Rep. Walter Lloyd's death in April led to a field of candidates looking to follow in the steps of the Walterboro Democrat -- including Ja-Don Buckner, Kenneth Hodges, Bobby Mayes and Reaves McLeod.
District 121 comprises more than 14,000 registered voters in Beaufort and Colleton counties, with 62 percent in northern Beaufort County, including Yemassee and Sheldon, part of Burton, all of Pigeon Point and downtown Beaufort north of North Street and west of Charles Street.
Candidates said this week that taxpayers are concerned about property taxes. Facing the first reassessment of real property since 1998, Beaufort County residents were surprised last year with values that went up, in some cases by more than 500 percent.
"A lot of them are being taxed out of their homes," said Mayes. Although he said he was unsure of a solution, he suggested that rolling back values on primary homes might be an option.
Hodges said he would have to review several bills introduced this year in the legislature, suggesting that solutions may involve a voter-approved constitutional amendment to change the state's property tax structure.
McLeod said a solution might be to eliminate property taxes for local schools and provide full, balanced funding on the state level. The lost revenue could be replaced by eliminating a $300 cap on the sales tax of automobiles, he said.
Buckner said the community should rely on its growth to lower those property taxes.
Economic development in a region that includes the impoverished Sheldon community will also be a priority for the candidates.
Hodges said he will fight for an accurate picture of Beaufort's needs for job incentives. The state typically bases those incentives, as well as some state funding for schools, on income levels that can be inflated by Beaufort's large retirement figures.
Weekly wages, Hodges said, "are a better gauge of the area and what people have to spend."
The candidates all support a proposed Jasper port. The rural county has worked for more than a decade to build a $450 million deep-water shipping terminal. The S.C. State Ports Authority has looked to curb the plans, but has said recently that it may consider a compromise.
"(The county) had to work. Nobody was looking out for them," McLeod said. "Now they have to fight against their own state."
Mayes said the large investment could bring the clean shipping or storage businesses associated with port traffic.
"Small businesses turn into big businesses," he said.
While others said they support increasing the gas tax if necessary to improve roads, Mayes said he opposes any tax increase.
"The people have paid enough in taxes," he said.
Improving infrastructure could also spur economic development, the candidates said, by building up weathered roads and extending water and sewer lines.
"Infrastructure needs to be able to support large industries," Buckner said. "We're not going to be able to offer what they need."
McLeod said the state should finance infrastructure needs for rural communities as it does for big-budget projects like the Broad River bridge replacement and the new Cooper River bridge.
Education is also an important priority for the candidates. Buckner said increasing teacher salaries should be a priority.
"Years ago, teachers were highly esteemed in the community," he said. "They need salaries that reflect that esteem again."
Mayes said school funding should be targeted at pre-kindergarten and primary schools.
"We should work from the bottom to the top," he said.
Hodges said increased trade courses will also benefit students and prepare them for the work force.
"It may better equip students if they don't have an interest in going on to college," he said.
McLeod said the state needs to help school districts struggling with the unique needs of students that don't speak English.
"It puts a strain on your building and you have to hire more teachers," he said.