Originally published in Aiken Standard.
By: April Bailey, Staff writer
Democratic gubernatorial candidates made a case why they were the best choice to lead the state during a Meet Our Next Governor reception Tuesday evening.
State Education Superintendent Jim Rex, attorney Mullins McLeod and Sen. Vincent Sheheen attended the event held at the Aiken Men of Action Building. Additional Democratic gubernatorial candidates Sen. Robert Ford and attorney Dwight Drake were absent from the reception.
Keiana Page, spokeswoman for the South Carolina Democratic Party, said the event was held to get people fired up for the 2010 race.
“We really have some great candidates going into this election,” Page said.
Carol Fowler, the state Democratic Party chair, agreed.
“This series is an opportunity for local democrats to meet our candidates and for our candidates to meet local democrats,” Fowler said.
Aiken was one of several stops for the statewide receptions. Receptions will also be held in Hilton Head, Charleston, Anderson and Pawleys Island.
Fowler said the 2010 race will have a huge impact on the state with unemployment, health care and education as key issues.
Candidates were given four minutes to introduce themselves and their platforms to the crowd.
McLeod said there is no reason why the state should have the highest unemployment rate in the nation, rank at the bottom in education and have one of the highest poverty rates.
A large part of the reason, said McLeod, is that the state continues to elect career politicians and allows lobbyists to run the State House.
McLeod also urged Democratic candidates to continue to promote the party’s principles when trying to win a race instead of adopting a “defeatist mentality.”
“Why don’t we stand on our own issues, our own progressive values,” he said.
Sheheen said it will take hard work, commitment of time and political support for a Democrat to win the race.
“We have been without a vision for a long time in this state,” he said.
If elected, Sheheen said he will work to improve health care in the state.
He also plans to have an active role in job creation and recruiting businesses to South Carolina.
Sheheen said he plans to improve education by reducing class sizes and providing an equal funding system for schools. Rex told the group to focus on what’s at stake for the party in the election.
He said if Republican candidates take the House, Senate and the governor’s race, Democrats in the state can kiss the next decade goodbye.
Rex said people should elect a candidate with executive experience and one they will feel comfortable with representing South Carolina in the nation and the world.
“If you think about all of that, I will live with your decision, and I will trust your decision,” he said.
Tags: democratic candidates for governor, Governor's Race