‘We deserve better:’ Democrat Smith counters Gov. McMaster’s State of State speech

Dead last in the country in education. Forty-eighth in the United States in opportunity for its residents. Forty-third in the condition of its infrastructure and 39^th in health care.

South Carolina holds unflattering positions in important national rankings, and the Republican stranglehold over state government is to blame, Democratic gubernatorial candidate James Smith said Wednesday night.

Smith, a Columbia Democrat, delivered his party’s response to GOP Gov. Henry McMaster’s State of the State address.

“I am tired of seeing South Carolina on the bottom of every list we want to be on the top of, and on the top of every list we want to be on the bottom of,” the 11-term S.C. House member said.

Offered a statewide platform that is sure to boost his name recognition, the Columbia attorney, businessman and Afghan war veteran said McMaster can’t change South Carolina’s fortunes to deliver the “new prosperity” the Republican governor promised.

Smith’s June Democratic primary opponent, Phil Noble, offered up his own response.

The Charleston technology consultant was to tell viewers on his internet live stream that McMaster wants to run state government “like a plantation, with a handful of good-ole-boys and State House insiders setting priorities for themselves and those who keep them in power.”

“It is that same plantation mentality that has given us failing schools, a crumbling infrastructure, some of the lowest wages in the country, and a reputation for being among the worst states in which to raise children,” Noble said.

Rep. Smith pushed for ethics reform, health-care expansion, higher pay for school teachers and equity in public education funding.

“Look, one party absolute power has not served South Carolina well,” Smith said. “I believe the people of our state are tired of the partisan trench warfare. I believe you are tuned in tonight for the same reasons I stand here tonight: We deserve better.”

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 7:51 PM with the headline "‘We deserve better:’ Democrat Smith counters Gov. McMaster’s State of State speech."