Sumter County Council directs rewrite of business‑license language to narrow conviction lookback period

Sumter County Council voted on Feb. 13 to incorporate proposed edits to the county Business License Ordinance that would narrow the circumstances under which a conviction can be used to deny, suspend or revoke a business license. The Council directed the County Administrator and County Attorney to prepare an ordinance for first reading at the Feb. 27 meeting.

Councilman Carlton B. Washington presented the proposed language changes, which replace broader 10‑year denial/suspension wording with a formulation focused on crimes "directly related to a business enterprise" within the last three years. Washington played a recorded message attributed in the minutes to Vice President Kamala Harris about federal loan opportunities for some people with prior convictions and described the federal initiative and the proposed local changes as nonpartisan efforts to expand economic opportunity.

Chairman James T. McCain said Attorney Andrea Loney told him the ordinance language as written could deter potential applicants from applying for licenses: "a person that wants to apply for a Business License would look at the language and decide NOT to even try to apply for the license based on what is written," the minutes record. Councilman Charles T. Edens moved to approve the language to be incorporated; Councilwoman Vivian Fleming McGhaney seconded, and Council carried the motion.

Council members and members of the public spoke in favor of reducing barriers for people with past convictions; Councilman Eugene R. Baten also commented on the topic (and later recused on a separate ordinance item). The approved action on Feb. 13 only directs staff to prepare the ordinance language for formal consideration; the Council will take the formal three‑reading process and a public hearing before any change becomes law.