Simple Civics: Greenville County

Big bets like the recruitment of Michelin and the BEST school program shaped the Greenville County we know today. What’s next? Derek Lewis talks with the Greenville Chamber's Hank Hyatt, Senior Vice President of Economic Competitiveness, and Brittney Kessler, Director of Economic Competitiveness Initiatives, about their Big Bets series and how housing, child care, and other needs and opportunities are on the minds of business and civic leaders.

Resources:

• Greenville Chamber
• Opportunity Greenville
• Big Bets

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

With 30% of Greenville County's registered voters already voting early, Election Day 2026 sends the rest to their assigned precincts. Katy Smith of Greater Good Greenville and Nathaniel DeSantis cover where to vote, the five accepted photo IDs, what to do if something goes wrong at check-in, poll watchers versus poll observers and why local results take time to become official.

Disclaimer: This episode is for general information only and is not official election guidance. Please check with the South Carolina Election Commission at https://scvotes.gov/ for official details.

Resources:

• Simple Civics candidate look-up tool
• Find your polling place (SC Election Commission)
• Accepted photo IDs for voting in South Carolina
• Greenville County Voter Registration and Elections
• Greenville County's 2026 penny tax referendums explained

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Five years after Chromebooks came home during COVID, Greenville County Schools has a new rule on classroom technology and a new framework for AI. Catherine Schumacher talks with Dr. Susan Stevens, Associate Superintendent for Academics, about what changes at each grade level, how student voices sparked the shift, and where AI tools like MagicSchool fit.

Episode Resources:

• Greenville County Schools Administrative Rule IA
• MagicSchool AI

EdTalks:

• Greenville Federal Credit Union
• Public Education Partners
• Greenville First Steps

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Every Greenville County voter will see two countywide penny tax questions on the November ballot, and residents of the cities of Greenville, Mauldin, Simpsonville and Travelers Rest will see a third. Katy Smith of Greater Good Greenville and producer Nathaniel DeSantis walk through what each referendum would fund, why there are both county and city referenda on the ballot, and how the same tax can be called both a penny and a 17% increase. The goal is not to sway your vote, but to give you clear, neutral facts before you head to the polls.

Resources:

• Look up your ballot, candidates and referendums by address
• Greenville County Voter Registration and Elections (official referendum wording)
• South Carolina State Election Commission (check your registration and sample ballot)
• Greenville County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Portal
• 2024 Penny Tax vote by precinct
• Simple Civics episode "Cities, Towns, Places, and ZIP Codes"

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina's District 4? Meet Jessica Ethridge, Courtney McClain, and William Timmons, the three candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.

Candidate links:

• Jessica Ethridge
• Courtney McClain
• William Timmons
• Sample Ballot

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina's District 3? Meet Sheri Biggs and Eunice Lehmacher, two of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Libertarian Brian Corriea was invited to participate but was unable to join us.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.

Candidate links:

• Sheri Biggs
• Eunice Lehmacher
• Sample Ballot

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 28? Meet Alan Buckalew and Chris Huff, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.

Candidate links:

• Alan Buckalew
• Chris Huff
• Sample Ballot

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 27? Meet John MacCarthy and David Vaughan, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.

Candidate links:

• John MacCarthy
• David Vaughan
• Sample Ballot

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 24? Meet Caroline Avinger and Bruce Bannister, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.

Candidate links:

• Caroline Avinger
• Bruce Bannister
• Sample Ballot

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 22? Meet Josh Kendrick and Paul Wickensimer, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.

Candidate links:

• Josh Kendrick
• Paul Wickensimer
• Sample Ballot

Simple Civics:

• Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville
• Get in touch
• Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution
• Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
• View our entire catalogue

Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.