LANDRUM — Roads, taxes, government bureaucracy and welfare reform were the topics on candidates’ tongues at the town hall meeting in Landrum Thursday night.

Four candidates spoke, while three candidates running unopposed also attending the meeting.

Citizens filled the depot for the Landrum Lions Club event. Spartanburg County Councilman  and Lions Club member Bob Walker, who is running unopposed for District 1, mediated the discussion.

The candidates each spoke about why they were running before answering questions.

Joan Clyborne is running for South Carolina House of Representatives District 38. She said she would fight to protect local community based schools, support law enforcement and work to fix the welfare system.

“We’re under funding the base student cost between $500 and $600 million,” she said. “We find the money by reforming the welfare system.”

Clyborne’s opponent, Josiah Magnuson, stressed his conservative approach to government. Magnuson spoke for pro-life legislation, said he supported traditional marriage, gun rights, the family and Christian values.

He also said he would continue to support religious freedom.

“I’m strongest fiscal conservative in the house,” Magnuson  said, adding that he was accessible and open to phone calls. “I’m beholden only to you. Not the other legislators.”

Spartanburg County Council Chair candidate Manning Lynch talked about his many years experience serving in government. He said he had worked as the Spartanburg County Sewer Commissioner for more than 27 years.

“There are so many problems with the taxes in this state,” said Lynch. “We need to start over.”

Lynch said he was in favor of fees in lieu of taxes in order to attract businesses that provide jobs. Lynch said he was running because people had asked him to. He added that they need to improve the infrastructure and the things that enhance lives, such as good roads and parks.

Lynch’s opponent for council chair, Brian Turnage, said he has worked most of his life as a firefighter and is not a career politician. Turnage said, as a firefighter, he understood the working people, and those who did not make a high salary. He said that the emergency personnel did not want to raise the taxes, but they needed the right equipment to keep people safe.

Turnage said much of the problem was misappropriation of tax dollars by the state.

“The state owes Spartanburg County millions over last several years,” said Turnage, saying the county was unable to sue because of politics. “They have our hands tied, and they’re threatening us.”

Turnage said he was running because he wanted to make things better for his family.

“It’s time to fix things. That’s why I’m here,” he said.