniture Company.
He is a member of First Baptist Church of Gowensville, having served as deacon, assistant teacher, youth basketball coach and on several committees. He has also been a member of many civic organizations, including the Landrum Lions for 10 years, serving as president, vice-president and board member, and the Polk County Jaycees as a member.
Carruth has been very active in the Landrum schools, serving on the PTSO and the school board. He has also been involved with Landrum youth athletics, coaching young boys and girls. He also served in the South Carolina National Guard, attaining the rank of sergeant.
Carruth has been elected to Landrum City Council three times, serving about 10 years. He served on many committees, including streets, recycling/refuge, personal, public safety and parks.
As a citizen of Landrum, he has served on the election certification committee and has been involved with certain aspects of the Landrum beautification projects, such as entrance signs and parks. He is currently a board member for The B. Frank Carruth Community Foundation with The Spartanburg Community Foundation.
“I love the Lord, my family and community,” Carruth said.
Jon Matheis
Jon Matheis was born in 1942 in Upstate New York. He is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is retired from Eastman Kodak as well as being a retired stockbroker.
Matheis is presently the only person on the Landrum City Council to have taken courses at and graduated from the South Carolina Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government. He has  been married for 49 years and has three grown children and two adored grandchildren.
Matheis was president of the Landrum Horticulture Association and a member of the Landrum Development Committee. He is presently on the Landrum Tomorrow Committee. He has been an active member of his parish council, a Cub Scout leader and a treasurer for the pony club.
“I believe in giving back to the community in which I live.” said Matheis.
Joyce Whiteside
Joyce Whiteside was born and raised in Landrum and is a graduate of the Landrum school system. She is a member of Landrum Springs Baptist Church.
She has four sons and one daughter, six grandchildren, one daughter-in-law and one son-in-law. She is a lifetime member of the Landrum High School PTO, having served as secretary, vice president and president. All of her children attended the Landrum school system.
Whiteside has been employed at Bommer Industries, Inc. for more than 30 years. She served on the municipal board and the zoning board committee for the City of Landrum.
“I seek to be re-elected to another term in office. The city and its citizens needs people that are motivated to work hard for the city and citizens,” Whiteside said.
Randy Wohnig
Randy Wohnig, a 10-year resident of Landrum, is married to Kim Bartlett Wohnig. The couple has two children: a son, Randy Jr., and a daughter, Sarah.
Wohnig is the owner/operator of Aardvark Restoration and Renovations and a retired firefighter in Columbia, S.C.
He served on the Landrum City Council for 5½ years and is a member of the First Baptist Church of Gowensville.