vote for tom young please !
AIKEN --- Gov. Mark Sanford endorsed Aiken County Councilman Scott Singer in the House District 81 runoff election Monday morning, something the governor has done only a handful of times.
Mr. Singer faces Aiken attorney Tom Young in the June 24 runoff to replace Rep. Robert "Skipper" Perry, R-Aiken, who is retiring after serving for nine years.
"This is something I very rarely do," Mr. Sanford said. "These races ought to be about the direct relationship between the voter and the candidate."
The governor said Mr. Singer's local leadership experience, most notably on the teacher's incentive fund and in business, is greatly needed in Columbia.
Mr. Singer told a small crowd gathered in The Alley outside of Aiken's municipal building that the governor could count on him, especially when it comes to cutting taxes and restructuring state government.
But it was Mr. Young who gained the endorsement of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce on Friday.
He won nearly 47 percent of the vote in a four-way Republican primary June 10. Mr. Singer came in with 38 percent, a difference of 506 votes.
The race has been heated between the two, with charges and countercharges being exchanged for several weeks.
In a debate Thursday, Mr. Singer said he was the only candidate running who had experience and the record to prove it.
Mr. Young countered that he was a candidate of change and touted his "Plan for Palmetto Progress," which calls for more home rule power and keeping money in public schools by not allowing vouchers for parents to send children to private schools.
District 81 covers most of the city of Aiken and extends to Gloverville before heading up to Interstate 20.
Reach Nick Needham at (706) 724-0851 or nicholas.needham@augustachronicle.com.
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