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Article published Oct 17, 2004
Reese, Parker battle for redistricted seat
Alexander Morrison
Staff Writer
The rematches are set:
Yankees vs. Red Sox, Vikings vs. Cavaliers, Glenn Reese vs. Steve Parker.Things
might get interesting.In 2000, Reese, D-Boiling Springs, defeated Republican
Parker for the District 11 Senate seat 58 percent to 42 percent. Since then,
Reese's constituency has been redistricted by a Republican legislature -- a
redistricting that county Democratic leadership believes will hurt Reese.Reese,
however, stands confidently behind his record of constituent service. The
14-year veteran of the state Senate points to the billboard he has posted in
town that invites his constituents to call his home phone number if they need
any help as evidence of his commitment."It's all about service," the owner of
the Church Street Krispy Kreme doughnut shop said. He compared his job to the
movie "Ghostbusters." "Sooner or later you've got to call Ghostbusters, sooner
or later you've got to call me," he said.Reese explained that he gets most of
his legislative ideas from people calling him. He is trying to figure out how to
strengthen state DUI laws after getting a call from a man whose daughter was
killed by a drunken driver.Meanwhile, Parker's campaign has come out committed
and swinging. More than 400 people reportedly braved the driving rain and
tornado warnings spawned by Hurricane Jeanne to come to an election rally and
barbecue for Parker at Boiling Springs High School.Parker is doing everything he
can to tie his horse to Gov. Mark Sanford's wagon in an effort to win the seat,
which comes with a $10,400 annual salary. He has pledged to support Sanford in
virtually all his actions from tax cuts to reforms that would make it easier to
override a filibuster in the state Senate.Parker referred to the governor four
times in the 600-word perspective piece he penned in the Herald-Journal on Sept.
26. The other five local state Senate candidates combined only mentioned the
governor twice in their articles.Sanford, in turn, has campaigned for Parker,
appearing by his side in Spartanburg on Oct. 4.For his part, Reese has said it
is important to have some balance in government."I'm not a puppet for anybody
and I don't roll over for anybody and that's probably why (Sanford) is coming
out here -- he wants someone who will," Reese said.Reese lists health care
reform and property tax cuts as his top priorities. He explained that he is
working on a plan where small businesses band together so they can afford to pay
for employee health plans.Parker supports proposals that would make it easier
for the majority party to accomplish its agenda in the state Senate. He cites
last session's infamous filibuster of a primary seat belt law as an example of
why the rules need to be changed. That filibuster, however, was led by Sen.
Glenn McConnell of the majority Republican Party."In this country, we cannot let
just a handful stop the work of the state," Parker said.Reese cautiously
supports a property tax-for-sales-tax swap, but he's worried that schools might
be hurt by it.Parker has endorsed income and property tax cut plans. He often
points out that South Carolina ranks 28th in education spending per pupil but
dead last in test scores. "Don't keep doing the same things," he said.Alexander
Morrison can be reached at 562-7215 or alex.morrison@shj.com.