News Analysis: Is County imposing employee/media censorship via PIO?

County Posts for Full-Time $60-$65K Public Information Officer (PIO) WINNSBORO – It was in February, 2022, that former County Administrator Malik Whitaker first imposed restrictions on Fairfield County employees’ First Amendment rights, forbidding them to talk to the media without approval from county administration. In an email, Whitaker instructed employees, “If you are contacted by […]

Late Fairfield County audit reveals $95M in adjustments

WINNSBORO – Incorrectly maintained ledgers requiring nearly $96 million in adjustments more than tripled the amount of time originally projected to complete the county’s annual audit, now six months late. The bulk of that $96 million consisted of Dominion settlement funds, unreconciled transactions, and assorted banking records. For future audits, auditors recommended additional training for […]

Pope resigns as Fairfield fire chief

WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Interim Administrator Laura Johnson announced last week that Fairfield County Fire Service Director Jason Pope will be leaving the county’s employ after serving in that position for the last five years. According to Pope, he will become the Superintendent of the S.C. Fire Academy in Columbia. “It’s not something I thought […]

Employee survey criticizes county admin, council leadership

FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Poor pay, misplaced priorities, and treating employees like second-class citizens led the list of grievances by Fairfield County workers, according to results from a recently conducted survey. Many were content with the nature of their job and living in Fairfield, but blamed the current council majority for low employee morale. “County Departments […]

Whitaker continues to refuse to release survey, audit results

After 4 Months, Whitaker says Attorney is Still Redacting Survey Results WINNSBORO – Four months after Human Resources Director Brad Caulder received the results of a county employee satisfaction survey, County Administrator Malik Whitaker continues to refuse to release the results. During county council’s meeting Monday night, Whitaker blamed the delay on what he claimed […]

Davenport leaving Fairfield for Richland

COLUMBIA – It was announced in The Voice last week that Fairfield Economic Director Ty Davenport had left Fairfield County. He has since been named Deputy Director of Economic Development for Richland County. Davenport was hired by Fairfield County in June, 2016, when the unemployment rate in the county was 14 percent and had been […]

Director of Economic Development Ty Davenport leaving County

WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Director of Economic Development, Ty Davenport, has announced he will be leaving the county on May 25. Davenport is the eighth top county official to leave the county’s employ in the last year including the county administrator, assistant county administrator, attorney, clerk to council and several department heads.. Two more department […]

Fairfield County blanketed in snow

Fairfield County offices re-opening Oct. 5

WINNSBORO – The Fairfield County offices will reopen to the public on Oct. 5. The government complex, has been closed to the public except by appointment since March 19. “To keep our customers and employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we request that everyone wear a face mask while in the building and practice social […]

Fairfield seeks broadband expansion

FAIRFIELD COUNTY – With the announcement of $3.3 million in approved grant funding, Fairfield County is a step closer to its plan to extend broadband Internet service to rural residents. The funding approval announced Aug. 26 by the South Carolina Broadband Infrastructure Program will help local communications provider TruVista extend access to households in the […]

Contact us: (803) 767-5711 | P.O. Box 675, Blythewood, SC 29016 | [email protected]