Posted on Sun, Oct. 22, 2006

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Election 2006 | Voters focus on economy, education

Job growth, tuition tax credits central to gubernatorial race

By AARON GOULD SHEININ

asheinin@thestate.com

Education and job creation are two of the driving issues in this year’s gubernatorial campaign, as incumbent Gov. Mark Sanford and Democrat Tommy Moore try to sell themselves to voters.

And many S.C. voters say they are paying attention to what Republican Sanford and Moore, a state senator from Aiken County, have to say about those two issues.

“The biggest concern for me right now is that we bring in enough industry without providing so many incentives that allow the companies to easily back out and relocate elsewhere, taking the jobs with them,” said Ralph Strickland, 38, of Lugoff, a state employee.

That concern almost seems taken directly from Sanford’s campaign materials. Sanford says his administration has produced more jobs than any other governor in more than a decade. And, Sanford says, he’s done it without promising the earth and sky.

Moore notes the state’s jobless rate has been higher than the national average during Sanford’s entire term. To attract jobs, Moore has promised to strengthen the state Department of Commerce and help impoverished rural counties grow.

More than 500 South Carolinians responded to a survey on thestate.com, asking voters their top concerns for this fall’s state elections.

Jobs and economic development — cited by 225 voters — and education — cited by 192 —overwhelmingly were the top concerns.

Lugoff’s Strickland is unsure whether he will vote for Moore or Sanford. Part of his uncertainty stems from an anti-incumbency bias, he said.

“It’s been my experience ... that, generally, the longer they’re in, the less they’ve been able to accomplish,” he said.

Education is a top concern for Alvin McEwen of Columbia, but health care is a close second.

McEwen also is troubled by partisanship.

“Politics has been just a little bit stigmatized,” he said. “You’ve got too many polemics.”

McEwen, 35, generally identifies more with Democrats but said he votes for individuals rather than parties. For example, he said he supported the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, a Republican. This time, McEwen is backing Moore for governor, but he plans to vote for Republicans in other races, including comptroller general.

McEwen said economics ties his concerns about education and health care.

“I’m concerned about this need (among some officials) to pretty much widen the gap between people who have and people who don’t have,” he said. “There seems to be an unconscious desire to do that.”

McEwen, who works for the state Department of Health and Human Services, sees that divide as a motivation behind efforts to use public money to pay for children to attend private schools. “I’m way against that,” he said.

(Republican Sanford favors tuition tax credits for private K-12 education; Moore opposes them.)

Christine Walker, of Columbia, a public school teacher for 14 years, has education and job creation atop her list of campaign issues. She is supporting Moore for governor but will vote Republican in other races.

Walker, 52, wants to see new jobs attracted to the state that pay good wages and offer workers security, not just a number in an employment count.

“People talk about job creation in our state,” she said, “but I really wonder what types of jobs we’re talking about. Is it people out in the fields picking vegetables or is it quality jobs? I don’t know.

“I just know that I run into a lot of my friends, especially at church, who are having a real tough time in the job market.”

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.

ISSUES IN THE GOVERNOR’S RACE

The State is examining five issues that voters say are important in selecting South Carolina’s next governor. Today’s story kicks off a weeklong look at those issues as they are playing out in the race between Republican incumbent Gov. Mark Sanford and his Democratic challenger, state Sen. Tommy Moore. Coming up:

• Monday — Jobs

• Tuesday — Health care

• Wednesday — Growth and infrastructure

• Thursday — Taxes

• Friday — Education