The Beaufort Gazette: Ceips outlines focus of her campaign

State Rep. Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort, outlined eight focus areas of her campaign to become the next senator for District 46.

The Senate seat was vacated last month after Scott Richardson of Hilton Head Island was appointed to head the state Department of Insurance.

Ceips says her experience as a public school teacher gives her an understanding of the problems facing schools and the improvements that must be made.

In an e-mailed statement she said: "We must enact bold new reforms to allow our students to receive the education they will need to compete globally in the decades ahead." She could not be reached for additional comment.

The other areas Ceips said she will work on:

Keeping taxes low. Ceips said she has consistently voted in the House "to keep government spending low so that we could keep taxes low."

Healthcare. Ceips says she has an understanding of and commitment to this issue, having been a partner in her late husband's medical practice.

Growth and development. She said long-range plans need to be developed to control "the looming over-development crisis."

Government reform. Ceips said she will follow Gov. Mark Sanford's lead in restructuring agencies that hold back progress and "fight against the good-ole boy system."

Law enforcement. She said she'll work to find ways to provide officers with resources, tools and training.

Senior services. Ceips said she has "the background and commitment to serve the senior population."

Constituent service. She said her experience working for U.S. Reps. Floyd Spence and Joe Wilson gives her an advantage over her opponents.

Filing for the special election ends at noon Monday.

Ceips will face state Rep. Richard Chalk, R-Hilton Head Island, former Beaufort County Council Chairman Tom Taylor and the county council's current chairman, Weston Newton in a May 1 primary.