Meet the candidates in SC Senate District 26. After 47 years, Nikki Setzler isn’t running
The state Senate District 26 race features Republican nominee Jason Guerry of Lexington County and Democratic state Rep. Russell Ott of Calhoun County.
The winner will receive a four-year term and succeed state Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-Lexington, who chose not to run for reelection this year. The district covers parts of Calhoun, Lexington and Richland counties.
Jason Guerry
Name: Jason Guerry
Party: Republican
Age: 51
Occupation: Self employed/home renovation company
Education: I graduated from Irmo High in 1992. I then started my training in the building industry.
Political or civic experience: I started at a very young age helping with the Lexington Republican Party. I have been an alternate delegate. I managed many different political campaigns from county council to countywide elections. Worked with youth baseball for many years in the community and coached two different all-star teams.
Campaign website: Jasonscsenate.com
Why are you running for Senate District 26?
Government is broken and taxpayers are suffering. Businesses are closing due to burdensome government regulation. Families cannot afford groceries, and our public education system is failing our children. We’ve been talking about solving these problems for decades with little success. Taxpayers are demanding action and I want to be part of the solution. I have a deep understanding of the issues that matter most to the people of District 26. A successful senator must be able to listen, empathize and collaborate effectively. I am truly passionate about championing our community’s needs and committed to working tirelessly to earn the trust and confidence of the voters.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in the Senate?
We need to address mental health in our state. We have turned our prisons into de facto mental hospitals. Our prisons have enough problems dealing with criminals. We have given them a responsibility that they are not equipped to handle. We must advocate for the well-being of all South Carolinians. I will also work to promote skilled trade education. Our state faces a shortage of skilled laborers. These are well-paying jobs that strengthen our economy and offer unlimited career opportunities for our young people. I will work with our technical and trade schools to make sure that their needs are met so that each person that chooses to pursue a skilled trade is equipped to succeed. It’s time to abandon the antiquated notion that everyone must earn a four-year degree to be successful.
What Senate District 26 projects would you advocate earmark funding for through the state budget?
I am opposed to budget earmarks for “pet projects.” I am in favor of complete transparency when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars. If your idea or project has merit, there is no need to hide it in the budget.
If elected, how would your service in the Senate compare to state Sen. Nikki Setzler’s, who has been in office since 1977.
First, if elected, I promise not to serve 47 years in the Senate. Nikki Setzler has left some big shoes to fill, and I appreciate his dedicated service to the people of our state and community. Sen. Setzler was known for his constituent service, and I can promise the people of Senate District 26 that I will continue to provide the level of service that they are accustomed to.
Russell Ott
Name: Russell Ott
Party: Democratic
Age: 46
Occupation/place of employment: Farmer/Business owner and consultant
Education: Graduate Swansea High School, B.A. Clemson University, M.P.A. University of South Carolina
Political or civic experience: Served in the SC House since 2013
Campaign Website: OttforSenate.com
Why are you running for Senate District 26?
I’ve lived in this district my whole life. I work on our family farm in Calhoun County with my dad, my uncle and my brother. I have two sons, who are now young men who will be going out into the world on their own soon and I want them to have the same opportunity that I did to stay here in our Midlands community if that’s what they choose. But I don’t just want that for my family, I want that (for) everyone in this large and diverse district. That means providing the foundation of a solid public education, by lowering the cost of basic necessities like electricity, by making healthcare more affordable and accessible, by bringing jobs to our rural communities and by holding government accountable so it works for you, not against you. When I learned of Sen. Setzler’s retirement, I knew the district deserved a senator that has the proven experience to get things done, someone who has the work ethic to serve every corner of the district, and the discipline to stay focused on the issues that matter most to real people.
If elected what would your two or three priorities be in the Senate?
Public education will always be my top priority. We must improve the quality of public education, regardless of where a student lives. By improving our public schools, we can solve many of the problems facing our state — from poverty to poor health outcomes to crime. We don’t accomplish that by taking public dollars and sending them to private schools or continue to put our teachers in impossible situations. It’s past time the General Assembly gets serious about improving public education. I often wonder where we would be had we dedicated the time spent on vouchers to improving our public schools. We can’t go back, but we can start now.
Health care. We should have expanded Medicaid 10 years ago. The vast majority of people this would help are folks who are working — oftentimes working multiple jobs — but don’t make enough to afford to purchase insurance and don’t qualify for Medicaid. We must make health care more affordable and accessible to all South Carolinians, particularly in the rural areas of our state.
Planning for the growth of South Carolina by expanding access to affordable and reliable electricity, repairing our roads, protecting our natural resources and providing clean water and available wastewater in high-need areas. This should be a priority not not just when we want to attract new businesses, but to serve the residents who live here. Ultimately, we need a long-term vision of what we want South Carolina to look like. We should ensure that we have opportunities for employment in all parts of our state, not just the most affluent areas.
What Senate District 26 projects would you advocate earmark funding for in the state budget?
Water and wastewater infrastructure expansion;
Law Enforcement/Fire/First Responder capital improvements;
Congaree Riverfront access/improvements.
If elected, how would your service in the Senate compare to Sen. Nikki Setzler’s who has been in office since 1977?
Sen. Setzler has earned a reputation as someone who serves all the people and I will continue that tradition. During my 11 years in the S.C. House I’m proud of my record of working across the aisle to get things done. Even as a Democrat in a Republican-controlled House, I’ve been able to pass meaningful legislation. I was appointed by different Republican speakers to tackle and negotiate solutions to some of our most complex issues (gas tax committee; co-chaired the VC Summer committee; judicial reform committee; energy committee) I served as the assistant minority leader for six years but I’ve also shown the courage to break with my party when I felt it was in the best interest of the people I represented. Over the years I’ve seen first hand that people have the same kinds of challenges no matter what political party they support. The people I talk to everyday are tired of the drama and theatrics from some elected officials and want more mature, common sense leadership that tackles the problems they’re facing day to day. That’s the way I’ve approached my service for the last 11 years and it’s the way I will lead in the Senate for District 26.
