LANDRUM — A few weeks after casting their ballots on Election Day, Landrum voters will be asked to make another trip to the ballot box on Tuesday.

The city will hold a special election for a vacant seat on the Landrum City Council, left by the death of longtime Councilman Jon Matheis in August. Vying for the seat are two candidates: Carol Browning, a retired banker and current member of the Landrum Planning Commission, and Shannon Dotson, a Marine Corps veteran and a funeral director at Landrum’s Petty Funeral Home.

To give voters a better perspective on the candidates, the Bulletin has issued a series of questions to the two, whose answers will be published in their entirety below.

Only residents of the city of Landrum will be able to vote in the special election, which will take place Tuesday. For election times and precincts, voters may visit scvotes.org.

Name: Carol Browning

Age: 76

Educational background: BS degree in business from the College of Charleston 

Professional background: Twenty years as certified financial planner and investment advisor, 10 years as an accountant and consultant to small businesses. Was an IRS enrolled agent.

Current occupation: Retired as vice president of Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank) and a second time as vice president of Carolina First (now TD Bank).

Previous political experience: Have never held an elected office.

Community service experience:

• Current active member of following boards — Rotary Club of Tryon Foundation, Our Carolina Foothills, Community Chorus and Landrum Museum Board.

• Prior member of the following boards — Tryon Downtown Development Association, Tryon Little Theater, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center and Second Wind Hall of Fame.

• I am on the Landrum Planning Commission, a member of Friends of the Landrum Library.

• I am a SCORE mentor and volunteer at Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry.

• I was Volunteer of the Year at FENCE. and Rotarian of the Year of the Rotary Club of Tryon.

What qualities do you feel you will bring to the table as a member of city council? What separates you from your opponent?

Since moving to Landrum in 2003, I have been involved in the community and, as a result, I have gained much knowledge about Landrum and the surrounding communities and what the needs and wishes are in Landrum. I have leadership ability and many years of business and financial experience that I can bring to the council to work with the current members to accomplish things efficiently and cost effectively. My knowledge of the whole Foothills area can work to Landrum’s advantage. Being retired affords me the time to devote to the business and well-being of Landrum without having distractions.

What will be your top priority if elected?

I want to explore more deeply our infrastructure needs and work with the city administrator, the county and the state to secure needed funding. We need more of the HUD grants that we used to get. I want to explore increasing our supply of affordable housing options for our young adults and seniors so we can keep them here contributing to our community and contributing to our tax base. I want to work to keep our downtown vibrant and relevant to meet the needs of visitors and residents alike.

The city council has been criticized in the past for not always following proper parliamentary procedure. Do you believe that the council should have strict rules of procedure in place? Why?

Our city code says the council is to follow Roberts Rules of Order at which it mostly does a pretty good job, and I support that procedure.

The future of downtown Landrum has dominated discussion among city leaders in recent months, with the development of a new rail car museum as well as the recent decision to scrap a zoning ordinance that would have restricted the type of businesses that could open on the first-floor of certain areas along Rutherford Street and North Trade and Howard avenues. If elected, what measures would you support to strengthen downtown Landrum and ensure it remains a destination for residents and visitors for years to come?

I would make an effort to work with current business owners and property owners to get their ideas on how to best maintain and encourage the current vibrancy that exist in our downtown area. Tourism is going to be the economic driver in Landrum and all of the communities that surround us. It is imperative that we stay out in front of this and be innovative and think outside the box in order not to be left behind. It is all about economics and staying in the mix — being current and in the forefront. That is an area in which I have good experience through my work with Our Carolina Foothills.

Tourism remains a vital part of South Carolina’s economy. With larger cities such as Greenville and Spartanburg, as well as neighboring communities such as Tryon and Saluda, all vying for dollars from people visiting the area, how would you, as a member of city council, help make Landrum stand out?

I want to continue to educate myself on opportunities for keeping Landrum a community that stands out. I want to continue to work with the Landrum Area Business Association to support our businesses and to have quality events that showcase our city. I want to work with other organizations in the area on ways to showcase and market our city. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel if there are cooperative efforts that we can participate in. I want to work toward making our city a place that is convenient to pedestrians and cyclist. I want to work towards making our city more visually appealing with flowers and greenery. I want Landrum to be a place where people are proud to say they live here and want to always be talking positively about where they live. That is exactly what I have been doing for the last 15 ½ years. I love Landrum and I love our motto “Love Landrum”

Name: Shannon Dotson

Age: 50

Educational background:

Bachelor of Science, Xavier University/Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science 

Professional background:

• I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, 1986-1997

• I served on a federal mortuary team that was responsible for forensic identification and family assistance during mass fatality disasters.

• I am a member of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association and have served on the executive board for that association.

• I am a member of the South Carolina Firefighters Association.

• I am a member of the American Legion.

• I am a member of the National Funeral Directors Association.

Current occupation: I am a licensed funeral director and embalmer with Petty Funeral Home. I am a firefighter with the Landrum Fire Rescue District

Previous political experience: None

Community service experience:

• I am a member of First Baptist Church Landrum, where I have served on the men’s ministry committee and currently serve on the long-term planning committee and the family life center research team.

• I served on the Landrum Youth Sports Association Board

• I served as a team captain for the Landrum Fire and Rescue Relay for Life Team

What qualities do you feel you will bring to the table as a member of city council? What separates you from your opponent?

I am a strong leader, organized and decisive. As a Marine, I gained valuable knowledge, skills and experience on how to lead. I believe that this has given me the skills necessary to serve on these various groups, committees and boards and also to be a member of Landrum City Council.  As a part of this community and my careers, I serve families and citizens every day, which is exactly what I will do if I am elected to city council.

What will be your top priority if elected?

First and foremost, I want to build face-to-face relationships with the citizens, property owners and business owners of Landrum. I want to keep Landrum vibrant and prosperous while at the same time doing what is right for all of the citizens of this great city. I would like to see more transparency and open communication between the city leaders and the citizens. As a part of city council, we need to ensure that we are spending taxpayer dollars wisely (prioritizing needs over wants). Also, I believe that we need to update our existing codes, ordinances and zoning. I want to make sure that our community feels secure though the combined efforts of our law enforcement, fire service and EMS providers. I firmly believe the city needs to have more to offer our senior citizens and youth such as a community center.

The city council has been criticized in the past for not always following proper parliamentary procedure. Do you believe that the council should have strict rules of procedure in place? Why or why not?

First I would like to say that as I have never been involved with Landrum City Council, it is hard for me to speak to their parliamentary procedure and the rules that they have in place. That being said, I do think that a specific parliamentary procedure is helpful to both the leaders and the citizens, so that everyone knows and understands what the rules are and that they are to be followed.

The future of downtown Landrum has dominated discussion among city leaders in recent months, with the development of a new rail car museum as well as the recent decision to scrap a zoning ordinance that would have restricted the type of businesses that could open on the first-floor of certain areas along Rutherford Street and North Trade and Howard avenues. If elected, what measures would you support to strengthen downtown Landrum and ensure it remains a destination for residents and visitors for years to come?

First, I agree with not moving forward with the 2018-06 Ordinance pertaining to the Downtown Overlay Pedestrian District because I believe it is taking away property owners rights.  I believe that there are things that we can do as city leaders to strengthen downtown while making sure it’s in our citizens, property owners and business owner’s best interest and if, that’s the case, I will support it.

Tourism remains a vital part of South Carolina’s economy. With larger cities such as Greenville and Spartanburg, as well as neighboring communities such as Tryon and Saluda, all vying for dollars from people visiting the area, how would you, as a member of city council, help make Landrum stand out?

I want to see Landrum thrive and be prosperous without losing the “Small Town Southern Charm.” That is what defines us. That is why our citizens love living here and why people come here to visit.  I don’t believe that we need to make Landrum standout — it does stand out!  We just need to ensure that we as city leaders continue to make sure that Landrum remains vibrant while meeting our citizen’s needs first.  If it weren’t for the citizens, property owners and business owners in Landrum, there would be no Landrum.