Worker diversity in Spartanburg city, county concerns elected officials
By Stephen Largen
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Published: Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 11:45 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 11:45 p.m.
Two local elected officials have concerns that Spartanburg County and city governments are doing enough to ensure their work forces are as diverse as the populations they represent.
Employment statistics show both governments would need to hire more minority workers in order to reflect the makeup of their surrounding communities.
The issue of work force diversity in Spartanburg County first reemerged a few months ago.
As Spartanburg County Council in June considered the county's budget and a change in jail leadership for the new fiscal year, Councilman Michael Brown, who is black and the only minority County Council member, had a concern he wanted addressed before he would support the plan.
The councilman spoke out about a need for diversity within the leadership team of Sheriff Chuck Wright, whom council wanted to give control of the county's detention facility as part of the new budget.
Wright told Brown at that meeting that he was in the process of hiring a minority employee for the team, and the assurance was enough to win Brown's support.
But Brown's concerns have not died down in the months since, and he wants the county to make a greater effort to hire minority job applicants across all departments.
"There's a need to address and incorporate matters of diversity, and I think Spartanburg County, the government itself, should be no different," he said. "It should reflect our society as a whole."
Brown wants the county to incorporate a policy statement that brings minority status into consideration when weighing job applicants. Read More
