South Carolina Bureau Chief
AIKEN --- All four Republican gubernatorial candidates on Monday said the next South Carolina governor should champion conservative spending, education and infrastructure.
Associated Press
Bauer
Associated Press
McMaster
Associated Press
Barrett
Associated Press
Barrett
Attorney General Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, U.S. Rep Gresham Barrett and state Rep. Nikki Haley presented their platforms to a packed room in Newberry Hall.
The Aiken Republican Club sponsored the debate with Jane Vaughters, a club member and former city councilwoman, serving as moderator.
The 45-minute debate gave the candidates an opportunity to touch on their goals if elected, their positions on the federal stimulus plan and other questions posed by the club's board members.
McMaster said leadership has been lacking in the governor's office, and that if elected, his experience and maturity would guide the state "on the road to prosperity."
"My job has not been to vote 'yes' or 'no,' " he said. "It was to find problems, find solutions and get the job done."
He touted his leadership in proposing a lawsuit against congressional leaders over a political deal with a Nebraska senator to gain support for the health care reform bill.
"In Washington I was the one who led the effort to stop it," he said. "I don't believe in stimulus. I don't believe in bailouts. We've thrown a monkey wrench up there."
Haley said as governor she would return the state to its conservative roots and encourage transparency. She sponsored legislation that would require statehouse votes to be on record.
"In the statehouse only 8 percent of votes were on the record," she said. "We now have an unprecedented number of votes on record. ... Politicians have learned a lot of talking points, but they don't understand the action that goes behind it. It's time to go to work."
Barrett said his support of legislation banning partial-birth abortions in South Carolina shows he is connected to the moral issues that affect South Carolinians. As governor, he said, he would support overall tax reform, including sales and property tax, and an emphasis on putting state funds for education in the classroom. The issue is close to him because his wife is a first-grade teacher.
"Right now, 44 cents of every dollar goes to education -- 70 cents of every dollar should go to the classroom," he said. "We need to focus on reading. If you lose a child in the third grade, they will struggle all their lives."
Bauer said more money is not needed to repair the state's public schools. More parent involvement, an emphasis on discipline and prioritizing spending would improve the school system.
"One word -- priorities. We spend $4 million on a Taj Mahal of a high school football stadium. That shows where we put our priorities," Bauer said. "It's not about more money. It's about being better stewards of our money."
Colen Lindell, the secretary of the Aiken County Republican Party, said all the candidates presented viable platforms but Barrett made the best case.
"He's done a great job as a congressman. He'll be a solid conservative," Lindell said. "He would be someone that could work with the other party and get things done instead of just more rhetoric."
Reach Stephanie Toone at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
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