PICKENS — Pickens County Council District 3 Representative Wes Hendricks is seeking another term of office after what he calls a successful first term.

Since his election, Pickens County has come a long way in many areas, he said. In 2016, Hendricks campaigned to support Tri-County Tech, improve economic development and join Upstate Alliance. All were accomplished without a tax increase, according to Hendricks. The new detention center was also built and financed without a tax increase, protecting the general fund and keeping the county from going bankrupt, Hendricks said.

Many know Hendricks as a Pickens High School special education teacher. Hendricks said he is the only District 3 county council candidate who is from Pickens. He went to Pickens High School, where he played football for Coach Bill Isaacs and basketball for Coach Bob Allison. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Southern Wesleyan University. He played football for the South Carolina Gamecocks under Coach Joe Morrison.

Hendricks said he has truly dedicated his life to serving others as a special education teacher — with more than 29 years of service, including 26 at Pickens High School — coach and council member. He said he comes from a long line of family educators, including Evelyn Durham, Katie Hendricks and Ruby Smith.

Hendricks is the son of John Frank Hendricks and the late Ann Brewer. He has two daughters.

During the past four years, Pickens County went from being only one of two economically stagnant S.C. counties not in an alliance to joining Upstate Alliance, filling up the commerce park from 63 percent occupancy to having only one spot left and becoming ranked No. 1 in economic development for counties without an interstate in 2019, according to Hendricks.

Environmentally, Hendricks was instrumental in saving Glassy Mountain and working with the Cannon Mountain community solar farm project to protect property values while respecting property owner rights, he said.

“I have a proven track record for protecting the environment and our natural beauty,” Hendricks said.

Hendricks said he was responsible for getting one of the new airport hangars named after Dakota Jacks, and he created the recycled bicycles program for Country Santa.

“In the next four years, I will continue improving fire services, especially remote areas, develop a better road maintenance plan without a tax increase and continue economic develop while serving people as people, not numbers,” Hendricks said. “It is important for the people to vote for me on June 9 to keep Pickens County moving forward. We can’t afford to go backward.”