Fort Mill lawyer Michael Johnson, Rock Hill developer Ralph Norman and Tega Cay real estate agent Peggy Up-church are seeking the seat being vacated by Rep. Becky Richardson as she starts her new job as a commissioner with the S.C. Employment Security Commission on July 1.

The three Republicans will face off June 8 in the primary. There is no Democratic challenger.

Limestone college professor Albert Spencer, running against U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., for the 5th Congressional District seat, also spoke Thursday. He said he is against planned parenthood groups helping and counseling mothers through abortions. Taxpayers' money goes to those planned parenthood agencies, he said, but wants taxpayers to have a choice about whether their money goes to "pro-choice people" or "pro-life" people.

"I see a lessening of moral values ... I see a lessening of education values in South Carolina," Spencer said.

Each candidate spoke 10 minutes at the forum and answered questions from an audience of more than 60 at the York County Republican Party executive meeting.

Norman, a developer, said it was time for the S.C. Legislature to get a businessman.

"We're the ones who pay taxes and hire people. We should be the ones making laws," Norman said. He said it was a disgrace for someone to spill coffee at a restaurant and sue for damages or get money after getting fat from eating fast-food burgers daily.

He said current legislators don't have their priorities in order. Politicians debated legalizing tattoos for the last two weeks, he said, while the guardian ad litem program goes unfunded. "Government has to be prioritized. It can't be all things to all people," he said.

Johnson said he was for curbing residential growth and putting caps on jury awards in malpractice suits with the exception of death and brain injuries.

Two local obstetricians fired questions at Johnson about a letter they received from Johnson's legal colleagues saying he was opposed to caps on jury awards.

Johnson's response: His law partners sue doctors for a living, but he doesn't. But if someone hurts you, you have the right to take them to court. He said he trusts juries to decide on malpractice cases.

Upchurch, a former York County councilwoman, said she's gone door-to-door and heard growth and taxes are the biggest issues for voters.

She supports Gov. Mark Sanford's tax reform plan, which he says will reduce taxes in 10 years from 7 percent to 4 percent. If commercial taxes aren't reduced, companies will shop other states, she said.

She's for limiting the number of jury trials and limiting contingency fees paid to law-yers. She also supports No Child Left Behind, but said it's too early to tell whether the plan will be successful.

"But it has to be because it sets standards, and you have to have standards," Upchurch said.

Representatives make $10,400 annually during their two-year terms.

Contact Wendy Bigham at 329-4068 or mailto:wbigham@heraldonline.com