Election Day is Nov. 4. Early voting for local 2025 races is from Monday, Oct. 20, to Friday, Oct. 31, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lexington County Voter Registration and Election Office, located at 605 West Main Street, Ste. C, in Lexington. The office can be reached at 803-785-8361, and more information is available on the county’s website. These Q&A responses are published in the order the Lexington Chronicle has received them; there will be more in future editions and online leading up to the election.

Scott N. Simms, running for Pine Ridge Town Council

1. Why are you running?
To serve the people of Pine Ridge.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:
Yes, this is my third run for the town council. Currently serving as Mayor Pro Tempore.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession:
Registered Respiratory Therapist. Currently employed at Prisma Health Baptist Hospital.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat?
Past appointments to Pine Ridge planning committee. Served on the Medical Board of SC for Respiratory Care Advisory Committee. Chairman for numerous Local Faith based initiatives.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them?
Regulate the rate of growth for our town with focus on low density housing while improving infrastructure. Work with county and state representatives to help mitigate rapid growth efforts by builders.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on?
Limiting high density housing development.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain.
Currently planned for resurfacing of Fish Hatchery road 2026 into the Town. Pushing for numerous road improvements.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so?
Faith base programs and volunteer for Town sponsored events.

9. Anything else you want to add?
God is good, all the time.

Benjamin F. Battiste, running for Irmo Town Council

1. Why are you running?
I am running for the seat in Irmo because it is my adopted hometown now. After more than two decades in the U.S. Army, moving around the world, I finally have a chance to grow some roots. I feel that local government is the best place to affect positive change, and I see Irmo as being on an amazing trajectory right now. I want to ensure that we keep moving forward to create a community anyone would be proud to call "home."

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:
No. This is a first for me. I've never been in a position to really even think about it before.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession:
I am currently working as the Curator of History and the Archivist for the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum. I am also retired from the U.S. Army after 21 years and nine months of active service in the Infantry where I was able to complete my MA in History.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat?
I would have to say that I have been able to develop skills in leadership while serving in the Military. I had to learn to lead my Soldiers, listen, to both my Soldiers and my leadership, and to be able to make tough decisions while keeping other people's best interests in mind. I have been working as a public historian for more than four years now, which requires me to be able to preserve, interpret, and communicate complex stories. I am also held accountable to the public, which means to me, being transparent, being a good steward, and being accessible. I also live in the Harbison community and have resided here, both as a renter and a home-owner since 2015. Both me and my wife have advocated with Harbison about the need for more sidewalks due to some dangerous areas for pedestrian traffic. I am also involved in the newly stood-up Greater Irmo Art Guild. I would like to be able to continue to dedicate myself in new ways to helping improve and enrich our community.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them?
I think Irmo is moving in a very positive direction, and I want to ensure that we continue to move forward, while watching out to ensure no one in our community gets left behind. Irmo, as a community, represents a wide gamut of socio-economic groups and it is up to us as a community to keep all these different groups in mind as we make decisions.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on?
I think the community has had some real wins with green space lately and I would like to see us continue to develop a robust park system for the public to enjoy. I have also been happy to see us taking a mindful view towards annexation. The way it has been done so far has been cautiously optimistic, which I approve of.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain.
Some of our infrastructure issues are baked into our community due to our history. I think have done what can be done for the Woodrow/Saint Andrews issues, and it's workable. I would like to see us look at sidewalk expansions throughout the town. We have some, but they seem piecemeal and incomplete. I would like to make sure that people can walk freely around our town and not have to depend on motor vehicles to make the whole community accessible.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so?
I already mentioned the Greater Irmo Art Guild above, but I am also involved with the Pawmetto Lifeline, fostering through them, the Palmetto Knights, an armored, medieval, fighting group, and the local branch of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS).

Troy Teague, running for Batesburg-Leesville Town Council District 1

1. Why are you running?
I am running for town council because I want to be a part of the responsible decisions our town makes as we grow into the future. My wife and I have planted roots here and are raising our daughter here. I want the town to have the same appeal in 20 years to newer generations, as it did to my wife and I when we decided to move here.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain:
I have never run for political office before and hope to bring a different, but good, outlook on our town's politics.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession:
I am part owner of JRT Craft Construction with my little brother and our dad where we have been doing residential remodel and renovation work for the past 16 years all over the midlands.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat?
I think what makes me qualified for the seat on town council is that I am invested in this community and really have a passion for seeing this town grow responsibly. I am very adamant on making sure our town council works together as a team for the betterment of our beautiful town.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them?
I think that the district I hope to represent has concerns that mimic most of the town, including the growth of the town, the drainage and rainwater issues throughout, and our new water system being brought in. I intend to work diligently and responsibly with the other town council members, our mayor and town manager to address all of these issues at hand and future issues that come forth.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on?
I have seen the Batesburg Business District grow since we have become residents here. I would love to keep pushing the growth of our main street area with local/small businesses occupying the vacant buildings in the area. The beautification and upkeep of our downtown areas is a must, keeping this wonderful town as inviting as it has always been.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain.
My thoughts on infrastructure are to definitely reach out and stay on the SCDOT to work with our town for the improvement of our roads, including the stormwater drainage issues and looking into addressing the speed limits and layout/configuration of roadways in high traffic areas.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so?
I am involved in the community as a part time employee of a small business in Leesville, Homeland, where I have connected and made relationships with many of the wonderful people in our town. I've also been involved in events put on by our Chamber of Commerce and attended many things the town has to offer with my wife and daughter.

More Q&As will be published online and in future editions of the Chronicle before the election.