My wife Anne and I, as parents who helped guide our two sons and one daughter through the public school system here in Beaufort County, always took our role as parents seriously. We provided active engagement and supportive collaboration as much as appropriate with both the administration and teachers. As a result, I gained a great deal of insight into the strengths and weaknesses of public schools in South Carolina up close.

Fortunately, in Beaufort County, we have had, over the past 30 years, one of the more successful school districts in South Carolina. But I have learned that’s not true across our state. Since being in the state legislature these past 10 years, I have discovered even more acutely that the disparities from one school district to the next can be very large. That’s one important reason why I support school choice across our state

I have learned each child has unique educational needs, requiring a range of options. Therefore, I support making available a diverse array of schools, including traditional public, charter, virtual, magnet, faith-based, private, and homeschooling, allowing families to choose the best environment. I believe our state system must focus on individuality while avoiding one-size-fits-all policies from the state and federal levels.

Reforming our education funding is crucial. I have fought to recover education dollars for local schools and continue to advocate for targeted classroom support. Teachers are vital, and our children benefit when we appreciate and fairly compensate them. Raising teacher pay and providing proper planning time empowers educators to focus on student success.

I also believe in expanding educational options, such as charter schools and vocational training, and fostering partnerships between educational institutions and businesses. This will better prepare students for the workforce through practical skills and specialized training. Furthermore, investing in community colleges and universities ensures students can access higher education that aligns with job market needs.

In all of this artificial intelligence will become increasingly important. Likewise, in rural areas, expanding broadband access is critical for providing students with the tools they need to succeed. Additionally, we must increase accountability for education spending and outcomes. Implementing the Education Reform Bill, which reduces testing and grants teachers a “Bill of Rights,” was a step toward improving our system. It was a bill I advocated for vigorously.

By looking to states like Mississippi, where leadership has driven results, I believe we can adopt strategies like challenging curricula and improved training for teachers and school boards. These changes will help South Carolina improve educational outcomes and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Our Beaufort delegation stands strong in protecting our natural resources and diverse cultures. I am proud to have played a role with other House members of our Beaufort Delegation in securing funding for vital projects like protecting our shoreline from offshore drilling and setting forth legislation to regulate plastic on the beach, funding oyster bed re-nourishment as well as the beach re-nourishment of Hunting Island State Park, and other initiatives that are both environmentally and business-friendly.

Protecting our environment while advancing infrastructure is a balance that I am passionate about. I believe our state can Improve economically while also remaining resilient and respectful of our environmental heritage. Our natural resources are not just a part of our landscape, but a part of who we are—and we must preserve them for future generations.

I am especially proud of being a part of the coastal group of legislators who successfully opposed offshore drilling on the House floor. As a result, we safeguarded South Carolina’s coastline from becoming a staging ground for oil drilling. Additionally, I secured funding for an oyster shell reclamation project run by the Outside Hilton Head Foundation, which has returned several tons of shells to our Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie waters, boosting oyster populations and accelerating marsh regeneration.

I have been a proud recipient of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina endorsement for work I spearheaded over the years.

As your State Representative, I have put my shoulder to the plow to ensure that South Carolina stays on a steady, conservative path as our economy recovers. While other states turned to bigger government, higher taxes, and more regulation, we chose a different path—cutting spending, reducing regulations, and holding the line on taxes.

As a result, our unemployment rate is well below the national average, and Beaufort County continues to experience economic growth, job creation, and diversification of our job market. As Chairman of the Regulations Committee, I have made it my passion to get rid of red tape and remove barriers to job and business growth, creating the most fertile economic environment possible.

I firmly believe that reducing taxes is key to fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians. As a staunch advocate for tax relief, I am committed to putting money back into the pockets of hardworking families and local businesses. This past session, we successfully passed a bill to reduce personal income tax from 7% to 6% over five years. Looking ahead, I am working on a bill to accelerate this tax reduction to occur within one year, further enhancing the financial relief for our citizens.

It’s important that tax cuts are implemented responsibly, ensuring we maintain essential services and support necessary infrastructure improvements.

My approach balances fiscal responsibility with incentivizing economic growth, providing financial relief while ensuring that South Carolina continues to thrive. By continuing our focus on fiscal conservatism and tax relief, we can secure a prosperous future for South Carolina—one that benefits our residents, businesses, and communities alike.