Sep 2023: Two Former Mayors Face Off: Incumbent Kenneth Gist and Challenger Brad Burnett
Ahead of the Nov 7, 2023 election, The Woodruff Times asked both mayoral candidates about their experience. Incumbent Kenneth Gist and former mayor Brad Burnett have each led the city before.
The Woodruff Times published a candidate Q&A on September 16, 2023, ahead of the November 7, 2023 mayoral election. Both candidates had served as mayor before. The paper asked each about their qualifications and their professional and political background.
Kenneth Gist (incumbent): Gist said he had served a combined 16 years as mayor and on council, and that he had owned or operated W.J. Gist Mortuary for 41 years, which he said gives him a feel for the pressures on small businesses. He described himself as nonpartisan in the role, making decisions on what benefits Woodruff.
Brad Burnett (challenger): Burnett, a lifelong Spartanburg County resident who described his approach to spending as conservative, served as mayor from 2008 to 2012 and again from 2016 until the election date moved in 2019. He pointed to the city's recovery after the mills closed: cost control, downtown facade grants, and the sewer upgrades that he said made today's residential and business growth possible. He cited his executive background and past roles on the Spartanburg Chamber board and as chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturing Association. His priorities included working with SCDOT to reduce tractor-trailer traffic through town and keeping costs revenue-neutral for seniors and lower-income residents.
Read both candidates' full answers at The Woodruff Times (link below).