Former Member, General Committee, South Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, South Carolina State Senate

Member, Finance Committee

Member, Fish, Game and Forestry Committee

Member, Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee

Member, Medical Affairs Committee

Member, Rules Committee

Member, Subcommittee on Natural Resources

Member, Transportation and Regulatory Subcommittee

— Father's Name:

• Barbee

— Mother's Name:

• Gail

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

Making the decision to run for Senate District 5 was not easy.

I spent a lot of time in prayer and in discussions with my family and friends. The idea of running was thrust upon us when Senator Phil Shoopman decided not to run after filing had closed, then we had about 48 hours to make a decision. With me already having filed to run again for my house seat and how that would work, could I raise the necessary funding for a race that size, and did I even have enough time to campaign, it seemed there were more questions than answers.

One of the biggest factors in making my decision actually came from my opponent; she had openly admitted she had voted for Obama in 2008. She even stated this in an interview with the Greenville News: "I voted for a strategic reason that I thought was going to best protect my business," she said.

The law which allowed for filing to be reopened existed to protect the voters from two people filing and one dropping off, then allowing someone to just walk into a position without the voters having a say. This is exactly what could have happened here and I felt strongly that the people of the Upstate needed someone better than an Obama supporter representing them in Columbia.

She immediately tried to have the courts intervene and remove her opposition from the ballot; the very tactic Obama used in Illinois to get elected to a Senate position. I took this as affirmation that I had made the right decision in getting into this race. First and foremost, the voters deserve a choice on who represents them on all levels. This seat belongs to the people and no one person is entitled to it. On June 12th, please send a strong message to those who support Obama, that they do not represent our values.

I would be honored to have your prayers, your support and you vote.

Thank you,

Spouse's Occupation:

Public school teacher, employee of family business