By Nan Lundeen
STAFF WRITER
nlundeen@greenvillenews.com
GREER -- It wasn't a debate, per se, but at a luncheon Friday
sponsored by the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, Republican
candidates for the state House District 18 primary on June 13
answered questions that revealed differences in their positions.
Phillip Shoopman and Pete Smith are vying for the Republican
nomination for retiring Rep. Lewis R. Vaughn's seat. The Greer
Republican decided not to run for a 10th term.
The winner of the primary will face Democrat Brandon Brown in
November.
When asked whether they supported Gov. Mark Sanford's Put Parents
in Charge act, a proposal that would have created vouchers for
students as a means of school choice, the candidates split.
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Shoopman said he supports school choice, but not a voucher
system.
However, he said, "I do believe the money should follow the
child."
Smith said he's not against choice, but, "Until we know how
that's going to affect every student -- every student -- in our
public education system, then I would not be for allowing them to
take those monies with them."
On other issues:
Smith wouldn't tie his hands in advance by signing a pledge not
to raise taxes.
"I will not sign that nor will I sign any other pledge to make me
decide what I'm going to do before I go to Columbia," Smith said.
Shoopman said, "I signed the pledge." Government grows too much,
and surplus dollars should be returned to taxpayers' pockets to help
grow the economy, he said.
On raising the cigarette tax, Shoopman said, "I would be open to
it," but only if Medicaid funding was reformed first.
Smith said the cigarette tax could be raised but didn't think it
needed to go toward Medicaid. The monies could go toward road
improvements, for instance, he said. |
Greer
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