The Manning Times invited candidates in local and state races to participate in a question-and-answer feature addressing their backgrounds, qualifications, priorities and positions on issues affecting our communities.
Candidates seeking the same office received identical questions, allowing readers to compare their responses on the same topics. Questions were tailored to the responsibilities of each office, with some addressing recent developments covered by The Manning Times. The Q&As are organized by race, with candidates listed alphabetically by last name within each race.
Candidates were asked to limit their responses to approximately 100 to 150 words per question and were offered the option of participating through a phone or in-person interview. Candidates seeking the same office received identical response guidelines. Answers are published as submitted, with only minor edits for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, space and AP style. Response lengths vary according to the information provided by each candidate.
All candidates were given the same deadline to participate, which was subsequently extended to 10 p.m. Oct. 19 to allow additional time for responses.
Delaney Kay Frierson (D), incumbent
Tell voters about yourself, including your background, professional experience, community involvement and what motivated you to seek or continue serving on Clarendon County Council. What experience would you bring to representing District 2?
My name is Delaney Kay Frierson. I have been a resident of Manning, South Carolina, for over 50 years. I remain a certified educator in South Carolina and retired after 39 years serving as a teacher, district administrator and middle school principal. All seven of our children were educated in Clarendon School District 2.
It was an honor to be appointed by the legislative delegation to serve on the South Carolina State Board of Education from March 2021 to April 2025, representing the 3rd Judicial Circuit (Clarendon, Lee, Sumter and Williamsburg counties). This leadership position allowed my voice and ideas to contribute collaboratively to setting policies for teaching and learning to ensure children are prepared for lifelong success.
I am the newly elected member of County Council as of May 12, 2026. I am also the incumbent seeking to continue serving the citizens of Clarendon County District 2 for the next four years.
What values or principles led you to affiliate with your political party? Are there positions within your party's platform that you disagree with or would approach differently? If so, what are they, and how would you handle situations in which your party's position conflicts with what you believe is best for Clarendon County residents?
My political party is Democratic. I believe in helping people who are in need. I support social programs such as Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and food assistance. Civil and social rights are important to me.
I am passionate about preserving our environment. I believe the quality of life for American workers should improve through higher federal and state minimum wages, especially when the cost of living warrants such increases. I believe in the need for protections through regulations and labor unions, and that fair taxation for those who can afford to pay taxes should be a reality.
As an unashamed Christian believer, I am persuaded by the following teachings: When we feed the hungry, provide water for the thirsty, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit those who are imprisoned, we have represented the kingdom of God and the Savior (Matthew 25:35-40).
It is not my responsibility to judge people facing these challenges. God promises that he will separate evil from good at harvest time. Learning to respect the opinions and beliefs of those who differ from mine is important.
Disagreement with dignity is being responsible, and compromise is always welcome. Bottom line: No hidden agendas. I am a servant to the people of Clarendon County. One County, One Future.
What do you consider the three most pressing needs facing District 2 residents, and what specific steps would you take as a council member to address them?
The three most pressing needs facing District 2 residents are infrastructure and roads, economic development and jobs, and youth and adult recreation.
Studies are currently being conducted on the kinds of materials needed to maintain rural roads and provide drainage in these areas. Road maintenance is very expensive, which causes me concern about how we will accomplish these necessary and important goals without additional taxes and with limited financial resources.
There is a need for our planning and zoning departments and county chamber of commerce to continue attracting businesses and industries to our county so they can provide opportunities for economic development and jobs.
Our county has a very nice recreation department that I would love to see expand to attract Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) participants. This county initiative would provide economic opportunities for our hospitality and food industries, as well as for children as they train for high school and collegiate sports opportunities and scholarships.
As our county grows, there is a rising need for adult recreation such as slow-pitch softball, basketball, volleyball, hunting, golf, pickleball and tennis, just to name a few.
Clarendon County Council approved a roughly $45.8 million budget for fiscal year 2026-27, including employee raises and a slight reduction in millage. What do you believe the county is spending too much or too little on, and what specific changes, if any, would you make to the budget or the process used to develop it?
I believe our county has done a good job addressing important needs, but two areas that require close attention are employee health care costs and emergency services equipment.
While providing quality health care benefits is essential, I support the county's efforts to promote wellness and preventive health programs that help employees maintain healthier lifestyles and reduce insurance costs over time.
The county is also mindful of the increasing cost of large equipment needed by our emergency services departments. These purchases are necessary to keep our first responders safe and properly equipped, but they have become more expensive because there are fewer manufacturers and less competition in the marketplace.
Moving forward, I would like to see continued transparency in the budget process, greater public input and careful long-term planning. Taxpayers deserve to know how decisions are made, and county leaders should always look for ways to control costs while maintaining the quality services residents depend on every day.
County Council recently approved a six-month moratorium on most new data center and battery energy storage system applications, with exceptions for certain industrially zoned properties. What regulations or safeguards do you believe the county should establish before considering additional projects, and how would you weigh potential economic benefits against concerns about infrastructure, public safety and neighboring properties?
Before making a commitment to allow data centers to locate in Clarendon County, we must know and understand the costs and risks involving our resources, such as electricity and water, as well as noise and other concerns, and develop clear, unified development codes.
We need our planning and zoning commission to continue to be diligent in this study. As we become more aware of the need to preserve our natural resources, we can reflect on past industries that became part of our county and what we are now learning about their effects on our community.
I am grateful that this moratorium was put in place to allow us to make the best possible decision to protect the residents of Clarendon County.
Clarendon County's law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical services and coroner's office serve residents across a large rural area. What do you see as the greatest challenges facing these services, and what steps would you support to improve response capabilities, staffing and access to emergency assistance throughout the county?
Our emergency services personnel need competitive salaries that match surrounding counties so we can retain employees who are willing to stay in Clarendon County and serve the people who live here or visit our county.
I believe that by improving employees' quality of life through competitive pay, we will be able to serve the people of Clarendon County more efficiently.
County Council has moved forward with major facility projects and a vehicle replacement program intended to address aging county equipment. How would you determine which infrastructure, facility and equipment needs deserve priority, and how would you evaluate whether those investments are providing value to taxpayers?
Providing services that protect the citizens of Clarendon County is most important. Our family has received emergency services, and the thought of a lack of working vehicles or personnel being the reason someone does not receive help in a crisis is unthinkable and unacceptable.
As a member of Clarendon County Council, I am pleased with the vehicle replacement program. There is a progression system for replacing vehicles, recognizing that equipment has a service life and experiences wear and tear.
A replacement plan will assist in relieving pressure on the county's budget. Being proactive about the maintenance and replacement of county equipment serves the best interests of taxpayers and everyone who enters our county. Excellence without excuses!
The Clarendon County Archives collection has been relocated temporarily while the county considers how to address the condition of its longtime facility. What do you believe should be the county's long-term responsibility for preserving the collection, maintaining public access and funding a permanent solution?
My desire for preserving the collection, maintaining public access and funding a permanent solution for our county's archives is to have our local legislative delegation assist the county by providing funds to upgrade and restore the present facilities.
Marketing the archives and explaining the importance of this valuable resource are also needed so that county residents, historians and others can explore and research the rich history and contributions of the past for present and future generations.
I would also like to see a strong partnership between the South Carolina Department of Archives and History Foundation, the South Carolina Historical Society and Clarendon County Archives to ensure the protection and preservation of documents, greater public awareness, and the use of the archives for family history and educational research.
County Council has faced questions about public access to financial information, the timing of development announcements and opportunities for residents to provide input before major decisions are made. What changes, if any, would you support to improve transparency, public participation and communication between council members and the communities they represent?
As a member of County Council, I believe in transparency and public participation. I also respect policies and procedures.
The people of Clarendon County are encouraged to attend our monthly meetings, review the published agenda and make public comments. We have a county administrator, finance director and council chairman who make reports monthly. On occasion, as deemed appropriate, other members may have comments.
We are always making adjustments to the process of communication with the people of Clarendon County so that transparency will be evident. Everyone's voice is important.
Clarendon County has a history of closely contested elections, with residents holding differing political views. What steps have you taken, or would you take, to bring people together across party lines? What issues do you believe residents can find common ground on, regardless of political affiliation, and how would you work to build consensus around solutions?
One County. One Future. This reflects how I believe we should govern.
One County, One Future reflects my belief that regardless of political party, race, age or background, the people of Clarendon County want the same things: safe communities, good jobs, strong schools, reliable infrastructure and opportunities for their children and grandchildren to succeed.
Throughout my life, I have worked with people from different backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives. I have learned that progress happens when we listen to one another with respect and focus on solving problems rather than scoring political points.
As a County Council member, I make myself accessible to all residents, not just those who agree with me. I believe we can find common ground on issues such as economic development, public safety, road improvements, workforce development and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
My approach would be to bring people together, encourage open dialogue and focus on practical solutions that benefit the entire county.
At the end of the day, we are all neighbors. If we keep our focus on what unites us instead of what divides us, we can build One County, One Future together.
