Overture Walker

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

Public safety: Residents deserve to feel safe and secure as they live, work, and play in our state. The Legislature should provide needed resources and support for the State Law Enforcement Division as well as local sheriff’s departments and first responders to preserve life, limb, and property. Learn more

Improve and expand the process for selecting judges: South Carolina must have a diverse judiciary that reflects the state’s population and brings together jurists from various backgrounds and experiences to fairly and impartially mete out justice. A diverse bench is one all people can trust. Learn more

Economy

Economic development: It is critical that South Carolina provide business with a climate of certainty that spurs economic investment, giving residents an opportunity at jobs that pay wages that enable them to care for their families. Economic development and environmental protection and preservation go hand in hand. Industry must be responsible, responsive stewards of the environment and engage in “smart” growth that prevents haphazard development. Growth is good, but smart growth works best to support development, prevent sprawl, and protect the environment. South Carolina also must be vigilant in pursuing clean energy and green jobs that protect the environment and expand the economy. Learn more

Education

Strengthen public education: Improving public education is a top priority. All students deserve access to a quality education regardless of their ZIP code. Among other things, we must reduce class sizes, raise teacher salaries above 50,000 a year, and support comprehensive school funding reform so poor districts get the financial support needed to educate students just as other districts do. We must also improve school safety by placing adequate numbers of licensed counselors and resource officers in each school. Learn more

Healthcare

Health care: It is critical that South Carolina builds a health care network that gives all South Carolinians access to care as well as the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Part of that is expanding Medicaid to cover the hundreds of thousands of lives in our state living without health insurance. Learn more

Housing

Housing: Government should help ensure affordable housing is available for low-income families, seniors, the working poor, and people with disabilities. Doing so helps alleviate homelessness and provides stable living situations for families with access to good schools and other amenities. The state should provide needed resources to SC State Housing Authority as well as support local governments’ efforts to increase the affordable housing stock in our state. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

Bolster infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.): District 22, like other areas of our state, is experiencing significant growth. Growth brings traffic and transportation concerns, whether it is congestion or moving vehicles and bikers about or ensuring bridges and roads are safe. While some local governments take steps to address some of these issues, the state can play a key role in addressing congestion, pollution and safety. Well-maintained infrastructure supports economic growth. Learn more