Mayor Jerome Rice Jr., a pride product of The City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg School District 7, was sworn into office on January 11, 2022. Mayor Rice ran his campaign on public education, public health, and public safety. He believes that bringing more awareness to these 3 areas will make Spartanburg a better place for all.
Mayor Rice is passionate about Spartanburg and the young people of his community. As Mayor he wants to empower neighborhoods, bring a comprehensive look to homelessness and increase opportunities for young people.
Mayor Rice graduated from Spartanburg High where he played football and earned a full athletic scholarship to play at Wake Forest University. He earned his Bachelor's degree from USC Upstate in Interdisciplinary Studies. Mayor Rice is a lifelong learner, and he believes that the world teaches him something new every day.
Mayor Rice is currently employed at Spartanburg High School as a Student Transition Specialist, and he serves on several boards and commissions. Mayor Rice is a member of Drayton Mills Church of Christ where he co-teaches the adult bible school class and his wife directs the youth activities.
Mayor Rice and his wife Shay of 24 years have 4 children: Talee, Jamariah, Jerome III and Jervaris, as well as 4 granddaughters. Mayor Rice believes in and loves his family!
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