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ELECTION 2016
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016
THE SUMTER ITEM
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 36 LEON WINN, Republican HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR CURRENT CITY OR COUNTY? Fourteen
EDUCATION BACKGROUND: Morris College BTH, Overcoming Outreach School of Religion Columbia DD
OCCUPATION: Pastor
SINGLE OR MARRIED? IF MARRIED, SPOUSE’S NAME AND, IF APPROPRIATE, MAIDEN NAME: Christine O. Winn
ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL IMPORTANT FOR READERS TO KNOW: I am the CEO of United People Pushing Progress; second vice chair, S.C. Republican Party; pastor of Rock Hill Baptist Church; self-employed business for 25 years.
OFFICE YOU ARE RUNNING FOR: Senate Seat 36
INCUMBENT OR CHALLENGER: Challenger
DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR DECISION TO RUN? No. We need new ideas.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE POSITION? I am a great organizer. I care about people. I have been in business for more than 25 years self-employed, and I have great people skills.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAIN ISSUES FACING THE COUNCIL OR BOARD YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? Education and jobs
WHAT IS WORKING WELL FOR THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) POSITION YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? Nothing at this time.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? Consolidated school board, job training for displaced workers, extended programs for our youth, bring jobs back to the community.
WHAT WAS THE CATALYST THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE? Seeing the need for change and improvement for District 36.
KEVIN JOHNSON, Democrat HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR CURRENT CITY OR COUNTY? Lifelong resident of Manning
EDUCATION BACKGROUND:
WHAT DO YOU FEEL QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE POSITION? I feel that my vast experience and reputation of dedicated service to the community over the last 30 years qualifies me for this position, especially the six years that I have served in the S.C. General Assembly.
B.S. degree from University of South Carolina-Business majoring in management and marketing
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAIN ISSUES FACING THE COUNCIL OR BOARD YOU ARE RUNNING FOR?
OCCUPATION:
The main issues that we currently face are our highway and road infrastructure, public education funding equity, economic development, affordable health care, solvency of the state retirement system, etc.
Retired in 2011 as Florence/Myrtle Beach regional manager of the S.C. Department of Revenue
SINGLE OR MARRIED?: IF MARRIED, SPOUSE’S NAME AND MAIDEN NAME: Married to Gloria Richardson Johnson
ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL IMPORTANT FOR READERS TO KNOW: Three children — Kimberly, Kenneth and Kyndra.
OFFICE YOU ARE RUNNING FOR: Running for re-election, S.C. Senate, District 36
DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR DECISION TO RUN? Previous government experience includes 12 years as a school board member for Clarendon 2 schools, six years as a member of Manning City Council, 11 years as mayor of Manning, two years in S.C. House of Representatives and four years in the S.C. Senate. Also served two years as president of The Municipal Association of South Carolina and served on several local and state boards and commissions.
WHAT IS WORKING WELL FOR THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) POSITION YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? What works well for S.C. Senate District 36 is the groundwork that has been laid over the last few years that has us in a better position to recruit industries that will provide jobs that pay good wages and offer good employee benefits.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? The major change that I would like to see is the passage of a plan that would fund the needed repair/replacement of our highways, roads and bridges. This is a public safety issue, and this is an economic development issue.
WHAT WAS THE CATALYST THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE? Every decision that I made to run for any office that I ran for was made after much encouragement from people whose opinions I value and trust and from people that I have a lot of respect for.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT 5 MICK MULVANEY, Republican HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR CURRENT CITY OR COUNTY? Thirteen plus
EDUCATION BACKGROUND: Georgetown University, University of North Carolina School of Law, Harvard Business School
OCCUPATION: United States representative
SINGLE OR MARRIED? IF MARRIED, SPOUSE’S NAME AND, IF APPROPRIATE, MAIDEN NAME: Married, Pamela
ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL IMPORTANT FOR READERS TO KNOW: We are parents of triplet 16-year-olds.
OFFICE YOU ARE RUNNING FOR: US House District 5
INCUMBENT OR CHALLENGER: Incumbent
DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR DECISION TO RUN? I have served in this current office for just under six years.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE POSITION? I have a broad private sector background, having started and run companies in the restaurant industry, real estate, homebuilding and law. I have been active in my local community for more than 13 years. And since being in office, I have maintained the highest level of ac-
FRAN PERSON, Democrat HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR CURRENT CITY OR COUNTY? Two years
EDUCATION BACKGROUND: University of South Carolina, double major in political science and international relations
OCCUPATION: Full-time candidate for U.S. Congress
SINGLE OR MARRIED? IF MARRIED, SPOUSE’S NAME AND, IF APPROPRIATE, MAIDEN NAME: Married, Krystal Person
ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL IMPORTANT FOR READERS TO KNOW: I am running for Congress because Congress is broken. Members of Congress spend more time fighting with one another and scoring political points than working for us. That’s never going to work. I will bring the same values to Congress that have guided me my whole life: hard work, teamwork and commitment to a common goal. And that common goal is that we have to give people the tools they need to compete — and win. That means we have to invest in education — not cut it. It
countability and accessibility, including opening an office in Sumter and hosted dozens of local meetings there to listen to people’s input on the issues important to them.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAIN ISSUES FACING THE COUNCIL OR BOARD YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? The national debt, immigration, international and domestic terrorism and economic opportunity and jobs. In fact, all of those things are related.
WHAT IS WORKING WELL FOR THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) POSITION YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? Congress, despite its difficulties, has managed to make several changes directly benefitting South Carolina, most specifically as regards economic development and the Port of Charleston. For example, the port is currently on schedule to be deepened as many as seven years earlier than otherwise might have taken place, in large part because of the bipartisan work of the South Carolina delegation.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) YOU ARE RUNNING FOR?
RUDY BARNES, American
and Republican Party.
YEARS AT CURRENT ADDRESS:
See important to know, above, and my campaign website at http://www.rudybarnesforcongress.com/.
Thirty years
EDUCATION: The Citadel (BA Political Science); University of South Carolina: MPA and JD; U.S. Army War College
SPOUSE’S NAME: Jeanette Wall Barnes
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Have practiced law for 49 years, served on Columbia City Council (1978-1968), UMC Pastor (2000-2012), COL, U.S. Army (Ret). For background and experience see http:// www.rudybarnesforcongress. com/; for commentary on issues, see http://www.religionlegitimacyandpolitics.com/; www.facebook.com/BarnesforCongress/.
OFFICE:
I would like to see the federal government spend less, fix our broken immigration system and repeal Obamacare and replace it with a patientbased program, similar to those laid out in the detailed Republican proposal, “A Better Way,” which can be found at www.betterway.gov.
Congress, Fifth Congressional District
WHAT WAS THE CATALYST THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?
Columbia City Council, U.S. Army officer. All of my experience has motivated me to run, as well as my desire to give voters a choice other than those offered by the Democrat
I was angry with my predecessor for voting for Obamacare, bailouts and stimulus programs, all of which only ended up hurting South Carolina and the country.
means we have to rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges, highways, ports and airports. And it means we need to be giving our men and women in uniform the support they need — not punishing them with a senseless sequester that guts our military spending when we need it the most. This last point is personal for me — I have four brothers and two sisters-in-law who went to the Naval Academy and have served our nation. I have competed my whole life. And it’s time we had folks in Congress who know what it takes to compete. To paraphrase my father, it’s time for America to get in the game.
OFFICE YOU ARE RUNNING FOR: U.S. Congress, South Carolina 5th Congressional District.
INCUMBENT OR CHALLENGER: Challenger
DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR DECISION TO RUN? This is my first run for political office; however, I worked for then Senator-Now Vice President Biden for more than seven years.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE POSITION? The United States Congress was founded on the idea of
teamwork. Teamwork has been the guiding principle of my entire life, from growing up in a large family as one of six children to playing Gamecock football under Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier in Columbia. A successful Congressman won’t only be able to play well with others, but do so with knowledge and integrity. I traveled the world with Joe Biden as his assistant and adviser when he was a senator and vice president. I’ve been in the room with world leaders, participated in intense discussions about the economy and national security and spent years listening to policy makers and ordinary Americans about what makes government work. I learned the value of compromise and humility. The people of this district deserve healthy doses of both.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MAIN ISSUES FACING THE COUNCIL OR BOARD YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? We as a nation have a lot on our plate: fulfilling the sacred agreement that exists with our active military and veterans, expanding economic opportunity so that no one gets left behind, investing in entrepreneurs and innovators who drive our growth and educating our children so their future is brighter than any previous generation. As important as all of these issues are, not one of them can be solved
CHALLENGER PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE:
with gridlock in Congress. There is an overarching need to get things done and to accomplish the people’s business instead of using the power of an elected office to score political.
WHAT IS WORKING WELL FOR THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) POSITION YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? I’ve spent a good bit of time in Sumter during this campaign and seen so much that exemplifies what is right about America here. Thousands of fighting men and women are well trained and well prepared to protect this great nation at home and abroad. Their spirit of sacrifice inspires me. Small business owners and other civilians support them and gain strength from their example. Fortunately, I think most members of Congress know that the people of Main Street America work hard and do what’s right, and they want to do what’s right for them. There is more that ties together the American people and their elected officials than divides them.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE (CITY, COUNTY, DISTRICT) YOU ARE RUNNING FOR? The people of this district deserve a Congressman who works as hard as they do. Pursuing ideological goals for the
QUALIFICATIONS:
MAIN ISSUES: Need to break up stifling gridlock caused by a polarized Democrat and Republican Congress; need to develop coherent foreign policy and military strategies; need to impose cost controls on health care services; need to have Congress oversight of Federal Reserve monetary policies and limits on national debt.
WHAT IS WORKING WELL IN CONGRESS: Nothing is working well in Congress.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE: I would like to see enough third party/independent members of Congress to minimize gridlock and restore the art of compromise in Congress.
WHAT WAS CATALYST FOR RUNNING: The miserable state of politics caused by the two-party duopoly and a desire to promote the American Party as a means to improve our politics.
TV cameras doesn’t help secure new jobs for the 5th district or ensure that Shaw Air Force Base will not fall victim to the chopping block or help our farmers rebound from storms, floods and crop failures. While there are big-picture issues that all members of Congress weigh in on, the people of Sumter only have one elected official to advocate for them in particular. That Congressman needs to spend time among the people who put him in office, know their concerns and fight to keep their jobs and families safe and secure. If the Congressman for this district doesn’t fight to keep good jobs here, who will?
WHAT WAS THE CATALYST THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE? My life has been blessed beyond measure, but I want my two little girls, Bella and Zoe, and the child that my wife, Krystal, and I have on the way to have more opportunity and security than I’ve had. We live in uncertain times, in a world that can be a very scary place, but I want to be able to look back and know that I did everything I could to make the lives of my children better, safer and more productive. The American Dream is not guaranteed to this generation of children. They deserve to have as good a shot at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as those that came before them.