Senate incumbent, challenger debate at Tri-County Tech
District 3 state Senate candidates Marshall Meadors and the incumbent Kevin Bryant fielded a wide range of questions before about 100 people Monday night at Tri-County Technical College.
From the question of abortion to the Anderson County 1-cent sales tax, the candidates were questioned by nearly two dozen citizens.
Meadors, a family physician in Anderson and Democrat, proposed improved health care and support of public education as keystones of his term if elected to the senate.
Bryant, a Republican, said pork-barrel spending needs to be reigned in, which if done would provide money for the district’s needs, especially for infrastructure. Bryant also repeated his support for school vouchers and for opposing tax increases – unless there is a corresponding tax reduction.
Bryant listed a number of accomplishments since he was elected in 2004, including a law requiring the death penalty for sex offenders who molest children and co-sponsorship of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman (which passed in 2006).
He also pointed to a bill that would give women having an abortion an option to view an ultrasound, and support of the replacement of property tax for schools with a sales tax.
“My commitment is to what comes out of your pocket,” Bryant said, and endorsed the idea that cutting taxes helped the economy.
Meadors cited a list of problems in the state, from high dropout rates to rising unemployment to high crime that need addressing.
“I promise you we can and will do better,” he said.
In discussing school vouchers, Meadors said he was opposed to tax credits and vouchers because they would harm public education. Bryant said he backs vouchers and credits, now set at $2,500 per pupil, because they give citizens the right to use their tax dollars as they decide.
When asked whether they would support the 1-cent sales tax Anderson County is proposing for infrastructure and developments, Bryant said he opposed it because there was no corresponding reduction in other taxes. Meadors said he would probably vote for the tax because of the need to fix roads and other infrastructure in the county.
In closing remarks, Bryant said he would continue try to improve government.
“I am committed to reforming the way we do business in Columbia,” Bryant said. He said he would “continue the movement for choice and competition. I trust government less now than I ever have.”
Meadors said Bryant had stated that government has grown 40 percent in the last four years, but reminded the audience that he wasn’t there when it grew that much.
“I’m not going to Columbia to make it bigger … but I am going to represent you and make it more effective,” Meadors said.
By John Staed
Anderson Independent – Mail
September 29, 2008