Hour 2 - Segment 1 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Sheriff's Runoff Debate - Rusty Clevenger vs. Bill Rhyne hosted by Charlie James part 1 of 4 -

Hour 2 - Segment 1 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Sheriff's Runoff Debate - Rusty Clevenger vs. Bill Rhyne hosted by Charlie James part 1 of 4 - And welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to your Spartanburg County sheriff's debate. We've got Bill Ron and Rusty Clevenger joining us this afternoon. The candidates have been advised of the rules for the debate, and they have agreed to them. So let's just jump right into it. I've asked, texters to, send us questions as well. But first, we wanna start off with just an introduction. Fellows, give us a little ninety second introduction of yourself. We'll start with you, Bill Ryan. Thanks, Charlie. I appreciate you guys having this today. Yeah. My name's Bill Ryan. I am, 50 years old, born and raised in Spartanburg County. I, graduated from Chapman High School and, joined United States Marine Corps. After I got out of the Marine Corps, I went to work with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office where I spent a majority of my time working in community policing. I was a resident deputy in the Arcadia Fair Forest area. In February, I transitioned to the South Carolina Highway Patrol working in various roles across the, Upstate Of South Carolina, predominantly in Greenville and Spartanburg until I went over to the ACE team and rode the motorcycle. In 02/2008, I transitioned over into public relations where I remained until I retired in 2022. I retired as lieutenant over the community relations, public relations, public education recruiting, and for you for the entire state of South Carolina. I went to work with American Services as director of training there. I was I was directly responsible for approximately 1,500 officers over seven states. Unfortunately, that company sold out after the death of mister Harrison, and I had the opportunity to return to the highway patrol. I returned to the highway patrol's community outreach coordinator where I remained for the next two and a half years until I resigned on June 2 in order to announce that I was running for sheriff here in Spartanburg County. You know, often ask why I'm running for sheriff, and I tell people I just have such a vested interest. I just had a burden put on my heart to run. You know, I was born and raised in this county. I raised my children in this county. My grandchildren are likely to be raised in this county, and I just have a vested interest in where this county is going and just recognize that the sheriff's office is where quality of life starts for so many people within our county. Alright. Thank you very much. Rusty Clevenger? Good afternoon. Thanks everyone for listening in. I really appreciate you guys, putting this on for us. My name is Rusty Clevenger. I'm 61 years old. I'm almost, end of this month will be forty years as a public servant for Spartanburg County. I began my career in 1985, of course, with the sheriff's office where I was uniform patrol deputy. I stayed there for approximately two and a half years. And after graduating the academy in 1987, I applied for and was given a a chance to start investigations, and that's where I've been ever since. Start off narcotics and vice investigation. I was then promoted to, detective where I stayed for a number of years. The last five of which of the eleven year stamp with the sheriff's office was violent crime and homicide detective. After then in 1997, I was asked to go to the solicitor's office where I stayed as an investigator doing violent crime investigation. In the last sixteen and a half, of my career, as your Spartanburg County coroner doing death investigation and dealing with victim families, and that's what it's all about for me. I've been asked about why I'm running for sheriff, and a lot of it has to do with getting to the bottom, getting to the truth of a matter, and being able to assist victim families in the worst time of need, and also making sure that that crime is solved. Alright. Our first question comes from a, a texter, and it was one ...