Election Q&A: Candidates for district 21

The winner in next month’s Democratic primary will run unopposed in the November general election for District 21, which includes parts of the Columbia area as well as parts around Two Notch Road, Dentsville, Forest Acres and south at Horrell Hill.

Sen. Darrell Jackson currently holds the seat.

Why are you running?

Wendy Brawley: I am a candidate for Senate District 21 to ensure that the citizens have representation that is responsive to their needs. I believe it is important that elected officials be willing to commit the time and effort needed to effectively represent people in their district. It is also important that our senator put the needs of the community first and foremost. . I will be a senator who works with citizens to improve the challenges we face in District 21.

Darrell Jackson: I have enjoyed serving the people of District 21 for the past 15 years and I have done great things over those years. But there is still more work to be done in District 21 and across the state. There are issues, such as creating equity in education, reducing crime and gang violence, and many more that I am working on finding the solutions to.

What do you see as the three most pressing issues facing residents of District 21?

Brawley:

1. Education funding based on student need, which protects the right of every child to have a high-quality, free, public school education for PK-12th grades is vital to our district and the state’s ability to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life.

2. Provide state funding for an infrastructure bank for jobs and economic development that helps displaced workers train for re-employment in environmentally safe industries offering livable wages.

3. Enforcement of environmental safeguards that ensure safe drinking water, soil and air is a priority. Citizens whose health is endangered by environmentally unsafe industries or businesses must receive assistance from regulatory agencies in a timely manner to correct the problems.

Jackson:

1. The reduction of crime and gang violence in our neighborhoods. I believe we need viable alternatives for our youth —  programs such as the Be Right! Project, which I created last year.  We need the right programs — after-school, faith-based and community-based — that will deter children from at-risk behavior.

2. Better education for our children by improving and supporting public schools. We must make a commitment to education that includes establishing a standard. Additionally, we must support our educators through efforts such as increased pay, loan forgiveness and other incentives.

3. Better paying jobs. We have to attract industries that will set up shop in South Carolina.  But we won’t attract those industries if we don’t have a well-equipped work force. If we don’t, then we will continue to lose our best and brightest to other states and countries.

In what ways may residents of the district expect your election to the Senate to affect them over the next four years?

Brawley: As the new state senator in District 21, I will be a visible, vocal and vigilant advocate for the people. I am now, and will continue to be, a public servant leader who is available to assist the citizens in the district and who works to pass legislation that is in my constituents’ best interests.

Jackson: They should expect me to work hard to try to improve their lives, especially in economic development, gaining better access to health care and providing their children with the best public education possible. My constituents know that I am their voice in the State House and that I always have their best interests at heart.