With the four Republicans running for state treasurer showing few substantive differences on issues, Tuesday's primary may boil down to personalities and background when voters make their selections.

Thomas Ravenel, Greg Ryberg, Rick Quinn and Jeff Willis share common goals of restoring the state's AAA credit rating, strengthening its retirement system, taking a role in economic development and providing support for Gov. Mark Sanford, according to their responses to questions submitted to The Greenville News.

The winner will face Democratic incumbent Grady Patterson, 82, a lawyer and World War II and Korean War fighter pilot who has held the office for 36 of the last 40 years.

Patterson is the only Democratic incumbent on the statewide ballot. Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum opted not to seek a third term.

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The GOP treasurer's field has spent freely -- supporters' donations and their own funds. And with several names familiar to Republican voters, some analysts expect no candidate to emerge with a majority, forcing a June 27 runoff.

Candidates were asked to outline their top three policy initiatives, why they're seeking the office, what impact they would have using the treasurer's seat on the State Budget and Control Board, and are they in for the long haul -- that is, would they seek another office in 2010.

Rick Quinn

The former House GOP leader says he would be a force in economic development by pursuing "comprehensive reform of our state's unfair, outdated tax code, to include permanent tax relief and a more equitable system for funding essential state services."

He joins Ryberg and Willis in making restoration of the state's AAA credit rating, which impacts the cost of borrowing at all governmental levels, one of his top commitments.

Quinn said he would "work with -- not against -- our Republican governor to reform state government and stop deficit spending."

He entered the race because he believes the office matches his background in the public and private sectors.

"In addition to starting my own business, I also served as Republican majority leader, with ten years service on the Ways and Means Committee. I was floor leader for the largest tax cut in state history, and I was given the Friend of the Taxpayer award 10 times, more than any other legislator."

Quinn said his election would shift the balance of power on the Budget and Control Board because he would join with Sanford and Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom as the swing vote on the five-member panel.

Sanford and Eckstrom have often been on the short end of 3-2 votes in which House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman, both Republicans, have been joined by Democrat Patterson.

Quinn said he would "vote for conservative reform and against deficit spending every time."

He said a "single goal to redefine" the treasurer's role means "I have no plan to seek higher office."

Thomas Ravenel

The wealthy Charleston developer who pumped nearly $3 million of his own money into a third-place U.S. Senate primary finish in 2004, said his record of success in business would enables him to "streamline the office, eliminating unnecessary spending."

Ravenel said he would use his budget board seat as a "bully-pulpit to advocate for state reforms, including restructuring and finding and eliminating wasteful or duplicative spending. He said the state's underfunded retirement system must be shored up.

Like Quinn, Ravenel said he would use the office "as a major tool of our state's economic development strategy" through selective depositing of most of the state's funds in local banks around South Carolina.

Ravenel said that would "give small businesses greater access to the capital they need to grow, and create new, higher-paying jobs for our state. My strong finance background will allow me to expand economic development investment programs while securing higher returns for taxpayers."

He's running because he feels a businessman from outside the political system is best suited for the office

"I am a Reagan Republican -- a fiscal conservative who is strongly committed to the principles of lower taxes and less government," Ravenel said.

Ravenel said that as a budget board member, he would be the third vote for restructuring and other money-saving reforms while challenging the "politics-as-usual" attitude in Columbia.

Although he has been the focus of considerable speculation that he might challenge Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in the 2008 primary, Ravenel said he wouldn't seek another office: "No. I am a businessman, not a career politician."

Greg Ryberg

Ryberg is making his second run for treasurer. In 2002, he lost to Patterson, who took 52 percent of the votes.

Like his primary opponents, Ryberg pointed to his experience in business as "a critical qualification" for the post, one that oversees $35 billion in public funds.

Ryberg said he would be "committed not only to reducing government spending and eliminating waste, but also working to enhance economic development opportunities."

In seeking restoration of the state's credit rating, Ryberg said he would seek a meeting of himself, Sanford, Eckstrom, Leatherman and Rep. Dan Cooper, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman, with Standard & Poor's to "determine the immediate and long-term steps that can be taken to restore South Carolina's AAA credit rating."

Ryberg said he would work to repair an underfunded retirement system that is almost bankrupt and facing a nearly $9 billion unfunded liability. "The management of this system must be corrected in order for our state to move forward," he said.

Making legislators understand the fiscal implications of the bills they pass would be another top Ryberg priority.

Ryberg said he wants to be treasurer because having built a successful business, "I know what it means to sign the front of a paycheck and meet a payroll every week, not just sign the back of a check."

Saying he's the most qualified by virtue of his background, Ryberg added that the "taxpayers deserve someone who recognizes it's not Columbia's money -- it's (their) money."

Ryberg said the fiscal philosophy of budget board members should be of intense interest to taxpayers because the panel is the final authority over most of the state's fiscal activity, reviews financial reports of all state institutions, departments and agencies and certifies the state's debt ceiling.

"I believe being treasurer is more than just balance sheets and interest earned, it's protecting the fiscal health of South Carolina for the next generation," Ryberg said.

If elected, Ryberg said he would run for a second term in four years.

Jeff Willis

The youngest candidate in the field is making his first bid for public office.

Willis put winning back the AAA credit rating at the top of his commitment list.

He would add a "Victim Advocacy" component to fight identity theft, using "weight of the Treasurer's Office" to help restore victims' standing with credit and financial institutions.

His third initiative would be "restoring home rule and bringing money and control back to local government" to improve service to local taxpayers.

"With more and more tax dollars going to Columbia, it is becoming increasingly difficult for local communities to get the funding they need for roads, schools, and other local issues," he said.

Willis said he is running because the collapse of Carolina Investors brought home to him "the devastation that can occur when individuals lose their life savings in a faulty investment. Now with the stresses on our state's retirement system, the recent loss of our AAA credit rating, and our failing job market, we must be prepared to deal with these challenges in direct and innovative ways."

As a new face on the budget board, Willis said he would bring new ideas, a consensus-building approach between the factions and a solid business background to the deliberations.

Willis said he would run for re-election in 2010, not another office.