Brandon Langford is running as a non-incumbent challenger for one of four at-large seats on the Fort Mill School Board in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race has seven candidates competing for four seats, and voters may choose up to four.

The other candidates are Joe Helms, Keith Griffin, Larry Barnett, Lipi Pratt, Melissa M. Maynard and Michele Branning.

Langford said in our candidate questionnaire that he is running "to bring a current parent's perspective, financial experience, and accountability to the Fort Mill School Board." He added: "I became more involved after the district's redistricting decisions affected my family and ultimately led us to move. That experience pushed me to understand how decisions are made and how families can have a meaningful voice."

Candidate information

Residence: Fort Mill

Family: "My wife, Mary Katherine, is a Fort Mill High School graduate, and we are raising our two sons, in the Fort Mill School District. I grew up in Laurens, South Carolina, in a family deeply rooted in education. Both of my parents and three of my grandparents served as public educators."

Education: "I earned my undergraduate degree and Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. I also hold professional project management accreditations."

Occupation: "I am a financial professional working for a bank in Charlotte. My career has focused on managing complex projects, overseeing significant budgets, and helping teams deliver results."

According to BallotReady, Langford holds a bachelor's degree in corporate finance and psychology from the University of South Carolina (2007) and an MBA from the same university (2016). His title is business change lead, enterprise operational services, vice president at Truist.

Prior elected or appointed office: "None"

Party affiliation: "This is a non-partisan race."

Experience and public service

Langford said he chairs the School Improvement Council at Pleasant Knoll Elementary School and volunteers as a youth soccer coach. He also said he volunteered with Move Silfab, an effort focused on school safety near the Silfab Solar facility.

Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Langford said in our questionnaire: "As a leader in Move Silfab, I've built relationships with many families in the district and learned valuable skill sets in advocacy for the safety of children, teachers, and administrators. As School Improvement Council Chair, I've built strong relationships with administrators, built programs to improve behavior in our school, and been involved in school reporting."

On the issues

School safety and Silfab Solar: Langford said on his campaign website that the board should "prioritize legal efforts to meaningfully address Silfab Solar and other external dangers" and "identify risks early and act proactively—not wait until a problem becomes a crisis."

Asked what board decision he would change, Langford said in our questionnaire: "If I were on the board at the time redistricting was approved to fill Flint Hill Schools adjacent to Silfab Solar, I would have urged the board to defer the decision until more facts were known and risks were mitigated. I would have pushed for an independent assessment of the potential risks, clear communication with families, and consideration of alternatives."

Enrollment growth and school construction: Langford said in our questionnaire: "The board should maintain a long-term facilities plan that connects enrollment projections, school capacity, residential development, and the full cost of opening and operating new schools. … Before approving construction, we should evaluate alternatives, verify projections, and account for staffing, transportation, maintenance, and debt costs."

He added: "Growth planning should protect classroom quality and taxpayers together. We need enough capacity to serve students well, supported by realistic forecasts, transparent budgets, and accountability for construction costs and schedules."

Budget and financial oversight: Langford said on his campaign website that he would "bring professional experience in budgeting, strategic planning, risk management, and accountability to the School Board."

Parent engagement: Langford said on his campaign website that he would "engage parents early and treat them as meaningful partners in major decisions affecting their children."

Responses were collected through the Fort Mill-Tega Cay Times candidate questionnaire and the candidate's campaign website. Answers have been edited for length but not for content.