Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Rex visits Bamberg
Lisa B. Stokes, Contributing Writer
South Carolina
gubernatorial candidate Jim Rex
met with members of the
Bamberg County Democratic
Party on Wednesday, May 19 for
a 9:00 a.m. breakfast gathering.
Rex told those in attendance “we
have to win this election because
our state is going in the wrong
direction. I think people are
looking for a different kind of
governor.” Rex said he has the
executive experience and is
someone who knows how to
manage “our dollars.”
The State Department of
Education Chief believes the
South Carolina governor’s race
will draw a “tremendous amount
of national interest in the
election when it is realized in
June that a Democrat can win.”
Rex said right now we have a lot
of buyer’s remorse in South
Carolina. “We need someone
who understands education and
understands that diversity is a
benefit, not a liability. Rex
shared his concern about lack of
funding for education--noting
that South Carolina schools are
currently being funded at the
rate that they were funded in
1994. “We are not going to be a competitive state without an
educated job force, “he said.
Rex said all candidates have
good ideas, but when you elect
someone, you should look at
their track record. Rex said he
believes the State is stuck in the
19th century when it comes to
education.
Bamberg County Council
chairman Alzena Robinson
wanted to know how Rex would
develop a relationship with local
government. Noting the
importance of a grassroots
consensus that is needed to
recruit businesses in South
Carolina, Rex said local
government has to be the first
string in job development and
planning. “One of my plans is to
develop an office of “Job
Creations” that will be made up
of regional representation who
will develop regional portfolios
with uniform information for the
purpose of job development in
some of our rural areas,” Rex
explained.
Bamberg City Council
member Janeth Walker wanted
to know how the democratic
candidate planed to undo what
has been done with teachers in
South Carolina. Rex said “we
have to make a commitment to
pay our teachers on the national
average. Our students need our
best teachers,” he said.
Walley wanted to know
where Rex stood on Foster Care
issues. “First of all, we have to
have a governor who does not
think of our children as stray
animals. If we would make a
commitment and invest in our
neediest citizens, we would be
able to compete as a state and it
takes political guts to do it.”
“I am running because
South Carolina needs a
turnaround Governor. My
turnaround mission will be to
create jobs, create a growing
economy, lead a government
committed to accountability and
living within its means.” Rex
said South Carolina should be a
state committed to improving
schools, and leadership that
accurately reflects our values.
“For too long, our government
has been distracted and defined
by narrow special interests, and
it's time to put our people”,
noted Rex.
