and then it goes over to the zoo in Cleveland Park, all of the Augusta Road area and Shanna clear, and then it goes down Augusta Road to Mauldin Road to to cut through honesty and then to mauldin. so it's a pretty big area. Yeah, that is that's a lot of turf to cover and what what are are your your your main main main issues issues issues that that that you're you're you're running running running on on. on I I know. know Amanda from. Time at Bradshaw We've been friends for a while. so I'm you know eager to see your campaign. take off. Thank you. What was the question? I'm sorry. I missed it. What are what are some of those things that you wanna see change in the County who are you running against what are you running on things like that? Thank you so the current incumbent is is Liz Salman and and I I thank thank thank you you you for for for her her her her 12 12 12 12 12 years. years years years years of of. of of service. service service. but I think it's. For us to get some new leadership in that place and really take really have somebody who's ready to stand up for what we believe in and you know be more vocal about the issues that matter for example, I don't think there's been enough leadership on affordable housing. I think there needs to be more of a vocal response when things come up like the LGBTQ issues that that our our our County County County Council Council Council Council is is is is just just just just. unfor unfor. unfor unfor unfortunately unfortunately. unfortunately unfortunately facing. facing. facing I really care a lot about bringing some innovative solutions to Greenville County Council as well, so there's some issues that that come up like health care or child care that traditionally County Council has said they don't have anything to do with that. but the way I see it the social determinants of health are very much important and you know that's relevant to our work and with our health care care backgrounds backgrounds of of course, course, like like you you just just said said and. and You know housing is the part of that, so it's transportation and I would say, child care is a part of that as well. so just really thinking about what we can do and not limiting County Council to what's traditionally been done is something I think that we need very badly here in Greenville County and also somebody's here to represent all of our County and not just the people that you know people already know or might already have in their cellphones. So. Molding, For example, a lot of those people they don't even know that they're a part of this district or that they have a representative on County Council and I intend to change that. Yeah, I I mean what you said about what County Council can do and what they can't. I don't know. I know myself. I've always thought of counting Council is you know if you need a speed bump put in your neighborhood and you don't live in the city, but you talk to me a little bit about. besides besides what what what are are are those those those more more more more traditional traditional traditional traditional things things? things things that that that County? County County Council Council does. does is responsible for? And then you know how can you use the systems that they have in place to kinda branch out and tackle some of those upstream issues? Okay? Well, I think you're right about some of the things that the County Council and if you go to a meeting traditionally what they're talking about is zoning like that's a huge part of what they talk about and focus on on at at every every meeting meeting meeting whether whether whether whether somebody somebody somebody somebody somebody wants. wants wants wants wants a a. a a new new new subdivision subdivision. subdivision or. or a new. To assign zoning zoning to me is something that I've had to learn of this year so just for people who are not really familiar with that, it's basically how land is allowed to be used so you know they can decide whether that subdivision can go in a certain place or whether what kind of business can be in places and like whether there's a lot to be a mixed use or school, so those are are good good places places places to to to start start start when when when thinking thinking thinking thinking about. about about about about what what what what County County County. County Council Council Council currently. currently currently does. does, they also have a lot of. At their disposal to decide to prioritize things like transportation if they want to or even with this new County Square project like how much money are they gonna lot to affordable housing when they think about developing the land and and making sure that it's zoned so that so that housing and transportation needs are being met like that's all really important. They also oversee like the Election Commission and make sure that a lot of. State agencies have the place to be so they're really interact with those people. it's it's a state Election Commission, but you know there's a County branch here and then they also have a little bit of control over like what is going on with the health Department here even though that's another state agency, I mean the County is responsible for like EMS in the coroner's coroner's office office is is under under Greenville. Greenville Greenville County County Council. Council. so you can see there are a lot. Avenues that currently exist and that's probably I'm I'm sure that's a lot of work all by itself, but I just think that we can use use what we have and what's been known traditionally as as avenues for change on County Council and we can do more moment. Yeah and it's it's something something I've I've I've talked talked talked about about about about as as as as a. a a. a federal federal candidate, candidate, but. but we've also. When I was a child, we worked on this, there are over 1100 homeless kids in Greenville County and that's that's taking a pretty broad definition of homelessness, but it needs to be brought to fully capture everyone. it's kids who do you think of in the traditional sense of like living in a tent or you know not having sheltered housing. It's kids kids who who are are maybe maybe maybe doubled doubled doubled up up up with with with a a a family family family member member member or. or or a a friend. friend And we know that yes, child homelessness is a problem because we're tying it's been tied to gentrification here. that's a huge concern and a lot of that stems from the rapid growth. we have seen here, but also things like wages, things like unaffordable health care things like just you know, child care deserts where we you know if if you you have have have a a a child child child and and and you you you need need need day day day care care care for for for them. them. them, there might not be a spot for you and. Are you gonna work if you don't have that what happens if your babysitters? So I know that you are also a working mom. You were doing your dissertation right now to talk to me kind of about that experience cuz it's I just finished my master's in December. I feel like you and I could probably write a book for moms who are doing a school and running campaigns with young kids underfoot. what's that been like for you? Have you felt supported what can we do to support you and and how how can can we we we support support support other other other women women women in in? in Greenville? Greenville? As they try to find child care things like that since it's something that matters a lot to you and your campaign, that's a lot of questions. I'm sorry you think of where to start. so yeah honestly the thing the number one thing that I'm excited about is that I get to see more of Poe and be with him and it forces me me this this this pandemic pandemic pandemic pandemic forces forces. forces forces me me me into into into a a. a situation. situation where I. Have to make make this this next next to to me. me? Yeah. Where I have to make sure that I'm fitting in work like when he maps or what I was already doing like when he when he goes to bed but I get to like spend some time with him and sometimes he makes me like go outside and get some exercise where I might not normally have my head down all day so other than it being difficult because I can't like grind out the same number of hours of work as much it's really. To me so rewarding to get to be with him during the day cuz like we know three year olds don't keep and you know when he's five, you'll be at school and you know things will just be different forever after with that. So that's been fun. I will say when this pandemic is over one thing that people don't think about a lot is when candidates are running for office and they need child care. The people are often often saying saying like like what what can can I I do do to to help help and? and they are thinking about? Canvassing or phone banking or just throwing parties and things like that, which you're all really important but something really easy is hey. Can I just watch your son while you're you know on this panel or can I play with him while you're you know doing whatever event you're at you know just watching him and and playing playing with with him him him like like like my my my my friend friend, friend friend Leila Leila Leila Leila did did did did did that. that that that for for for for during during. during during Hurricane. her her campaign campaign and and it it was. was so. Hopeful yeah, my my campaign manager before the pandemic hit my call time was everyone will come to my House and one person would sit with me and make calls and the other would play with the girls. Did you know they're out of school? So it's yeah. It's really really helpful. It definitely is and especially if we want more women to step up into leadership positions into running for office like we're a package deal and I think our our kids enhanced. Our candidacy, we're certainly able to speak to a wider range of issues and life struggles because of it, but it is hard and you know someone who wants to help a candidate who has kids. That's that's a good way to do it. and if you're a candidate with kids thinking of stepping into this arena, we are happy to talk you through it. Yes. yeah, I mean, unfortunately, unfortunately, Polk Polk has has been been going going to to meetings meetings since since he he was was four four. weeks old. so. Kind of used to it and most moms pretty good, but sometimes you know he gets restless like everybody. Yeah, you know it's somebody's meetings. they're they're not designed for kids whether it's content or just the expectation that you set so I have a tough time sitting still for hours on it too, So I can't blame them, but absolutely yeah. it was. I'm trying to to think think of of your your last last question question about. about like how. can you talk about affordable child care? I know that's something you and I have talked about a lot in Greenville. There aren't enough slots for as many people who need childcare here. what can the country do for that and that kind of higher-level elevate what our County Council is capable of you know? I'm really obviously glad you asked that because that's very interested in and that is what my dissertation is on not not necessarily necessarily like like County County. solutions. It's on a childcare workers and the fact that they don't get enough benefits or even any benefits and they have such a low pay and I've been reaching out to my colleagues and experts in the field to really put our heads together about what it is that we can do on a County level and one thing that one of my friends has brought up to me is is the zoning requirements and then the research that I've gotten to do which I'll do a little bit more of once I. Done with my dissertation and I've already started is what are the what are other counties in the United States doing about about child care and one of the things that I have found is just the way that counties are using their money or the ordinances that they're placing that require certain wages or benefits packages or that really putting in incentives for people to even have childcare centers and another thing that I was. On with the chamber before I before I ended up leaving and I would love to continue when I'm elected is working not only with the chamber, but also Asus to make sure that we are approaching businesses and asking them if they already know if they know about the current resources that are being used by other companies in in the the County County County and and and how how how how we we we we can can can can help help help help and and and and and work work work work. work the that that that work work work. work with with with them them them together. together. together as a County. And in the state and as business owners to provide childcare for their workers because, for example, like I know our call centers have a really big need for around-the-clock child care. and that's just not something that is readily available. So I think with the combination of looking really deeply into how the County can incentivize these businesses, how we can use you know make appropriate land. Requirements look at new affordable housing models and incorporating childcare into those sinners like we're you know the Centers for housing. you can you. I mean there's some models where you can just put childcare there, for example, so between businesses and housing units that are being built. I think it's really important from the perspective of the County Council to make sure sure that that child child child care care care is is is being being being offered offered offered and and and available. available available. and again like they are. Tax credits that businesses don't even know about from the state and so it's our job as elected officials to be resources and people who bring people together and so that's what I'll continue to do. No. I think that's that's great. I'm very briefly worked for a Bank. It was not for me. this is my pre public health life and they they offered child care reimbursement and even though it didn't cover the the full full cost cost of of of care, care, care, especially especially especially for for for two two two kids, kids, kids. you you know know two. two and under. it was a huge help to our family and I know that in banking you tend to see banking offers that because it's three percent female Heller, or at least when it was when I worked there and they they get it and we're seeing it with this pendant Look it''s. we have operated as a country as we expect our workers workers to to work work as as as if if if they they they don't don't don't have have have families families families families and and and and to to. to to to parent parent parent parent is is is is that that that that they. they they they don't don't don't have have have work. work work and. and we're seeing that's. Not sustainable, we need our kids, our future tax base and our future workforce. We need people to have children and most families need two incomes. That's just the reality and we need to find solutions that support that like you were saying like public-private partnerships like showing people those resources, but also things like paid family leave paid sick time. kids get sick. We get sick when they get sick. it it just just just becomes becomes becomes a a a a week week week week of of of of everybody's everybody's everybody's. everybody's down down down and. and. and you know if you've. Had a baby if you've adopted a child if you've ever ever had had to to care care care for for for a a a loved loved loved one one one who who who needed needed needed. help, help. help, it's it's Necessary to take that time to recover and to have it have it with your child in our County. our County staff does not currently have paid family leave and and Mark that down as one of my top priorities to figure that out when I am the councilwoman for this district, I'm going to figure out how we can make sure that the County employees have paid family leave. It's just. Essential for families to have that time off like you just said, and it's the best for children, families and the workplace and one of my mantras is that kindergarten readiness is workforce readiness and to me paid family leave is a part of that and also if if people have paid family leave, it does decrease the burden on trying to have slots in child care because because the the the most most most expensive expensive expensive part part part part of of of of of. childcare childcare childcare childcare is is is is having having. having. having infants. infants and the children. The higher ratios are and you can have more children in the class, so it's a little bit less expensive, but if we have paid family leave, then that you know helps on cost for everybody right cuz I mean, like I said earlier, at least alluded to daycares, do not run on a huge profit margin right they're they're charging a lot lot in in fees, fees, but but but it's it's it's not not not like like like that that that that goes goes goes into into into into their their their pocket. their pockets. pockets. pockets most of them kind of break even. That we're having some questions come through since we've been talking a lot about this upstream issues that drive health that drive things like affordable housing and people's ability to stay in their homes. let's talk a little bit about wages and one of the questions that came in as County Council have an influence on increasing minimum wage. and if not what are your thoughts on how South Carolina can increase wages to a living wage? I guess we should start with what is a living wage here in Greenville. Yeah. On my website, which is Amanda for Greenville County dot com one of the things that I wanted to highlight at the very beginning is what a living wages and Greenville County and according to the Economic Policy Institute, one adult with no children. A living wage is $35115 a year and then for two adults and one child is $64156 a year. Do we have an idea of what that is like hourly hourly roughly roughly isn't isn't isn't isn't $15 $15 $15 $15 an an an an hour hour. hour hour or or or about about about 30000 30000. 30000 a a year. year? I think yeah, I think. I didn't break it down to hourly, but yeah and right now the median wages in Greenville County, according to the American Community Survey in 2018. it's $29906 for a for a family so just one person and 63437 for a family so we are way under under what what we we need need to earn to earn. here that you're. You know, half your income to your rent or your mortgage so that you have money for utilities or gas for your car because we don't have public transportation for you know food all of that and child care for those who might not have a grasp of it. the year we moved here. My oldest was three and a half, and my youngest was 18 months. That's That's when when we we moved moved back back to to to the the the upstate upstate upstate upstate and and and and we we we we were were were were. looking looking looking at. at. at daycare and for. An infant under one year it was about 1200 a month just for an infant under one year. mm hmm if you're earning $29000 a year that doesn't go too far right, That's right. It's a huge. It's a huge chunk. I mean it's just not. It's just not tenable and that's why a lot of mothers end up dropping out of the workforce and then, then, of of course course course when when when that that that happens, happens, happens, happens, it's it's it's it's so so so so so much. much much much much harder harder harder harder to to to to get get get. get back back back into into into it. it. it. So it's tough. But I wanna go back to this question about the minimum wage in Greenville County and in South Carolina, so I have seen cases across the country where counties have decided to set to make an ordinance that the wages are gonna be a certain level. Now I would need to look into what what Greenville Greenville Greenville Greenville Greenville Greenville County County County County actually actually actually actually can. can can can can do do do do according according according to to. to state state law. law. But But I do know that I. There are counties across the country who are making a decision like that or cities even that are making a decision about minimum wages. My understanding is that South Carolina's preemption laws, which are laws that essentially say like the federal government Supersede state government it works with the State Government superseding local governments too. too. So So my my understanding understanding is is that that the the state. state government has made. So that counties and cities Cannot pass their own ordinances on that they are dependent upon what the state says is the minimum wage wage that that sounds sounds sounds right right right to to to me. me. me. me. Yeah Yeah Yeah and and. and and that that that is is is $7 $7 $7 and and. and 25 cents 25 cents an. an hour here. Yeah, I can't do it. It's not and especially you know if we're talking health care costs that leaves a lot of people who are reliant upon Medicaid and Medicaid is typically underfunded as well right that we've those who do let's say you make $12 an hour. You're still not hitting where you need to be. It's still gonna be really tight, but maybe your employer employer does does offer offer health health insurance. insurance and it's even more out of your. That you just can't afford so when we talk about policy, not existing in a vacuum, I think that's a really great example of how all these systems connect to each other. That's right and childcare workers are not are not making living wages at all. and so you know that's why I have my dissertation topic and one of the things that I've been working on with the Representative Neil Collins is actually giving access access to to childcare childcare childcare workers workers workers giving. giving them access. Medicaid because they make such low wages and so we've been working on that for a few months and I've been working with some other partners here in the upstate on that as well, not just him, but he was willing to be our Legislative Champion. So we're excited about that. neils Nell. The great guy I have I've worked with him as well on a few issues and you know really value his willingness to to. For example, he's having his own primary right now. so if you're vote for Neil, Neil, oh oh well, well. well, let's let's see see Lift the pandemic and everything. How have you? I mean? How is your family responding to the pandemic? How is it affected? You know your day to day? I know we talked a little bit about you're having this time of Polk and that's that's really great. great. besides besides besides besides that that that that what what what what is is. is is that that that look look look like like? like for for you? you? Well, I do I do think it's gonna be a it's a little bit more difficult. I mean Poe in the hospital and his so he he's you know, compromised right now because of the autoimmune disorder that he had at that, hopefully is going away it won't come back and so that was a really a big chunk of what what we've we've been been dealing dealing dealing with with with and and and just just just you you you know know know being. being being reliant reliant on. on grocery services. making sure that like Brandon does all of those kinds of things and I am worried a little bit about like how to push out time you know but I have a very supportive team in that way and when I got into this race, I said, Hey, I'm in it to win it or I wouldn't be doing it, but I also have to finish my dissertation. It's like my my so so we we just just look. look look week week to to week. week and we risk. Find accordingly and I have such a great supportive fantastic smart team and so everybody needs a-team the you absolutely. Do you have any race? no matter what race you're running for is far too big for one person. what's what are you most looking forward to on the campaign trail on the campaign trail? I just really love talking to people and and say say that's that's one one of of the the things I things I miss miss them. them right now during. Pandemic. I mean it makes a little bit easier on me that like I don't have to decide which events that I'm gonna prioritize each week, but especially because of Poe, but I do miss hearing from from people and the fact that we can't canvas this it's hard and I and I really do I love hearing from people and and finding finding finding out out out like like like what's what's what's what's going going going going on on on on with with with with them them them them them and. and. and and and I've I've I've always always. always. liked to be. In a position where not only can I you know, make new friends and talk to people, but if people say they need resources, I just love figuring out you know ways to help. so those are some of the things I'm looking forward to on this campaign trail, so sometimes call time is hard but I when I actually get to talk to somebody who has questions and what's interact with me and talk about. Policy, which I also love so. Congresswoman Presley has this shirt and I love it and I'm so sad that no one got it for me for my birthday, but it says policy is my love language. To me that oh, okay here there's another Facebook question. it's something fun. people people should should know know about about you you you and and and what's what's what's your your your favorite favorite favorite. hobby. hobby. Let me think about it I really really love playing with my son and my family. that is what I prioritize and most of all but I also love art. It's actually a part of me that is not is neglected. Unfortunately like I don't make as much time for it but I actually was that was gonna be be my my minor minor in in in College College College cuz cuz cuz I I I I just just just just I I I I love love love love it it it it so so so. much so much much and and and I. Dominated for the Governor's School and high school so I have to make more time for that, but also really really love live music love going to concerts with friends and then I would probably say skiing is one of my favorite thing to what's the best live show you've been to oh gosh. That's a hard question. delle Monet was really awesome. And Liz. Yeah, that that would be really high out there. I didn't get to go when she came to Charlotte my husband and I we've been together since 2006 and we have very different Jason of music, so we've only been to one concert together in our 14 year history and it was 2012 last summer on Earth concert with really, really, you you you can can can hide hide hide and and and and barak barak barak. barak leaves leaves leaves. and. and I think Blues Traveler. It's there but I was living my best nineties life. That was that's awesome and so it's so much fun. Yeah when I met brain and he said that I made him go to what was that a lot of of pre pre 19 19 eighties eighties eighties bands. bands. bands. What we were in Nashville and it was just easy cuz there were so many bands coming to the Ruen and I was like well. I've always wanted to see them. I got to see Janelle at the at the ramm and also which is something something I I went went to to to with with with my my my friends friends friends so. so so so Brandon. Brandon's. Brandon's we. Sometimes you need that just your first time oh okay here. Greenville City Council passed a wonderful anti-bias law what would it take for County Council to do something similar? it would take good things some of our new people getting on board, but really honestly, I think they're only like three people who just say no to absolutely anything and and everything everything everything that that that would would would be be be like. like like this. this. this. Anti-bias I think the rest of them would be a little bit more on board, and of course, when Samantha wins, that means that there will be for Democrats on County Council and then we have some other friends. I think on County Council who'd be willing to work with us that we'll be able to get that pass. Yeah we I'm personally very excited about our prospects and and our our candidates candidates stepping stepping stepping up up up for for for County County County County Council Council Council Council because because because because if. as as as humans humans humans Samantha Samantha Samantha it's over and. Ferri and we've yeah, I'm a Greenville native. I grew up here and it's at times seemed like like an impediment to to progress right like it, It wasn't keeping up with the changes that were happening here and the growth that was happening and it's been kind kind of of this this relic relic relic of of of a a a bygone bygone bygone era. era. era. era. huh huh huh huh when when when I I I was was. was. only too happy to leave. So seeing all these fresh perspective, step up and you know want to make County Council reflect the diversity of this of this place and of our life experiences. That's that's really encouraging to me as you know, just a kid who grew up in Greenville and has seen everything that's happened here. The city is doing fantastic things and I just love to see it and I want County Council to work with them and work with Mauldin and travels. And the rest of the cities and towns in Greenville County to really bring Greenville County County in in the the 20 20 first first century, century. it's It's beyond beyond time. time we're. We were 20 years into it for it's just about to say it's 2020 at what point do we need to start looking at 20, You know second century. yeah, no, it's I think you are dead on there so since we are coming up on time here if people wanna get involved with your campaign, what do you need? what's the best way for them to do that? And you know what are your what's your website? website? What's What's your social social media media? all all of of that. that sure? so the website is Amanda for Greenville County dot com and you can email team at Amanda for Greenville County dot com. The biggest needs we have honestly are people who are gonna fan Bank right now and money you know have to say that it's true because it takes money to really get the message out to voters. I mean in order for me to be able to get a text messaging plan, for for example, example, like like it's it's gonna gonna gonna take take take money money money to to to be be be able able able to to to buy buy buy that. that. that. so. so so that that is. is one of the things that we. Hard about the pandemic and being in a campaign and understandably so finances are different for every person right now and people are scared so I get it and so like back to the phone banking well, that is that is pretty that is easy and it is one of the best ways to get our candidates not just me, but all of our candidates names out out there there and and and working working working together together together together between between between. between between campaigns. campaigns. campaigns. campaigns. It's It's It's It's just so just just. just so so important important important to to. to like. like we're doing right now. Because like people cannot just vote for me, they can also vote for you in this district and that's extremely important and sharing these resources and really partnering really helps us get the most voters that we possibly can and just that phone banking and getting Jamie Harrisons people can vote for him as well as his crucial right now. Yeah, it's I hope that that this this conversation conversation conversation between between between the the the federal federal federal federal candidate candidate candidate candidate and and and and a a a a local. local local. local candidate candidate has really high. How their issues you know that affects us here in Greenville County that are local, we think, but there's a local solution. There's a state solution. There's a federal solution right if we put our heads together if we get a slate of candidates who make it to make it through, so we start getting those resources that we are in desperate need of, but we're not gonna be able to do it if people don't vote if people don't step up and help us, you know reach out to. The voters in these districts because they are big. Greenville County is a big place. It's a hundred a hundred miles miles miles to to to toe. toe, toe, something something like like that. that. that. County and we need all hands on deck so please check out Amanda's social media if you can throw her a couple of Bucks, please do I I know that everyone is like you said if life feels a little precarious right now, but if you're able to give I know it's appreciated, it definitely goes to winning the feet and thank you for tuning in. I I hope hope everybody everybody has has has a a a good good good weekend. weekend. weekend. I'm I'm I'm I'm going going going going to to to to enjoy enjoy enjoy. enjoy the the the rest rest rest of of of this this this glass. glass glass of. of wine. Yeah and go. At my children who are up to Lord only knows so well. Thank you. Ken and I will say that like don't think that your dollar doesn't help because it absolutely does I care just as much as about donor numbers as I do donor amounts. I mean it's just it's it's just as important. Yeah. So yeah. well. Thank you for coming on and I always good to see your face and you know let us know how we can help. Yeah definitely and let them have a book. Going by the way in policy, we saw it on my table. this one that I saw at your House and immediately, said I want this for Christmas on the merge video. Yeah. Yeah. Alright. Alright. Alright. I'll I'll I'll see see see you you you later. later. later. Bye. Bye.