Viers in District 68

There's an element of brashness to S.C. Rep. Thad Viers, R-Socastee, with which the newspaper and many other local folks have taken issue. During his unsuccessful battle to stop a methadone clinic from locating in the Waccamaw Pottery area, for instance, he threatened a Georgetown judge with re-election difficulty because the judge had ruled in the clinic's favor. And before even taking office in 2003, he announced a plan to bar local school boards from raising property taxes by more than 2 mills a year - an idea he says he has since placed on hold.

Now Viers, one of the younger S.C. legislators, shows greater maturity and thoughtfulness - enough so for House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, to put him on the House Judiciary Committee, even though he is only a first-year law student at the University of South Carolina.

As well, Viers surely is one of the least devious members of the General Assembly. What you see is what you get: An anti-abortion, anti-tax representative who wants to work on school choice for parents and bring Interstate 73 to the Grand Strand.

His Democratic opponent is James Millward, whom he defeated for the seat in 2002. Millward is a populist and community activist, qualities that some district residents might find attractive. But on the strength of Viers' energy and potential, he receives The Sun News' recommendation.