Rivals share pride, ambition for Aiken County

AIKEN --- The two candidates vying for the District 5 Aiken County Council seat both have an interest in making a name for the county throughout the state.

Republican Sandy Haskell is an Aiken County native with a background in business. Democrat Judy Hamilton has served a spectrum of people -- from teenagers to seniors -- in her career as a social worker. The Augusta Chronicle spoke with the candidates and got a closer look into their backgrounds and interest in serving residents in the Belvedere and North Augusta area.

JUDY HAMILTON

Originally from Lansing, Mich., she said she fell in love with South Carolina when her mother's job transferred her to the state in 1990 from Buffalo, N.Y. She began volunteering with teenagers while living in Columbia and found her calling.

"I wanted to be a mentor," she said. "I noticed that children may not want to talk to their parents, but they'll talk to a mentor."

She decided to help young people as a social worker. In 2004, she began working with convicted juveniles for the state Department of Corrections. She lost her job after budget cuts and began working as a social worker at a dialysis center. Her work inspired her to get involved with politics, she said.

"At the dialysis center, I had to argue with Medicare and Medicaid (representatives) about prescription coverage," Ms. Hamilton said. "With the adolescents, I saw the need for an improvement in education."

In 2008, she ran for the state House but lost to incumbent Republican Don Smith. She hopes to help make Aiken as recognized nationally as Charleston and Columbia.

Economic development and industry will be the key to advancing the county, Ms. Hamilton said.

SANDY HASKELL

Mr. Haskell said that though he is relatively new to the political realm, he has been involved in the community since he returned to his hometown in 2002.

Mr. Haskell and his wife moved to Belvedere after spending 27 years in Birmingham, Ala., running several recycling centers for Waste Management.

He said his 36-year career taught him about the environment and helped him become business savvy. "I managed budgets and people and had to really show leadership," he said. "That's the main thing I think I could bring to the council."

He has also shown his leadership as president of the new Belvedere Ridge Area Neighborhood Watch. He has been a member of the Lions Club for 15 years.

"My father helped organize the Belvedere Fire Department," he said. "We always believed in being an active part of our communities."

He said that, if elected, he will continue to support fiscally conservative management of the county. He also will support the expansion of Aiken County's EMS staff.

"We have a large, and aging community, so we will have to expand and improve the system," he said.

Reach Stephanie Toone at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.