Interview with Forwardist Sarah Gonzalez

by Kayla Sullivan, July 2025

Sarah Gonzalez is running in the special election for South Carolina’s Spartanburg County Council District 3. This interview took place on July 28, 2025.

Gonzalez is a 32-year-old Spartanburg native and a graduate of Converse College. She has a degree in Special Education/Elementary Education. She teaches at two homeschool co-ops in the area and homeschools her three children.

She identified as a Republican/Conservative in her teens, and her views turned more to the left during her time studying at Converse College. She ultimately lost interest in the two-party system after becoming disillusioned with the lack of representation for working-class citizens. It wasn’t until she had to file for candidacy that she discovered the Forward Party. 

Q: What was your motivation for coming into local politics? 

‘I was in a Church session one day, and we were asked how we would help the world change for the better. I said that I believe making the world a better place starts with the government. A lot of us feel the same frustrations regardless of prior voting patterns.” 

Website: Sarah for County Council

Biggest priorities for Spartanburg

Funding for School Meals

Nearly 20 percent of children in Spartanburg County live in poverty. In Columbia, the State Legislature is debating cutting $12 billion from school meal programs, which allow schools to provide free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision. This cut would impact tens of thousands of children in Spartanburg County. As a parent and teacher, I understand the stress that children face at school, and do not believe that hunger should contribute to the struggles our children face every day. Every child in Spartanburg County deserves to eat breakfast and lunch while at school, regardless of their financial status. I will work with county and state leaders to try to secure free meals for all Spartanburg County students. (Website)

Q: What percentage of  Spartanburg County students go to school without being fed?  How many struggle with insecure home lives? 

Thirteen percent of Spartanburg County residents experience food insecurity.

Helping the Unhoused of the County:(excerpt from her website) 

“As a candidate for County Council, I believe that addressing the unhoused epidemic is not just a policy issue—it’s a matter of dignity, compassion, and responsibility. Our community cannot thrive while so many of our neighbors are without stable housing. In this campaign, I want to share my plans for meaningful action, including expanding access to emergency shelters and affordable housing, strengthening mental health and addiction services, and collaborating with local nonprofits to provide long-term solutions—not just temporary fixes. I invite you to join me in building a county where everyone has the opportunity to live safely and with dignity.”

Q: What percentage of Spartanburg County residents are documented as unhoused? What, in your opinion, is the cause of this issue, and how do you believe it can be resolved?

A: Three hundred Spartanburg County residents report being unhoused. A significant issue is that landlords charge excessive rent, particularly considering the quality of the dwellings being rented out. Ms. Gonzalez wants rent-controlled homes for her constituents. She believes that people should be able to receive aid in obtaining mortgages. In the same vein, she believes the county should incentivize small businesses to help renovate homes for rent. 

Property Taxes: It’s Time for Accountability

Every year, property taxes keep going up, and yet our roads are crumbling, public safety is stretched thin, and community programs are underfunded. As your next County Council representative, I believe the annual tax hikes are too steep and unsustainable for working families. “We need to demand more value for what we’re already paying. It’s time for smarter budgeting and real accountability on how your tax dollars are spent. Let’s stop accepting rising costs with declining services. We deserve better.”

Q: How do you plan to address the annual tax increases? How would you want to allocate those funds? 

A: Ms. Gonzalez states she would like to reallocate tax money to fix roads, and give more funding to local public schools. 

Feeding the Hungry

Hunger should have no home in our county. Yet every day, too many families, children, and seniors struggle to put food on the table. As your candidate for County Council, I’m committed to expanding food access across our community. That means supporting local food banks, strengthening school meal programs, and partnering with farms and grocers to reduce food waste and get nutritious meals to those in need. No one in our county should go to bed hungry, and together, we can ensure they don’t. 

Q: What percentage of Spartanburg County residents experience food insecurity? 

A: Fourteen percent of Spartanburg County residents live under the poverty line. Gonzalez stated that 44 percent of Spartanburg County residents live under the ALICE poverty index. ALICE is Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This means that 44 percent of county residents are earning an income; however, they face financial hardships due to high living costs. ALICE constituents earn just above the federal poverty line, but less than what it costs to make ends meet.