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Greenville County names six to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission after interviews
Summary
Greenville County Council interviewed more than a dozen applicants and selected six people to fill six vacancies on the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, citing a mix of lived experience, nonprofit and program management backgrounds.
Greenville County Council held interviews and selected six people to fill vacancies on the county Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, the council announced after ballots were collected at a special-call committee-of-the-whole meeting.
Councilors said the commission vacancies drew a long list of applicants. Several candidates emphasized lived experience with addiction services, long-term involvement with recovery organizations and prior work running treatment programs.
Applicants who spoke during the public interview period included Ian Ammons, who said, "I love this county deeply," and described recent conversations with current commission members. Patricia Edwards described a decades-long relationship with the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission and said she "retired from that program, the solicitor's office drug court in 2019," noting she helped develop programs still in place. Christopher Griffin described his recovery and work with evidence-based groups such as SMART Recovery, saying he decided to get sober in 2014 and has led local recovery meetings. Ernie Hamilton credited the Phoenix Center with long-term service in the county and said, "We've served over 5,000 people during the COVID" period, and described growth in prevention services. Beth Mesic described founding and running Jasmine Road, a residential program for women who survived trafficking and addiction. JD (John) Redmond, a former law-enforcement instructor, and Herman Roberts, a current commissioner and vice chair, also spoke to the council about their experience in prevention and recovery services.
The council announced the six people selected to fill the vacancies by ballot: Herman Roberts Jr.; John (JD) Redmond; Beth Messick; Ernie Hamilton; Christopher Griffin; and Patricia Edwards. The council did not read a roll-call vote tally in the public record when announcing the winners; the selections were described as close and determined by ballot.
The interviews and appointments underscore the commission's mix of policy, clinical and lived-experience expertise. Several applicants described close working relationships with the Phoenix Center and other local providers; councilors said that experience mattered in the appointments. The council said ballots were used due to the size of the applicant pool.
Councilors did not adopt any new policy during the session on the commission's work. The appointments fill six vacancies; councilors indicated staff will record the official onboarding and terms afterward.
