Twenty Years Later: Time to Make Visionary Reforms a Reality

Twenty years ago in 1989, I graduated from Aiken High School. During that same year, former Governor Carroll Campbell and Lt. Governor Nick Theodore authored a bipartisan report prepared by the “Commission on the Future of South Carolina” intended to provide a comprehensive vision for making South Carolina better by the year 2000 and into the 21st Century. (The Report Summary can be found below!) Recommendations from that report included the following: Read more

Best Wishes to Teachers and Staff for New School Year

While school may have been closed the past few months, I know that you have been working towards starting the new school year and greeting your new students with the same passion, love, and talents you always bring to your
profession.

The first few weeks of the school year are certainly a busy time for you and I just wanted to briefly say “THANK YOU” and wish you the very best this year!

If I can ever help you by speaking with your class or arranging a tour for your students, please let me know.

September 2009 Update for Midland Valley Monthly Paper

Since my last column in this paper last month, a lot has happened in our district during the month of August. The purpose of this column is to keep you informed about what is going on at your State House and around our district.

As to the Avondale Water System, Rep. Roland Smith, Senator Massey and I have been extremely busy all of the month of August on two fronts. First, here is the latest on the transfer of the system from Avondale to Valley Public Service Authority. After many meetings and many long hours of negotiation, Avondale and VPSA are both working on what we hope and pray will be the final contract to solidify the transfer. We have been fortunate to obtain commitments for both Federal Stimulus and Federal Grant funding to help pay for many of the necessary improvements for the water system. These funds are contingent on the system being transferred from Avondale to an eligible entity like VPSA before certain deadlines. We are working hard with Avondale, VPSA’s board, staff, engineers, and attorneys to meet those deadlines. Read more