His tenure, leadership posts are assets.

Incumbent Rep. Adam Taylor has served District 16 well during his four terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives, and he deserves to be the Republican Party's nominee in the June 13 primary.

Taylor's opponent is Mark Willis, 42, of Fountain Inn. The winner of this primary will face Laurens Democrat Bryan Able. This district covers parts of Laurens and Greenville counties.

Taylor's principal strength is the voice he gives these two Upstate counties because of his tenure in the House and the leadership positions he has attained. Taylor, 41, is one of only three Greenville County legislators on the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee (another is retiring Rep. Lewis Vaughn). He also is assistant House majority leader. That representation is vital to this area, and re-electing Taylor would preserve it.

Advertisement

Taylor supported the House's short-sighted tax reform plan to eliminate most property taxes in exchange for a 2-cent sales tax increase. However, he was not alone on that issue, which was driven by a vocal contingent of South Carolinians and passed the House with broad support.

On other important issues, Taylor supports a limited form of school choice with accountability, but opposed Gov. Mark Sanford's sweeping Put Parents in Charge legislation. To that end, he has proposed up to a $3,000 tax deduction for parents who home-school or choose private schools. He also supports reforming state government to make some elected constitutional offices appointed.

Willis is co-owner of The Maples Assisted Living Retirement Community, and in that role has an understanding of health care and issues related to small businesses. He speaks persuasively about wanting to improve education in South Carolina and help small businesses succeed.

But Taylor's experience and his voice on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and in the Republican caucus are too important to lose.