 The Great Sammy Kershaw once sang “let's talk about anything, anything at all, but politics, religion, and her.” So far Not My Boys has heeded this sound advice, unless you count religion (college football) and her (Honey). But inspired by Independence Day, we decided to dip our toe into politics, specifically local politics. Because after all, as former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill once said, “all politics is local.” We scheduled a sit-down with John DeWorken and Russell Stall, the Republican and Democratic candidates respectively, for the at-large Greenville City Council seat being vacated by the retiring Gaye Sprague. This wasn't your typical political forum. The venue was Grateful Brew; there was beer involved. [Note: We tried to be accurate with this, but there were a lot jokes, a lot of ribbing, a beer or four, and candidly, it's like horseshoes and hand grenades around here. Still, better than most outlets that charge money.]
GETTING TO KNOW YOU (John) John is the Republican. He is married to Sunnie Harmon, and they are expecting their first child. He is a business owner. Learn more about him here. You are originally from Detroit, correct? Yes. Then New Jersey, then Clemson, then Greenville. Just to help us confirm this, do you personally know the following people? Eminem - no Tom Selleck - no Francis Ford Coppola - no Kid Rock - no Describe a typical John DeWorken Tuesday. Wake at 5:45, read papers on phone, coffee, get to work, exercise mid morning, back to work, home. You have lobbied on behalf of the Carolina Film Alliance. Who is your favorite Southern Charm cast member? Not sure, only my wife watches. Can you explain your decision not to have a campaign website? [Note: he does have a website, it is just way down the Google search results] Thank God I have improved. What is it like to wake up every day knowing it is going to be Sunnie? A glorious thing. First thought you had about this interview request when you received it? Fun. GETTING TO KNOW YOU (Russell) Russell is the Democrat. He is married to Susan Stall, and they are the empty nest parents of two children. Learn more about him here. When I saw you ordering a beer I said to myself it’s obvious this guy likes beer, look how fat he is getting. I bet no one has ever told you that before? Max Heller. [Note: Max Heller is a former mayor of Greenville, largely credited with making the Hyatt happen and starting the downtown renaissance, and for whom Russell once worked.] You are a Greenville native, but left for 16 years and spent time in Washington and Atlanta. Redskins or Falcons? Falcons. Hawks or Wizards? Hawks. What can we do to make sure Greenville becomes just like Atlanta? Keep building apartments and condos, and more cars. You say on your website that Greenville is at a crossroads. Could you please name the roads? Woodruff and Main if there was such an intersection. Describe a typical Russell Stall Wednesday? I don’t wake up at 5:45. I am a late night guy. I usually am in bed at 1:30 or 2, then up at 7 to 8. Pick up phone, then look at the news. I am retired now so I don’t have an office to go to. May be TedX, campaign, Leadership Greenville. My exercise plan has not come to fruition. Woodworkers guild (building a guitar right now). There is no typical day. You are a beekeeper, give us your thoughts on Bee Bee’s. Never heard of Bee Bee’s. [This was 100% what he actually said; Not My Boys showed considerable restraint here] To learn more about Bee Bee's read our review here. First thought you had about this interview request when you received it? Looking forward to it. I thought it would be a lot different than our typical position talking point. GREENVILLE HISTORY Now that we have a little bit of background on the two of you, let’s test your knowledge of Greenville history. [After a coin flip, John went first, Russell second, then they alternated.] For whom is Greenville named? John: Greene. Russell: Agree, but questionable what happened to the “e” in Greene. [Answer: Revolutionary War Major General Nathanael Greene] What was its original name? Russell: Pleasantburg. John: Agree. [Answer: Pleasantburg] Who is Furman University named for? John: Mr. Furman. Russell: Reverend Furman. [Answer: Reverend Richard Furman] Where was Furman University originally located [before it was located at what is now county square]? Russell: Not in Greenville. John: Agree. [Answer: Edgefield then Stateburg then Winnsboro] Who is Bob Jones University named for? John: Reverend Jones. Russell: Reverend Jones Sr. [Answer: Reverend Bob Jones Sr.] Where was Bob Jones Univ. originally located? Russell: Ohio. John: Agree. [Answer: Panama City, FL then Cleveland, TN] Name as many of Greenville’s minor league baseball teams as you can? John: Drive, Braves, and textile teams. Russell: Also the Spinners and Bombers. [Answer: first Spinners, then Braves, Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, Braves again, Bombers, now Drive] A famous athlete from/lived/played here? Russell: Shoeless Joe Jackson, Frank Selvy, Clyde Mayes, Clyde Agnew, Ben Martin, Bill Haas. John: Brad Faxon, women golfers, Lucas Glover, Charles Warren. [Answer: In addition to the above, we would have accepted George Hincapie, Nolan Ryan who played a season for the Greenville Mets, and several NFL players] A famous person (non-athlete) from here/lived here? John: Charles Townes. Russell: Edwin McCain, Joanne Woodward. [Answer: We could not come up with anybody else other than the three named; please don’t comment and tell us about someone who was on a reality TV show or came in third in a talent search, we are talking about people who are actually famous] How many mice are on Main? John: 11. Russell: 10. [Answer: 9] Do you find the below lines, which are verbatim from the official Greenville history on the city website, unnecessarily sexual? After V-E and V-J Days, though, four years of saving and pent-up demand brought an orgy of spending and traffic. Main Street pulsated with cars; four national highways siphoned into it. Real estate firms quickly leased available downtown stores. Furman bulged—its student body nearly doubled with returning veterans. [Answer: We did not force them to answer this question, so just decide for yourself] YOUR STYLES/PREFERENCES If you are elected will you promise to get in Twitter fights? John: No. Russell: No. What is your least favorite thing about this race (and you cannot answer “this interview”)? Russell: The length of it, 10 months of it is a long time. John: Raising money. Knox White. A great mayor, or the greatest mayor? John: The greatest mayor. Russell: Max Heller was better. Jil Littlejohn. A great mayor pro tem, or the greatest mayor pro tem? Russell: A good mayor pro tem. John: The best ever. YOUR POSITIONS John, will you support a Walgreen’s to replace the Northgate Soda Shop? No. Russell, will you support cutting down trees along Augusta Road to make it safer for drivers? No. Greenville’s lack of live music. Discuss. John: It’s terrible, we need it. We have a younger demographic that wants experiences and would like that opportunity. Russell: We had a TedX about it two years ago. We do not have a mid-size venue that can support it. Russell, one of your mentors, former mayor Max Heller brought the Hyatt to Main Street. There has been a recent hotel boom downtown - are you concerned supply will soon outpace demand? What role if any does city council play in this? Russell: While occupancy is pretty high, I think there will be too many rooms but cannot be sure. I have a hard time seeing how a city can support that many rooms. I am more concerned about apartments and condos though. John: This goes to the bigger issue of growth. Are we using data to make sure we can sustain this, and also how do we want to grow Greenville? Russell, you live near the Greenville Country Club and John you in North Main neighborhood, both affluent areas. Why should someone in a less affluent area vote for you? John: Every area of Greenville contributes to the health overall. It is important to recognize every neighborhood and we need to take care of the quality of life in all neighborhoods. Russell: Because of Greenville Forward I spent a lot of time in low income neighborhoods. I heard their stories. So much of it is the relationships and understanding the plight of what they are going through. Part of who I have been for the last ten years is being a champion for those less fortunate. Both of you want to protect our neighborhoods. Will you build a border wall and make Simpsonville pay for it? Russell: No. John: All day every day, yes. Russell why are you a Democrat? John why are you a Democrat? Russell: People would not believe me if I ran as a Republican. John: I am not a Democrat. I am a Republican because I align myself with Republican values and ideals in lots of different areas. Do you think you can beat Wil Brasington in November? John: No. Russell: [forgot to get his answer to this one] [Note: they are running against each other, not Wil, who dispatched an incumbent in a recent primary by a large margin] Who will be your first Cabinet pick if elected? John: Russell Russell: John [Note: city council members don’t make cabinet picks. If you don’t know that . . .] YOUR GREENVILLE Most favorite thing about it, and how you would keep it so? John: The people. Listen. Russell: Quality of life. Manage growth, maintain small town feel with authentic neighborhoods, and community pride. Least favorite thing about it, and how you would change it for the better? John: Traffic. Bring some smart people in to see how to get it fixed. Russell: Divide between the affluent and the non-affluent. Housing, workforce development, education. Most admired living current citizen of Greenville? John: My wife. Russell: Dick Riley. Name one city ordinance you would repeal if solely up to you? John: Not sure. Russell: Some of the old things still on the books. But I am not sure. SPEED ROUND (all yes or no answers) Are the following items recyclable in curbside bins (not just recyclable anywhere) or not per the city website? Aerosol cans John: No. Russell: No. [Answer: Yes] Egg cartons John: No, unless cardboard, not sure about foam. Russell: I agree. [Answer: Yes] Glass John: No. Russell: No. [Answer: No] Magazines John: Yes. Russell: Yes. [Answer: Yes] Plastic bags John: No. Russell: No. [Answer: No] Syringes John: I have no idea. Russell: No. [Answer: No] Is this the name of a street in Greenville per the city website? John’s neighborhood (Russell answered yes or no if this is a real street) Edge Court? Yes. [Answer: Yes] English Ivy Lane? No. [Answer: Yes] Happy Avenue? No. [Answer: Yes] John Street? No. [Answer: No] Orange Street? Yes. [Answer: Yes] Ott Road? Yes. [Answer: No] Red Street? No. [Answer: No] Russell Avenue? No. [Answer: Yes] Simmons Court? Yes. [Answer: Yes] Whitehall Street? Yes. [Answer: Yes] Russell’s totals: 7/10 Russell’s neighborhood (John answered yes or no if this is a real street) Atlantic Avenue? No. [Answer: No] Heather Way? No [Answer: Yes] Moreland Avenue? Yes. [Answer: No] Panama Avenue? No [Answer: Yes] Penn Street? Yes. [Answer: Yes] Price Street? Yes. [Answer: No] Tasha Drive? Yes. [Answer: Yes] Tyler Street? Yes. [Answer: Yes] Wilmont Lane? No. [Answer: Yes] Wormy Lane? Yes. [Answer: Yes] John’s totals: 5/10 Are the following places in the city limits of Greenville or not per the city website? Amtrak station? Russell: Yes. John: Agree. [Answer: Yes] Birds Fly South Ale Project ? John: No. Russell: Disagree. Yes [Answer: No] Bob Jones University? Russell: Yes. John: Agree. [Answer: Yes] Brewery 85? John: Yes. Russell: Disagree. No. [Answer: Yes] Buck’s Racks and Ribs (the old Platinum Plus)? John: Yes. Russell: Disagree. No. [Answer: No] C.F. Sauer, home of Duke’s Mayonnaise? Russell: No. John: Agree. [Answer: No] Cherrydale shopping center? John: Yes. Russell: Disagree. No. [Answer: No] Donaldson Center (SCTAC)? Russell: No. John: Agree. [Answer: No] Frankie’s Fun Park? John: No. Russell: Agree. [Answer: No] Haywood Mall? Russell: No. John: Disagree. Yes. [Answer: Yes] ICAR? John: Yes Russell: Agree. [Answer: Yes] Lake Conestee park? Russell: Partially. John: Agree. [Answer: Partially] Ridge Road Grocery a/k/a Lobs? John: Yes. Russell: Agree. [Answer: No] Roper Mountain Science Center? Russell: No. John: Agree. [Answer: Yes] Swamp Rabbit Grocery? John: No. Russell: Agree. [Answer: No] Thomas Creek Brewery? Russell: No. John: Disagree. Yes. [Answer: Yes] Total Wine? John: Yes. Russell: Disagree. No. [Answer: Yes] WYFF? John: Yes. Russell: Agree. Yes. [Answer: Partially] Totals John: 14/18 Russell: 10/18 SUM UP What makes Greenville attractive to young professionals? John - Do not use the word “downtown” or “jobs” in your answer. Russell - Do not use the word “cool” or “creative” in your answer. John: Neighborhoods. Russell: Lots of stuff to do. What makes Greenville attractive to families? Russell - Do not use the word “neighborhood” or “schools” in your answer. John - Do not use the word “neighborhood” or “schools” in your answer. Russell: Great place for kids. John: Safe streets and pocket parks. Tell our readers why they should vote for you? John - Do not use the word “business” in your answer. Russell - Do not use the word “growth” in your answer. John: Hard worker, great listener, and will be a champion of neighborhoods, growth that we can all be proud of, and continued investment in the quality of life we enjoy. Russell: A history of deep commitment to Greenville, a passionate love for Greenville, a deep understanding for how Greenville works and what got us here, and a knowledge of how to make change happen. To each of you, why should people vote for the other guy? John: Because he is a really nice guy. Russell: An understanding of the system and how the legislative process works, and the nuances of government. The Not My Boys Take: Both of these candidates are easy to be around, thoughtful, energized about the city, and most importantly fans of quality beer. In a period where the political divides in this country have gotten wider, more rigid, more emotional, and frankly less justifiable, it was absolutely refreshing to spend two hours with a Democrat and a Republican who have certain policy disagreements but who did not allow themselves to be disagreeable. They each deserve your attention, and the future of the city deserves your effort to make a choice and press the vote button on Election Day - Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Find out where you vote here: https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/eng/voterinquiry/VoterInformationRequest.aspx?PageMode=VoterInfo [If you forget to vote, don't feel too bad; we brought boiled peanuts with us to the interview and forgot to give them to John and Russell. Not as bad as forgetting to campaign in Wisconsin, but bad nonetheless.] Filed/RS and BG
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