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.
Lee Mahoney
Tell voters about yourself, including your background, professional experience, community involvement and what motivated you to seek or continue serving on the Clarendon County School District Board of Trustees. What experience would you bring to representing your district?
I was born and raised here, and I am a proud graduate of our public school system, Manning High School Class of 2003. I'm married with two little girls. My wife is also a graduate of Manning High School, and both of my daughters attend our school system. My wife is also a teacher for the district.
I have a vested interest in the success of our school system from all standpoints, as a parent, taxpayer and a community member dependent on the workforce made of graduates from our school system.
I currently serve as deputy chief of operations with Clarendon County Fire Rescue and can bring that experience with me. The main areas of experience I plan to bring are fiscal responsibility, accountability and organization. Not to say that these aren't within our board now, but they are areas that I excel in.
What do you believe are the three most pressing challenges facing Clarendon County School District, and what specific steps would you support to address them during your term?
My three priorities are improving academic achievement, retaining quality teachers and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Clarendon County has made progress, and we should build on what is working while honestly addressing areas that need improvement.
I would support measurable academic goals, early intervention for struggling students and regular reviews of district spending. We must prepare students for college, technical careers, military service or the workforce.
Every decision should be guided by student success, parental involvement and accountability, not politics.
What are the most significant needs or concerns facing students, families and schools in District 4, and how would you ensure those concerns are represented in decisions affecting the school district as a whole?
District 4 families deserve strong schools, safe learning environments, reliable transportation and responsible use of educational resources.
I would make listening to parents, teachers, staff and taxpayers a priority so local concerns are not overlooked in districtwide decisions. I would advocate resources based on demonstrated needs and measurable results.
Rural communities have unique challenges, and those challenges deserve attention. My responsibility would be to represent District 4 while working with the full board to ensure every Clarendon County student receives a quality education.
The district's 2026 school report cards showed improvements at some schools, while others experienced declines. What do you believe the results reveal about the district's academic progress? How should the board evaluate the effectiveness of academic interventions, tutoring and other support programs, and what changes would you support to improve student achievement in areas where performance continues to lag?
Clarendon County's reported academic progress is encouraging, but we cannot become complacent. Improvements at some schools and declines at others mean we must look closely at what is working and where students need more help.
I would support reviewing school report cards, student growth, tutoring outcomes and program costs. Interventions should have measurable goals and regular evaluations.
Successful programs should be strengthened, while ineffective ones should be changed or discontinued. We must focus on reading, math and core skills so students leave school prepared for real opportunities.
Maintaining safe learning environments, addressing student behavior and improving attendance are important responsibilities for school districts. What do you see as the greatest challenges in these areas, and what specific policies, programs or resources would you support to ensure students and employees feel safe while keeping students engaged and in school?
Every student and employee deserves a safe school where learning can take place without constant disruption. I would support consistent discipline, prompt responses to threats and bullying, secure facilities and appropriate coordination with parents and law enforcement.
Chronic absenteeism must be addressed early by identifying causes and involving families. Students who need help should receive appropriate support, but support must come with accountability.
Teachers should be empowered to teach, and students who follow the rules should not have their education disrupted by repeated misconduct. Safety and learning must remain top priorities.
Recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and staff remains an important issue for school districts, particularly in rural communities. What steps would you support to improve employee retention, strengthen morale and ensure students have access to qualified educators?
Good teachers need fair compensation, supportive leadership, safe classrooms and the freedom to focus on teaching.
I would listen directly to educators about why employees leave and what would encourage them to stay. I would support reducing unnecessary paperwork, strengthening classroom discipline, recognizing effective teaching and providing useful professional development.
We must also review compensation and benefits within a responsible budget. Recruiting teachers is important, but retaining experienced, qualified educators is just as critical.
Better working conditions and sound leadership can improve morale without simply throwing more money at every problem.
The school board is responsible for developing and overseeing the district's budget while balancing academic needs, staffing, facilities and other operating expenses. What would be your spending priorities, and how would you ensure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and transparently?
My priorities would be classroom instruction, qualified teachers, student safety, essential facility maintenance and proven academic programs.
Taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability for every dollar spent. I would support detailed budget reporting, competitive purchasing, regular reviews of administrative expenses and clear explanations for major expenditures.
Before approving new spending, I would ask what it accomplishes, how success will be measured and whether a more affordable option exists.
I support investing in students, but I will not support spending or automatic budget increases without evidence of need and results.
Clarendon County School District serves communities across a large geographic area, with schools facing differing facility and transportation needs. What do you believe are the district's most pressing infrastructure and transportation challenges, and what specific improvements would you prioritize to address them?
I would prioritize safe, well-maintained schools and reliable transportation throughout Clarendon County.
We should evaluate building conditions, deferred maintenance, bus reliability, route efficiency and student travel times before committing taxpayer money to major projects.
Preventive maintenance and careful planning can help avoid more expensive problems later. I would support a transparent facilities and transportation plan that ranks projects by safety, urgency, educational benefit and cost.
Every community deserves fair consideration, but spending must be based on documented needs.
How would you improve communication between the school board, parents, employees and the public? What steps would you support to make board decisions more transparent and ensure residents have meaningful opportunities to raise concerns and receive responses?
Parents are a child's first and most important advocates, and they deserve a meaningful voice in their education.
I would support timely access to board agendas, meeting minutes, budget information and clear explanations of major decisions. Parents and employees should have practical opportunities to raise concerns and receive timely responses.
I would encourage direct communication between families, schools and district leadership before problems escalate. Open communication builds trust, even when people disagree.
I will listen respectfully, communicate honestly and support decisions that put students first while respecting parental rights and the public's right to know.
School board members may have differing opinions about district policies, spending and leadership decisions. How would you work with fellow board members when disagreements arise, and how would you balance supporting district leadership with holding the superintendent and administration accountable for results?
I would work professionally with fellow board members, listen to differing viewpoints and base decisions on facts, student outcomes and responsible spending.
Disagreement is not a problem when handled respectfully and focused on doing what is best for students. At the same time, cooperation must never mean abandoning oversight.
I would expect district leadership to establish clear goals, report measurable results, manage funds responsibly and explain shortcomings honestly.
My responsibility is to the students, families, employees and taxpayers of Clarendon County. I will support good leadership, ask tough questions when necessary and put accountability first.
