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If you have been attending Greenville County Council meetings for the last four years and were present for the COW (Committee of the Whole) meeting last Tuesday, you observed a confrontation between Chairman “Butch” Kirven and Councilman Tony Trout that was exceeded only when Sen. Strom Thurmond “decked” a Texas Senator and stood over him with his foot on his chest. At least that confrontation took place in the lobby and not during a formal Senate session.
Four years ago, the down-town media complained that there was friction on Greenville County Council and more togetherness and cooperation was needed. Having attended almost every single Council meeting over the past 15 years, I only recall two prior issues that resulted in intense controversy and those involved outside interests. At that time, the Council consisted of 7 conservative Republicans and 4 Democrats. The Council had passed a pro-family resolution stating essentially that a family consists of a man and a woman and children. Pro-homosexual groups flooded the chambers with political posters and threatened to rid the Council of conservative members who supported the resolution. Some were threatened by name. The issue never gained traction, however, the MLK Holiday controversy was effectively used to replace conservative Council members. MLK Protesters took over Council chambers during one meeting as Council quickly adjourned and members fled through the rear exit.
Wealthy insiders financed the political campaigns that removed Steve Selby, Phyllis Henderson and Dozier Brooks from the Council and replaced them with Tony Trout, Jim Burns and “Butch” Kirven. The controversial election changed Greenville County Government from conservative to “progressive.”
The new “owners” designated Mr. Kirven, a retired National Guard and business executive, leader of the newly elected “progressive” Council majority. The incumbent Republican minority, nominated Democrat Judy Gilstrap as their candidate for chairman. Gilstrap has experience and had voted with conservatives on fiscal issues. Newcomers and Democrats nominated Kirven chairman during his first ever meeting as an elected Council member. More than twenty ballots were taken before the six to six tie vote was broken. Several times Kirven and others requested a recess and escorted Gilstrap to the back room. Following one of the back-room sessions, Gilstrap, wiping tears, announced that she would break the tie and elect newcomer Kirven, chairman. It was clear that a deal had been made in the back room and Gilstrap would become vice chairman.
Newcomer Tony Trout, caught between his financial backers and citizens of his District, has difficulty keeping in “lockstep” with the leader of the progressive faction. On at least two occasions, he cast a deciding vote in opposition to Kirven. During several meetings Trout has bristled at Kirven and heated words were exchanged.
On important issues such as the tree ordinance and reorganization of the Planning Commission, Trout has opposed the Chairman, but eventually succumbed to pressure and joined him.
Early on, Trout became a critic of the Greenville County road paving program that is supported by Kirven. Trout also ran afoul of the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor and a Circuit Judge overseeing a Grand Jury.
During the April 1 meeting of the COW, and a discussion of the road program, Trout and Chairman Kirven once again tangled verbally. The Chairman ruled Trout out of order when he launched an unsolicited tirade after Councilman Willis Meadows made a motion to reconsider a previous vote regarding the road program. Kirven attempted to gavel Trout to silence, Angrily, Trout proclaimed: “I done told you what you can do with that little gavel one time. You want me to tell you again?” Kirven’s response was: “You come over here … and we will discuss it.”
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