My candidacy is based on one crucial assumption: that Ronnie Young, the current Council Chairman, will be successful in his race to succeed Chris Corley in representing South Carolina House District 84. This may seem like a very big assumption. But in this case, it appears that the man and the district have met. Ronnie, under whom I served during my two terms on County Council, will be a formidable candidate and an outstanding state representative.

 

And for Aiken County, this will be a good move: we badly need someone in the Aiken County legislative delegation with an intimate knowledge of local government and its needs in Columbia. For home rule to work, we need folks in the General Assembly who are sympathetic to our state’s cities and counties.

 

I could easily pick up on a popular theme and claim that my goal is to “Make Aiken County Great Again!” But overall Aiken County is in good shape. Our county government continues to weather the storm with balanced budgets and no property tax hikes.

 

Unlike many politicians, I see no sense in promising revolutionary changes. Where it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Instead, my goal is to focus on the fundamentals of county government and prune and hedge as needed. Continuity and change go hand in hand. We will think outside the box when necessary, but always making sure we build on firm foundations.

 

And to maintain Aiken County’s prosperity, I see four key interrelated - and mutually supporting - themes at work.

 

First, the Aiken County Council must maintain a fiscally conservative, business friendly environment across the county. Taxes must be held in check. Regulations must be sensible and be subject to the rule of law. They must be neither onerous nor cost more than they’re worth. And a sound, conservative budget requires discipline to reduce debt, hold the line on taxes, and improve county employees’ pay. County government should be lean and effective, which isn’t the same as stingy and cheap.

 

Second, the Aiken County Council must continue to pursue industrial growth opportunities with good paying jobs to increase prosperity and widen the tax base. Our local economy is diverse, with income derived from the Savannah River Site, private industry, the horse community, agriculture, retirees relocating here, and innumerable and varied service sector jobs. Like a giant mosaic, all of these groups have a place in Aiken County, and all have interests that must be balanced. We should cooperate with other jurisdictions to encourage job growth. And with a pro-industrial administration taking office in Washington, DC, we should be on the lookout for every opportunity to improve our local economy.

 

Third, the Aiken County Council must maintain existing public infrastructure and prudently expand it where either current usage or competent forecasts dictate improvements. Capital Projects Sales Tax dollars must be spent on only the highest priority items serving the public interest. And the county should team with the cities where they share mutual concerns. For example, improvements along Whiskey Road and the Whiskey-Powderhouse Connector Road. And these examples can be multiplied across the county.

 

And last, but most importantly because it supports everything else we do, we must keep our focus on public safety. The Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services are two great props underlying our quality of life. Without law and order, public confidence wilts and communities wither. Investment dies when public safety passes the tipping point into anarchy.

 

But having laid out these broad courses of action, the obvious question is whether I'm the right choice to succeed Ronnie Young as County Council Chairman. I have both the conservative values and experience required. I've served eight years on council, three as vice chairman, and served on a variety of boards and commissions. I’ve been active in both community organizations and the Republican Party. I’ve researched and written on innumerable local topics in my newspaper and internet columns. I know how to run a meeting and have a layman's understanding of parliamentary procedure. I also have the temperament and credibility to represent county government.

 

But there's something else I understand about the role of chairman. The chairman is different from other councilmen. He must preside over the meetings. While his vote is his own, he must temper his comments to allow the other eight members of council to express their views, debate the issues, and make their motions. The chairman must speak for the full council, even in cases when he disagrees with the majority. The chairman must ensure that council retains the initiative on policy development.

 

And the chairman must represent the county on a variety of matters, including discussions and negotiations related to economic development projects. He must have a vision for the whole county, from North Augusta to Wagener and from Aiken to Beech Island. The chairman must transcend purely parochial concerns.

 

The Chairman of the Aiken County Council must listen to and balance all of the various interests in the county. It’s not just about being first among equals among council’s nine members. No, he must also deal with the other countywide elected officials and the county’s unelected staff. He must deal with the legislative delegation, and with our Congressional representatives. He must work with mayors and school boards. He must meet with business interests and citizens groups. The chairman must listen at least twice as much as he talks.

 

In short, the chairman needs to be a statesman. For eight years on the Aiken County Council, I watched and listened and learned from a true mentor. It was time and training well spent.

 

Firm convictions and prudently picking battles go hand in hand in local government. And I’ve learned, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, that there’s no limit on what you can accomplish if you let the other fellow take the credit. Indeed, in many cases the good ideas come from you – the public – and not from staff, consultants, or your elected officials. But an ability to judge between competing proposals is very, very important.

 

I look forward to serving as your next Chairman of the Aiken County Council. I stand before you as not only a conservative Republican with my own firm convictions – and my columns should be proof of that – but also as a candidate willing and able to listen to diverse opinions.

 

Together we will build on a solid foundation.

 

We will hold the line on property taxes and seek continued millage rate rollbacks.

 

We will work to reduce debt.

 

We will attract industrial investments and SRS missions along with the good paying jobs they provide.

 

We will wisely maintain existing infrastructure and prudently expand it where necessary.

 

And we will support public safety and emergency services.

 

Aiken County is the size of Rhode Island. I need not only your votes, but your active support to win this election. Can I count on your help?