Garrett Gibson
Transparency, coordination, and supply of information are three areas of local government that Inman resident Garrett Gibson wants to help restore among voters if elected to the Spartanburg County Council District 5 seat on Nov. 3.
His main focus is on regaining public trust in elected leaders.
“There have been too many occasions where people thought important decisions were happening behind their backs,” said Gibson, a teacher at Rainbow Lake Middle School in Chesnee. “People in District 5 deserve council members who are loyal to them rather than special interests.
To this end, he offered these specifics:
• Government Transparency. Gibson cited mistrust surrounding the still-lingering issue of data centers in the County. Resident upheaval in February 2026 halted a Council-backed proposal to allow developer TigerDC to build a $3 billion data center.
Gibson said this example speaks directly to the need for elected leaders to simply tell people what is going on.
“Residents are doing their part to protect limited resources, and county leadership should apply the same level of care and caution when approving projects that place new demands on those shared systems,” he said. “I will advocate for protecting our land and water, and for ensuring that Spartanburg’s future is shaped with long-term stewardship in mind, not short-term expansion at any cost.”
• Infrastructure. While much is already being done throughout the county due to fix roads and bridges due to the 2024 Penny Project, Gibson said they are only part of the equation.
“Infrastructure is more than just roads – it's how people get to work, access healthcare, and participate in daily life,” he said. “The County Council has real power over road funding, land-use planning, and development decisions. We need infrastructure that plans for growth, not reacts to it years too late.”
• Housing affordability. In September 2026, the Spartanburg Association of Realtors listed the average home price in Spartanburg County at $331,343.
https://www.spartanburgrealtors.com/
While owning a home is not nearly the dream it used to be because structural soundness, value, taxes, and upkeep, Gibson said too many are being priced out of a market whose prices are still increasing.
“Housing affordability is one of the biggest problems facing working families and the younger generation,” he said. “I support policies that encourage a wider range of housing options, so that workers can afford to live in the communities they serve. This means exploring tools such as vacancy fees and redevelopment incentives to bring unused housing back into the market.”
When asked the biggest obstacle holding the county back from being its best, Gibson pointed to government special interests instead of “the people it represents.”
“Our county's future should be decided by the residents who live here, not those with the deepest pockets or the most access to elected officials,” he said. “We need greater transparency, accountability, and a government that puts people before profit, politics, or party. Spartanburg County will be at its best when ordinary residents have a bigger say in how the county moves forward.”
