Experienced | Proven | Ready
The future of Fort Mill and South Carolina is truly in the hands of those that are chosen to represent!
One Week to Go! Here’s What’s at Stake in SC26
As we approach Election Day, I want to take a moment to underscore the differences between myself and my opponent—and what this election means for our community. Throughout this campaign, I’ve been crystal clear about where I stand on the issues that directly impact South Carolinians:
Infrastructure: Improving our roads, utilities, and public safety.
Public Education: Ensuring our schools are fully funded and accessible for every child.
Access to Abortion & Protecting IVF: Safeguarding essential healthcare choices.
Protecting Small Businesses: Standing up against predatory insurance regulations.
Relocating the Silfab Solar Plant: Prioritizing the health and safety of our communities.
I have made every effort to provide my positions openly, participating in candidate forums, completing surveys like the League of Women Voters’ Vote411, and making myself accessible to every constituent. My opponent, on the other hand, skipped opportunities to make his views known to you.
To bring more transparency to this election, I attempted to organize a debate, even reaching out during the primaries to the York County Conservative Club for an invitation to their “candidate” debate. Their response? They wouldn’t invite me simply because I’m not a conservative—their words, not mine.
When my opponent eventually agreed to a debate, every logistical detail still fell upon our campaign to organize. From securing the venue to arranging the event structure, it was up to us to make it happen, and despite our best efforts, my opponent’s minimal involvement was simply his agreement to participate. Unfortunately, this resulted in the debate never coming to fruition.
As a candidate, I have never shied away from standing by what I believe in. I believe leaders lead from the front, not from a boardroom.
So, as you head to the polls, I encourage you to make a direct, apples-to-apples comparison:What do you know about my opponent’s values and plans for South Carolina?
And what do you know about mine?
My campaign slogan—EXPERIENCED | PROVEN | READY—is more than just words. It’s my commitment to you, and it reflects the principles I bring to this office.
On November 5th, I ask for your vote to elect a leader who isn’t afraid to stand up for what matters. Let’s move forward together.
Thank you,Matt Vilardebo
Election Week GOTV Schedule!
It’s crunch time, folks! Election Week GOTV is here, and this is our moment to push with everything we’ve got. From door knocking to phone banking, texting, and sharing posts—this is how we bring it home. Let’s make every conversation, every action count.
Join us 11/1 - 11/4 and leave it all on the table for South Carolina. Contact us at mattv4sc@gmail.com or (803) 792-9396 to get your door-knocking turf, call lists, or texting lists. Our team is ready to help you make an impact!
Let’s close strong, push forward, and get ready to WIN!
Visit www.MattV4SC.com to learn more.
Fighting for Fort Mill: Silfab Solar Doesn’t Belong Here
As both a candidate for State House and a fellow citizen of Fort Mill, I have been deeply involved in the fight against the construction of the Silfab Solar plant. For months, I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the parents, families, and community members who are working tirelessly to stop this dangerous facility. Together with the Move Silfab Solar Out of Fort Mill group, we are not just protesting—we’re fighting in the courts, in public forums, and on the ground to ensure our community remains safe for our families.
This is personal for me. If I wasn’t running for office, I would still be fighting alongside this group as a voter and a citizen who believes in protecting our neighborhoods. Silfab’s facility, with its hazardous chemicals and irresponsible location near schools and homes, never should have been approved. This is exactly why elections matter—we need leaders who listen to the people and act with integrity, not politicians who rubber-stamp unsafe developments to please corporate interests.
Why We’re Fighting:
Dangerous Chemicals in Our Backyard: The chemicals that Silfab plans to use—like hydrogen fluoride and silane—are not something we can gamble with. These substances are extremely hazardous, and their proximity to two brand-new schools is unacceptable. The safety of our children and families should come before profit.
Wrong Place, Wrong Priorities: I believe in business growth and clean energy, but not at the cost of public safety. Fort Mill is a thriving residential area. There are plenty of locations in York County that could accommodate this facility without putting residents at risk. It never should have been built here.
Standing with the Community: I’ve been with the Move Silfab Solar Out of Fort Mill group since the beginning, and I’m committed to seeing this fight through. Whether it’s attending community forums, meeting with residents, or standing alongside parents and activists as we pursue two lawsuits, I’m not just talking about the problem—I’m actively working to fix it.
My Commitment:
As your next State Representative, I will:
1. Continue fighting with this community to stop the Silfab Solar facility from ever opening its doors here in Fort Mill.
2. Ensure that no other community has to face the same threat by pushing for stricter zoning and regulatory protections.
3. Hold corporations accountable for their environmental and safety impacts, making sure that business growth never compromises the well-being of our citizens.
This isn’t just about an election—this is about protecting our community from a dangerous facility that should have never been approved. Fort Mill deserves better, and I’m committed to making sure that we get the leadership that listens to the people, fights for public safety, and puts our families first.
EXPERIENCED | PROVEN | READY
🚨 October Action Alert! 🚨
Weekly Door Knocking; Every Saturday Through The Election!
Friends, we’re nearing the finish line, and this is where the rubber meets the road! With just two weeks until Election Day, it’s time to double down and push toward victory on November 5th. 🗳️
We’ve got multiple opportunities for you to knock doors, engage with our community, and make a real difference. Plus, I’ll be out and about at several events—come by, ask me questions, and let’s talk about the future we’re building together. We will be meeting at the usual spot in Fort Mill at Steele Street Park for the door knocking events.
Here’s what’s coming up:
🔶 WRHI Radio Interview | Oct. 24 | 1 PM - 1:30 PM
🔶 Sunset Canvassing Event | Oct. 25 | 5 PM - 7 PM
🔶 Weekly Door Knocking | Oct. 26 | 10:30 AM - 12 PM
🔶 YCDP Trunk or Treat | Oct. 26 | 4:30 PM - 7 PM
🔶 April Patalocco Event @Replay | Oct. 26 | 7 PM
🔶 Spooky Canvassing Fun | Oct. 31 | 2 PM - 5 PM
This is your chance to be part of something BIG. Together, we can bring the change South Carolina needs! 💪
I’m excited to see you all out there. Let’s keep up the momentum and push forward to victory on November 5th!
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
PragerU Partnership in South Carolina Schools
It is with deep concern that I address the recent decision by Superintendent Ellen Weaver to officially partner South Carolina’s public education system with PragerU. This partnership, announced yesterday, introduces controversial materials into our classrooms that undermine the very principles of objective and inclusive education.
PragerU is not an educational institution, but a conservative media organization known for producing provocative and politically charged content. Videos such as “What Radical Islam and the Woke Have in Common” and “Make Men Masculine Again” are far from the kind of balanced, fact-based education we owe our children. Instead of fostering critical thinking, these materials seek to promote a narrow political ideology that has no place in our public schools.
Superintendent Weaver may claim that these materials are "optional," but the state’s endorsement of PragerU sends a dangerous message: that it is acceptable to blur the lines between education and indoctrination. This decision erodes the crucial separation between church and state, and it undermines the integrity of our public school system.
South Carolina students deserve better. They deserve an education that prepares them for a future rooted in truth, critical thinking, and diversity of thought—not one influenced by a partisan agenda. As your representative, I will fight to protect the integrity of our public education and oppose any attempt to bring bias into our classrooms.
Let’s be clear: this is not about promoting civics or financial literacy—this is about advancing an extremist agenda that will harm our children and the future of South Carolina.
WIS TV : SC Superintendent announces partnership with conservative media organization PragerU
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Get To Know Matt Vilardebo
Meet Matt Vilardebo
Matt Vilardebo announces run for SC House District 26
Matt Vilardebo announces run for SC House District 26
Husband. Father. Proud resident of Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Since 2017, Matt and his wife of 23 years, Elida, 7 th grade teacher with the Fort Mill School District, as well as his children, Clark, 21 and Rylee, 18, have made a home in Fort Mill, South Carolina. In these seven years, Matt and family have loved living in and being a part of this beautiful-small town and have cherished the friends and memories that have been made. His children have grown in to strong, intelligent adults, thanks to the foundation built by the Fort Mill School District.
Matt Vilardebo announces run for SC House District 26
Matt Vilardebo announces run for SC House District 26
Matt Vilardebo announces run for SC House District 26
YORK COUNTY, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) – Matt Vilardebo has officially announced his intent to run as a Democrat for the State House District 26 seat in 2024.
Vilardebo is a Fort Mill resident who previously ran for this State House seat during the 2022 election year.
Representative Raye Felder confirmed her retirement which Vilardebo says has created a real opportunity for a Democrat to flip this seat.
Parkinson’s cut short his first try at the Appalachian Trail — but he refuses to give up
Parkinson’s cut short his first try at the Appalachian Trail — but he refuses to give up
Parkinson’s cut short his first try at the Appalachian Trail — but he refuses to give up
The past few months have been a whirlwind for Charlotte-area hiker Matt Vilardebo. After hiking part of the Appalachian Trail in April, he gained a wealth of perspective that helped him navigate his new normal with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. He has also gained community, something he craved after he was diagnosed.
Thanks to social media, an interview with “The Today Show” and the response he received this past spring from hiking the Appalachian Trail, he’s not only learning how to find his way but he’s accomplishing one of his goals.
STRAIGHT TALK 10-28-22: MATT VILARDEBO, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR S.C. HOUSE SEAT 26
Parkinson’s cut short his first try at the Appalachian Trail — but he refuses to give up
Parkinson’s cut short his first try at the Appalachian Trail — but he refuses to give up
Matt Vilardebo, Democratic candidate for S.C. House Seat 26 joins Manning Kimmel for Straight Talk.