You’ve seen it by now. It bears a sweeping claim: “Where the Revolutionary War Was Won.”

Allow me to propose a modest amendment.

The plate should really read: “Upstate South Carolina: Where the Revolutionary War Was Won.”

The Commissioner of Agriculture should be a farmer, not a government bureaucrat who talks farming. This job requires someone who understands the challenges facing producers because they have faced those same challenges themselves.

The date was not chosen by accident. Juneteenth endured as the holiday’s name because it captured both the historical moment and the long struggle behind it

Wilson’s record speaks for itself from public safety, legal and constitutional defense, human trafficking and child protection, as well as military leadership. He led the charge for passage of Ashley Hall bill and Emma’s law regarding safety, he augmented the Human Trafficking Task Force. Alan took on the issue of illegal immigrant with gusto, he fought the overreach of the federal government. Wilson’s office led the charge to tackle human trafficking.

Among the most striking were social media posts featuring candidates posing with military-style rifles, firing weapons at shooting ranges or otherwise presenting themselves as warriors in the nation’s ongoing cultural battles. For many South Carolinians, such displays represent independence, constitutional liberty and support for the Second Amendment. For others, particularly victims of gun violence, they communicate something quite different.

During the early election cycle I saw at least two candidates within 10 feet of the door of the Anderson County Board of Registrations and Elections office downtown shaking hands and talking to folks on their way to vote.

If any Democrat can win in November, it is Jermaine…not because of money or skin color, but because hope can and has trumped fear countless times throughout our nation’s short history.

"Neither my conscience nor common sense will allow me to stop an election that is already underway," said Cash. "I understand the anger and frustration that we could not pass our redistricting bill any faster, but the rule of law is the bedrock principle of our constitutional republic and, I'll emphasize, it is also a bedrock principle of conservatism."

Pastures tended by farming families for generations are being surveyed and staked. The announcement signs go up first, rendered in the optimistic typography of the developer’s imagination: “Coming Soon. New Homes from the Low $300s. A Community Built for You.” What those signs do not say, and are not required to say, is what was there before.

I have been blessed as the County Council District 7 Representative for many years yet would like to say that I have no vested interest in any data centers or their supporting internet businesses. I am not a salesperson supporting internet services, and rely only on real educated experiences to influence my decisions. With limited studies, concerns for environmental impacts, exorbitant water and electric needs, and the current public outcry, I would certainly vote AGAINST Data Centers in Anderson County.

Only a few days after the United States Supreme Court’s decision Louisiana to redraw districts, essentially killing the 1965 Voting Rights Act, South Carolina seems poised to eliminate the one Black voice in its delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, echoing the words of George Wallace standing on the steps of the University of Alabama and Lester Maddox handing out pickaxes to the KKK, had this to say in defense of the decision: “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

Our schools have always been the heartbeat of our community. They are the places where our children find their voices, our athletes find their grit, and our future leaders discover their spark. However, to keep that heart beating strongly, we must occasionally take a hard look at the foundation upon which we are building.

For too long, we’ve let app stores run wild, allowing minors to enter contracts when they download new applications, treating kids like adults, all while keeping their parents in the dark. App stores are the gatekeepers to the digital world, and they’ve shown that with that power, they have not done their part in protecting children. 

Americans are working harder than ever. Many hold second jobs. Many are cutting back on necessities. Many are waiting to have children or are choosing not to have children at all. Yet, here we are. Despite Americans working more hours than ever before, their wages aren't going as far as they used to. With the global pandemic, corporations buying out the competition, and issues with our leaders' decisions, Americans are finding it increasingly hard to keep up.

Transparency in public meetings, and — just as important — opportunities for citizens to confront elected officials directly. Without face-to-face engagement, transparency is incomplete.

In the end, I voted in favor of the overall budget because it maintains a balanced approach while investing in critical areas like education, infrastructure, public safety, and workforce development. I respect every Representative’s vote and their responsibility to represent their constituents.

For decades quietly and consistently, our company has invested back into Anderson, not for publicity or political benefit, but because we believe deeply that this community has been good to us, and it is only natural to give back.

Through architectural and construction companies, we have contributed time, expertise, and professional services to organizations that serve the people of Anderson. Sometimes that work has been completely pro bono. Other times, due to project size, our professional fees have been dramatically reduced. In every case, the goal has been the same: strengthen Anderson.

With 81.8% of graduates working in South Carolina one year after graduation, the South Carolina Technical College System is not just educating students, it’s building the state’s workforce. Ten years after graduation, nearly two-thirds of technical college graduates are still employed right here at home. These retention rates far exceed those of four-year institutions and demonstrate why technical colleges are essential to meeting local labor needs.

South Carolina has always prioritized family, faith, and personal responsibility. Holding Big Tech accountable for the digital environments they profit from is consistent with those values. As technology evolves, our laws must evolve with it, and the App Store Accountability Act is an important step toward a safer digital future for children in South Carolina and beyond.