The race for South Carolina House Seat 103 features Democrat incumbent Carl Anderson facing newcomer petition candidate Tom Winslow.

Anderson, a 51-year-old Georgetown native, has been serving in the House since 2005. He is the pastor at Greater St. Stephen A.M.E. Church in Georgetown.

Presently, he serves on the Georgetown County Boys Mentor Group Board, Georgetown Outreach Ministry Board, Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, and Georgetown County Port Task Force Committee.

He is married to Mrs. Doris Smith Anderson, and they have three children: Carletta, the late Airman First Class Carl L. Anderson, Jr., and Ki’Maro.

Winslow, 32, is a local attorney and  a member of Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church. He is also president of the Georgetown Patriots Club. Although he is running as a petition candidate, he describes himself as a conservative.

Tom is married to Lauren Winslow.

The following are questions asked of the two candidates by the Georgetown Times:

Question: One of the biggest topics in Georgetown is the dredging of the Port which will cost an estimated $33 million. What can you do as a state lawmaker to help secure the funding?

Anderson: This is an area I have been passionate about, and I also serve on the Port Task Force Committee seeking funding to dredge the port.

I am working with the S. C. Port Authority, Local Alliance, Chamber, City & County Officials, and we have all been working diligently  to secure funding. In addition, I am supporting the capital project and sales tax referendum in Georgetown that will immediately provide $5,500,000 in dredging funds.

Dredging the Port will have a huge positive impact on job creation.

Winslow: The dredging of our port is vital to the success of the economy of the Georgetown Port and that is why I am proud to have the endorsement of Tim Tilley, one of the leading business people and advocates for the Georgetown Port.

The Port is a crucial resource that for the past ten years has been overlooked by our current government representatives.  As Representative, I will introduce the same bill that I presented to Tim Scott two years ago asking for a restructuring of how ports are funded, the implementation of a separate Georgetown Port Authority, and demand government to get out of the way of local people and businesses that know what their communities need.

Question: I-73 was a big topic for a long time but the talk has died down in recent months. Is that Interstate still needed for the Grand Strand? Why or why not?

Anderson: I-73 is a Federally Funded Infrastructure Project; however, I believe it is critical for the future of the Grand Strand. Yes, it is still needed for the Grand Strand because it is a vehicle for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Job creation. According to studies, I-73 will create more than 20,000 jobs. The NESA Region members have met with and sent letters to our U. S. Congressman to sign on to funding I-73.

Winslow: District 103 includes four precincts in Horry County, two in Williamsburg, and 24 in Georgetown – every precinct will benefit by the completion of I-73.  We must dredge the port, but we must also create the infrastructure that allows business easy entrance and exit from the port by both road and rail.  Business will facilitate the growth that will provide the jobs we need.  Currently, 1 out of every 10 people in District 103 needs a job.  They want to work, to provide for their family, and they just need the opportunity.  SC is currently ranked as the 50th state in infrastructure spending and I will work hard to change our current government, so our business can grow and compete.

Question: Georgetown County needs more job opportunities. What will you do, if elected, in the next two years to help the employment situation improve in the county?  

Anderson: Carl Anderson will continue to work with everyone to bring the funding and pieces together to commence dredging of the Port of Georgetown which will benefit businesses and create jobs. My seniority in the S. C. House of Representatives and serving on the Labor, Commerce, & Industry Committee will allow me to showcase the assets of Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg Counties. Carl Anderson will continue to support our local school district and technical colleges so that they continue to graduate students who are job ready and college bound. My open door policy allowing all constituents to express their ideas concerns and suggestions will continue. Through my interactions with my neighbors, family and friends I have incorporated some strong ideas into why the Port should be dredged and more jobs created.

Winslow: Since 2005, the District 103 unemployment rate has increased from 7% to 9.5% - what has our current Government Representative done for us?  In my tour of Santee Cooper, American Gypsum, 3V, and Envirosep, I saw how great District 103 can be.  When asking businesses what we can do to help them hire more people, I was told that Government is a burden to business with over regulation, taxes, and interference in production and shipping.  Many local businesses are running at 50%-65% capacity and needs government to get out of the way and create the needed infrastructure we can get the jobs many people desperately need.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com