South Carolina Statehouse Blog

Sottile: “I’m running to bring more Boeings to the Charleston area”

Isle of Palms - March 1, 2010 - In just over one year as our State Representative, Mike Sottile has backed plans to stop extreme spending, reform our government restructure, give more choices in education, and to bring tens of thousands of jobs to the Charleston area. Promising to continue his fight for economic growth and job creation, Sottile today announced his plan to run for reelection to the State House.

“We need leaders who are more concerned with growing our economy and creating jobs than their own political careers. I’m running for reelection so that I can continue my work to bring much needed jobs to our region. I’m running to bring more Boeings to the Charleston area,” Mike said.

Sottile is completing his first term after winning election in 2008, promising to change business as usual in Columbia and to serve as a true voice for the Charleston area. In just over one year, Mike Sottile has already made good on many of his promises:

Mike Sottile backed a plan to constitutionally cap the amount of state spending, stopping politicians from wasting our hard-earned tax dollars.

Mike Sottile has supported numerous state restructuring bills, including bills to reform the Employment Security Commission, the state ports, and many of our constitutional offices. Mike believes that we cannot truly succeed, lower taxes, and create jobs until we change South Carolina’s outdated government structure.

Mike Sottile is a sponsor of a plan to give parents more choices when it comes to educating their children.

Mike Sottile strongly backed a package to bring Boeing to the Charleston area, which will create tens-of-thousands of jobs over the next few years.

“We do have a problem in state government,” Mike said. “We have too many politicians who have lost touch with the taxpayers and they concentrate on Columbia special interests instead of cutting taxes, reining in spending, and creating jobs. I’m working to change the way things are done in Columbia and I intended to deliver on every promise I’ve made.”

Independent leader to run for second term for District 79 House Seat with strong support from educators, business leaders and the grassroots

Columbia, SC-State Representative Anton Gunn (D-Richland/Kershaw) has announced that he will seek reelection to the District 79 House seat to which he was first elected in 2008. In what was only his second campaign for public office, Gunn, an experienced community leader, won a hotly contested race to replace seven-term incumbent, Bill Cotty, who retired from the seat in 2008.

Gunn, a natural leader and seasoned professional had an particularly successful first session in the legislature earning a record as one of the most consistent and independent lawmakers in the South Carolina House. He is a proud member of the South Carolina New Statesman Society, a bi-partisan organization focused on bringing leadership and ethics back into South Carolina’s politics. Gunn was also selected as a member of the 2011 Liberty Fellowship Class, a leadership program which focuses on helping more values-based leaders become significant contributors to the state of South Carolina, and to society at-large.

In his first year of legislative service, Gunn was recognized as one of the most active legislators in the state, sponsoring or co-sponsoring more than 100 bills in his first year. His leadership as an independent voice earned him a 75% pro-business voting record by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and a 90% voting record by the South Carolina Education Association. He also earned the highest voting record rating of any Democrat by fiscally conservative group, Club for Growth, at the same time was named the 2009 recipient of the “Community Educational Maverick of the Year” award by the Greenville HBCU Classic, Inc. Gunn was also recognized for his leadership in promoting legislation to help small businesses by the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce.

“During my campaign for the South Carolina House I promised the people of Richland and Kershaw counties that I would be a strong voice in the legislature for citizens and small businesses and that I would work to bring people together to improve our state. I am proud that some of the most well respected organizations and leaders on both ends of the political spectrum have taken notice that I did indeed keep that promise,” said Gunn. Representative Gunn stated he was especially proud of his record of fiscal responsibility, transparency and government reform in the interests of taxpayers.

During his first term in the legislature, Representative Gunn has developed a strong reputation of bringing openness and transparency to his legislative office. Gunn has worked tirelessly to keep his constituents informed about what’s happening in state government by hosting three “Legislative Issues Forums” each quarter of the year throughout District 79. Also using his constituency outreach website, RepresentativeGunn.com, Facebook and Twitter, Gunn provides the public with specific details about important policy developments. His bi-monthly blog posts have focused on unemployment, job creation, judicial reform, public education and government reform. Gunn believes these tools allow him to connect to constituents and provide them with immediate and direct feedback on the issues.

In endorsing Representative Gunn for reelection, Democratic House Minority Leader Harry Ott said; “Anton has been one of the strongest and most independent voices for the people in Columbia and he has brought an energy and focus to bear on the key issues of fiscal responsibly, rebuilding South Carolina’s economy, and improving education. I have counted on Anton time and again to bring his common-sense real world experience to the State House. I am proud to call Anton a friend and a true leader for taxpayers across our state. I strongly recommend him for reelection.”

Gunn has received similar praise from Republican leaders like Governor Mark Sanford. Sanford first acknowledged Gunn as a reformer in his 2010 State of the State address. Governor Sanford applauded and singled out Rep. Gunn among a very small group of legislators “specifically for their leadership and repeated efforts to bring about reform, - and [their] commitment to restructuring”. Gunn, who is a strong proponent of restructuring of our state’s outdated constitution said, “I was very surprised about the recognition I received from Governor Sanford, but I am glad to see that Republicans and Democrats can work together to pass common-sense reforms that will help our state move forward’.

As the only Master-Degreed social worker in the Legislature, Gunn has made health care services and health policy issues one of his top priorities during his first legislative session. Representative Gunn was named by South Carolina Speaker of the House, Bobby Harrell, as a member of the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (3M) Committee which has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to Medical Affairs, Social Security, Penitentiary, State Hospital, Health Regulations, Police Regulations, Children’s Affairs, Military Affairs, & Veterans issues in South Carolina.

Because of his work in the 3M Committee on health care-related issues and his support of solving the problems in our broken health care system across South Carolina, Gunn is quickly earning a reputation as a leader that “get’s it” when dealing with complex health care policy. Rep. Gunn was also the chief sponsor of legislation that creates a joint electronic health information study committee to examine the feasibility of increasing the use of health information technology and electronic personal health records within the state of South Carolina.

“I am so proud that I was able to generate bi-partisan support from my colleagues to help South Carolina get prepared for the use of health information technology to improve our state’s health outcomes and potentially saving thousands of tax dollars by studying the use of this technology,” Gunn added.

Gunn is a former University of South Carolina Gamecock offensive lineman who earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a Masters in Social Work from the University. He worked for 11 years in South Carolina’s nonprofit sector eventually becoming the Executive Director of South Carolina Fair Share where he was responsible for managing the statewide, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. He ended his service with South Carolina Fair Share in 2008. After leaving the nonprofit sector, Representative Gunn used his expertise in leadership development and training and formed his own leadership consulting company. He is the president and CEO of Top Gunn Associates, LLC, which offers training, consulting and motivational speaking services to businesses, corporations and nonprofit groups.

His thirteen years of professional experience has garnered him recognition as one of the top under-forty community leaders in America in 2006. His list of honors and achievements include Class of 2011 Liberty Fellowship, 2008 Community Change Champion Award, Center for Community Change; Consumer Health Advocate of the Year, Families USA, 2007; Southern Rural Development Initiative, 2006 Top Ten in the South Honoree; Alumni of the Year, University of South Carolina College of Social Work, 2006; 2001 Faculty Award, University of South Carolina College of Social Work; 2001 Student of the Year, and 2000 Emerging Leader, National Congress for Community Economic Development.

Representative Gunn and his wife Tiffany have been married for 10 years. They have one daughter, Ashley. The Gunn’s attend the Bible Way Church of Atlas Road in Columbia, SC.

Columbia, S.C. - February 26, 2010 - The governor simply stands by what he said in December, when he said:

“While it is not the course I would have hoped for, or would choose, I want to take full responsibility for the moral failure that led us to this tragic point. Jenny is a great person, and has been a remarkable wife, mother and First Lady. She has been more than gracious these last six months and gone above and beyond in her patience and commitment to put the needs of others in front of her own. While our family structure may change, I know that we will both work earnestly to be the best mom and dad we can be to four of the finest boys on earth.

“I will join with her in asking the press to respect our shared desire for privacy as we quietly move forward. We respectively ask for your prayers.”

He reiterates that last point, in asking for prayers for he, Jenny and the boys - and again respectfully asks for privacy on these matters relating to the family.

Columbia, SC - Today Representative Anton Gunn filed a bill that, if passed, would be South Carolina’s most targeted “Small Business Green Jobs” initiative to date.The bill would create the South Carolina Small Business Micro Green Loan Program within the State Energy Office to help provide targeted startup capital to local, small businesses focused on energy efficiency, waste and greenhouse gas reduction, as well as environmental cleanup.

“The future of South Carolina’s economy will be determined by how we help our small businesses gain access energy efficient technologies,” Gunn says. “We have to start now by fostering entrepreneurship and supporting small business ingenuity or we risk being left behind completely.”

The South Carolina Small Business Micro Green Loan Program would limit its focus to enterprises employing fewer than six employees and requiring $35,000 or less for in startup capital.

“Too often our development resources are spent on large, multi-national corporations,” Gunn explains. “This initiative is different because we’re focusing on the small, local businesses where the vast majority of new jobs are created.”

Gunn, joined by several co-sponsors on H. 4638, hopes the bill will be the first step in a series of initiatives that will truly help small and micro businesses access more capital in an effort to create more jobs in South Carolina. The added benefit of the legislation that the Micro Green Loan Program will create green jobs while helping businesses to be more sustainable.

Representative Gunn’s bill is already receiving positive reviews from the business community. Ken Campbell of Walhalla, President of Profitable Energy Solutions, believes the bill will offer businesses a flexible funding approach to “go green” and see results very quickly.

“The truth is, whether a business undertakes a complex high-tech energy efficiency installation… or simply blows insulation into their attic… the money is a worthwhile investment. Worthwhile in the short term by the jobs it creates and worthwhile in the long run by having a positive impact on the business’ bottom line”, says Campbell.

Gunn agrees, “With this legislation we can be successful in three areas, help small businesses grow, help the enviroment and create new jobs all at the same time. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Changes on the way for wayward agency

A bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Ryberg to restructure the state Employment Security Commission made its way out of the Senate today, paving the way for much-needed reforms of one of South Carolina’s most trouble-plagued agencies. These changes to bring about more accountability have been a long time in coming.

Since 2006, nearly $500 million was paid by the ESC to people who had been fired for cause, a condition that in most other states would bar an applicant from receiving unemployment benefits. In fact, South Carolina is one of only twelve states that engage in the practice. Also, since the unemployment trust fund dwindled to a zero balance in 2008, the state has had to borrow more than $700 million from the Federal government to cover the fund’s liabilities. And as South Carolina budget writers are left to make difficult spending decisions in the coming years, interest on the money borrowed will have to be paid back with state dollars.

To fix issues with the fund and the agency as a whole, benefits would be restricted for those fired for cause and cases of fraud and ineligibility would be more actively pursued. As well, if a job is offered to a claimant and not accepted, benefits could be denied or scaled back.

The bill makes significant changes in the agency, which include reorganizing it as the Department of the Workforce and placing it in the Governor’s cabinet. In late 2008, Sen. Ryberg sent a letter to the Legislative Audit Council to conduct an audit of the ESC, in anticipation of crafting reform legislation.

The LAC found fault with the actions of the ESC’s three governing commissioners, who were found to be effectively unaccountable to any one particular branch of government. The bill proposes that the Executive Director of the department be appointed by the governor after undergoing screening for qualifications by a special committee. The director would then serve at the discretion of the governor. This mechanism will provide oversight to an agency that is in desperate need of it. These restructuring mandates will go a long way toward solving the problems discovered in the audit. The move will make the agency concentrate on job placement, not check writing.

While this legislation deals mainly with resolving the administrative troubles at ESC, the financial ruin of the agency is to be dealt with in a separate bill to follow.

Considering there is significant support in the House of Representatives and from Gov. Mark Sanford for substantial reform, it’s expected that this bill - S. 391 - and its companion House bill - H. 3442 - will pass both chambers, be reconciled and signed into law before the end of the session.