Kyle Boyd, Deborah Long, Joey Millwood, Mike Rose and Tommy Stringer are committed to creating a better South Carolina through reducing wasteful spending, reforming our tax code and changing our outdated state government structure. They know, through diverse experience, that limited government and lower taxes lead to greater economic prosperity. Above all, they will work to reform a failed status quo that continues to hold our state back.

SC Club for Growth PAC continues to work as a vital ally to those candidates who believe in better government. Today’s endorsements follow our announced support of 25 reform-minded candidates in the past two months. With that in mind, we are proud to announce our endorsements of the following reformers:

KYLE BOYD (HOUSE DISTRICT 48 – YORK COUNTY)

Kyle Boyd is a principled leader who will bring fresh ideas to Columbia. He founded and currently serves as headmaster of the Walnut Grove Christian School, which serves over 80 students and 15 teachers. Boyd is the true fiscal conservative in this race and has pledged to lead on tax reform, school choice and controlling state spending. He opposes pork spending in the state budget and as a leader in education, he knows what it takes to truly prepare children for the 21st century.

Boyd’s opponent, freshman House member Carl Gullick, earned an “F” on our 2007 scorecard. A self-proclaimed “progressive conservative,” Gullick recently boasted of his opposition to school choice reform, declaring it the “centerpiece” of his campaign. Yet Gullick’s anti-reform agenda does not end with education, as he also voted to override over 80% Governor Sanford’s budget vetoes last year that would have saved taxpayers over $167 million. One political commentator recently wrote that Gullick is one of the “big government Republicans who consistently vote against market-based reforms and in favor of an ever-escalating government bureaucracy.”

We believe Kyle Boyd will be a leader in the South Carolina House. His diverse experiences in education and leading a business make him the right choice in district 48.

DEBORAH LONG (HOUSE DISTRICT 45 – LANCASTER COUNTY)

Deborah Long is a highly regarded optometrist running for the open seat in House district 45. She has lived in Indian Land for over 20 years and is past president of both the Fort Mill Lions Club and the SC Optometric Association as well as currently serving on the SC Board of Examiners.

Long believes in the power of people to solve problems and as a small business owner, she recognizes the need for less job-killing government regulation. One of her top priorities in office will be to encourage a qualified workforce that will make South Carolina an economic leader in the 21st century. Long is also committed to more fair and competitive tax laws and does not believe in giving businesses special tax breaks just because they hire well-connected lobbyists.

With her record of service and willingness to work hard for her district, Deborah Long will be a great representative in the South Carolina House.

JOEY MILLWOOD (HOUSE DISTRICT 38 – SPARTANBURG COUNTY)

Joey Millwood is a consistent conservative who will cut taxes, reduce the size of government and promote changes that will move South Carolina forward. He ardently supports real reforms that will make our state more competitive in the global marketplace. Essentially, Joey Millwood is no Bob Walker—and that alone makes him more than qualified to represent House district 38.

Even amongst a legislature stocked with status quo Republicans, Representative Bob Walker is among the worst of the worst. He earned a paltry 9 out of 100 (grade F) on our 2007 scorecard – the second-lowest score for any House Republican. His “F” grade was earned by voting against DOT reform, voting to put a former Democrat legislator on the Supreme Court and voting to override all but one of Governor Sanford’s 243 budget vetoes that would have saved taxpayers $167 million.

As chairman of the House Education Committee, Walker recently introduced a bill that would erode our state’s right-to-work laws by allowing some public employee unions to take money from government paychecks. His bill would specifically require the South Carolina Comptroller General to withhold membership dues from teachers’ paychecks and allow the public employee unions to forward that money to national unions to pay for strikes and other political activities.

Millwood recently said, “We need more leaders who will stand up for taxpayers and appoint judges with South Carolina values.” His rock solid conservative beliefs and willingness to work for his constituents make him the clear-cut choice in this race.

MIKE ROSE (SENATE DISTRICT 38 – DORCHESTER COUNTY)

Mike Rose is a successful attorney and former state senator who served in the legislature from 1988 to 1997. At the end his second year in the Senate, Rose was recognized by a national think tank as one of the three most outstanding state legislators in the United States. He was also honored as the “Most Conservative Senator” by the SC Policy Council and as a “Friend of the Taxpayer” by the SC Taxpayers Association during his time in office.

On the other hand, Rose’s opponent has not voted like a fiscal conservative or a friend of taxpayers. Freshman Senator Randy Scott has consistently opposed efforts to restrain state spending and even voted in favor of wasting $950,000 in taxpayer dollars on the infamous “Green Bean Museum” in Lake City. He has also voted against cutting funding for the wrongly-named “competitive grants program” that has been called a “legislative slush fund” by newspaper editorial boards. In 2006, Scott requested a $2,500 “competitive grant” on behalf of a Ridgeville festival- wouldn’t you like to know that festival spent $750 of your tax dollars on an “Elvis” impersonator? Just last year, he voted to override every one of Governor Sanford’s cost-saving budget vetoes and in 2005 he voted against a 29% personal income tax reduction.

Rose recently said, “Over the past year, I’ve had more and more people ask me to return to the senate. State spending continues out of control and Senator Scott has proven to be part of the problem rather than a solution. I’m known for tackling the tough issues and getting things done. And that’s what we need right now.”

TOMMY STRINGER (HOUSE DISTRICT 18 – GREENVILLE COUNTY)

Tommy Stringer is a native of Greenville County and a respected businessman in House district 18. After Stringer earned an accounting degree from Bob Jones University, he founded a pension compliance company in Greer that provides oversight of millions of dollars in corporate retirement plans.

In 2006, the legislature chose Stringer to serve on the Coastal Carolina University Board of Trustees- quite an honor since Stringer is not a CCU graduate. However, he says he joined the board and makes the long drive to the coast for meetings “just to check up on how our tax dollars are being spent.” In fact, Stringer announced those intentions to CCU trustees at his very first board meeting and has been a leader in solving some tough financial problems at the university.

Most of all, Tommy Stringer understands the importance of defending taxpayers and small businesses. As a small business owner himself, he knows the harm that unchecked government can sometimes cause. As he recently said, voters “want a representative with conservative values who will fight to keep government, at all levels, from unnecessarily burdening their lives. “ Stringer’s vision for South Carolina and his success in defending taxpayers make him our choice for this open House seat.

Lee Bright, Joe Bustos, Tom Davis, Roger Nutt and Trey Whitehurst believe in limited government and lower taxes because they know that’s the perfect recipe for prosperity. Each has shown a commitment to improving our state government that has failed to address wasteful spending through our inefficient government structure, neglected to reform our burdensome tax code, and made our job-killing legal climate worse. Their success in this historic, watershed election will positively impact our state for decades.

SC Club for Growth PAC continues to work as a vital ally to those candidates who believe in better government. Today’s endorsements follow the March endorsements of Stu Rodman in HD123, Tim Scott in HD117 and Katrina Shealy in SD23 as well as our February endorsement of seventeen incumbent legislators.

Today, I am proud to announce our second challenger/open-seat endorsements of the 2008 primaries:

LEE BRIGHT (SENATE DISTRICT 12 – SPARTANBURG COUNTY)

Lee Bright is a principled conservative whose background as a small businessman gives him a clear-eyed view of the need for good government. From his experience in running a nationwide trucking company, Bright understands the importance of controlling spending and the dangers of runaway debt. He will advocate vital changes in areas like worker’s compensation reform, tort reform and education.

Bright’s chances for success are very good in this open-seat primary. Four years ago he came within 21 votes of beating a well-funded, trial lawyer incumbent who wisely decided to retire rather than face Bright again. Now Bright faces another trial lawyer opponent in current House member Scott Talley.

Talley earned a “D-” on the 2007 SC Club for Growth scorecard. While he did not vote poorly on budget issues, he has consistently stood in the way of tort and worker’s compensation reform and even voted to put a liberal Democrat (and former House member) on the state Supreme Court over a qualified conservative. The trial lawyers apparently really want to keep one of their own in this seat. Last quarter, Talley raised over $22,000 from other personal injury lawyers – over one-third of the money he raised.

A small business owner with a great track record of saving taxpayer money versus a personal injury lawyer who is backed heavily by his trial lawyer friends. It’s an easy decision for us. In the South Carolina Senate, Lee Bright will fight for conservative principles and put South Carolina back on track.

Visit him online at http://www.brightforsenate.com

JOE BUSTOS (HOUSE DISTRICT 112 – CHARLESTON COUNTY)

Mount Pleasant councilman Joe Bustos is running for the open seat vacated by retiring, perennial SC Club for Growth ally Ben Hagood. Bustos was raised in Mount Pleasant and returned to his hometown after retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. As a small business owner, Bustos’ understanding of fiscal responsibility is one reason that Mount Pleasant has refused to raise taxes during his seven years on town council. Bustos also took a leadership role in blowing the whistle on the possible illegal activity of a lobbyist who may have improperly threatened council members and tried to extort money from developers.

Bustos strongly supports government restructuring. As a veteran, he objects to our state’s Adjutant General being the only popularly elected position in the entire military. He also saw first-hand the economic benefits enjoyed by states with no income tax during his Army service in Washington state.

His opponent, Isle of Palms Mayor Mike Sottile, seems to be running in large part to bring more state resources back to his home community. An article about his announcement quoted him saying that his coastal district needed “more state assistance.” Additionally, he has supported several property tax increases during his tenure in office, including a reported 21% increase last year.

Bustos said he is not “going to Columbia to be a face in the crowd, I’m going to make a difference.” We think that he will make the right kind of difference and is our endorsed choice to continue Rep. Hagood’s strong legacy of reform-minded service in House District 112.

TOM DAVIS (SENATE DISTRICT 46 – BEAUFORT COUNTY)

As Governor Sanford’s former Chief of Staff, there were few in government who could match Tom Davis’ commitment to improving our state and willingness to focus on the greater good. Davis, a Beaufort real estate attorney, has never run for public office but has sacrificed most of his last six years working to improve South Carolina.

Davis’ opponent, Catherine Ceips, moved from the House to the Senate via a special election last year. Her 2007 SC Club for Growth scorecard grade of “F” was earned in part by her record of voting to overturn 506 out of 513 of Governor Sanford’s recent budget vetoes that would have saved the state over $300 million. Ceips also voted with Representative Scott Talley to put a Democrat on the state Supreme Court and has continually voted to increase state spending, which is up over 40% in the last three years.

Davis believes in competitive state tax policies, restructuring government to provide more accountability and restraining state spending. With his diverse experience and commitment to reforming our state, we believe Tom Davis is the right choice for Senate District 46.

Visit him online at http://www.tomforsenate.com

ROGER NUTT (HOUSE DISTRICT 35 – SPARTANBURG COUNTY)

Spartanburg engineer Roger Nutt is running a pro-growth campaign of cutting spending, lowering taxes and easing government regulation. As a small businessman, he recognizes the importance of fiscal responsibility and how government needs to work with our business community in order to make our state stronger.

Nutt is challenging first-term incumbent Keith Kelly, yet another Republican making his living as a personal injury lawyer. Kelly also voted to put a liberal Democrat on the state Supreme Court and has consistently attempted to block much-needed reforms. The “F” that Kelly earned on the 2007 SC Club for Growth scorecard shows just how out of touch he is in a district that is overwhelmingly conservative.

Another trial lawyer versus a small businessman equals another easy choice. Roger Nutt’s experience and conservative principles will be invaluable once he is elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Visit him online at http://www.rogernutt.com

TREY WHITEHURST (HOUSE DISTRICT 3 – PICKENS COUNTY)

Trey Whitehurst is an impressive small business owner and longtime resident of House District 3. From his experiences in the Navy, in the corporate world and as an entrepreneur, Whitehurst understands the problems of government inefficiency and out-of-control spending. He supports reducing the size of government, putting education money in classrooms instead of administration and growing our economy with tax cuts.

Whitehurst is taking on incumbent House member B.R. Skelton. Skelton was recently described as being part of a “clique of liberal, big government Republicans who consistently vote against market-based reforms and in favor of an ever-escalating government bureaucracy.” He received an “F” on our 2007 scorecard mainly because he voted to override almost all of Governor Sanford’s vetoes to control pork barrel spending. Skelton was also one of the Republicans joining dozens of Democrats in unsuccessfully voting for a backdoor pay raise that Governor Sanford called an “unbelievable show of disdain for the taxpayers of South Carolina.”

Trey Whitehurst will be an effective voice for limited government and conservative principles in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He has a strong foundation and believes in the power of limited government. As he recently said, “it seems we taxpayers are always asked to tighten our belts, but they never tighten their belts in Columbia.”

Visit him online at http://www.treywhitehurst.com

Tim Scott, Stu Rodman and Katrina Shealy are lifelong advocates for smarter government, increased economic growth and more money for families and small businesses whose budgets are not growing nearly as fast as our state government’s.

Each has shown a commitment to improving a state government that refuses to address South Carolina’s most important problems including high taxes, too much regulation and an outdated government structure. Their success in this historic, watershed election will positively impact our state for decades to come.

In a legislatively dominated state, change happens at the ballot box. In the last election cycle, the SC Club for Growth State Action PAC endorsed candidates in 23 primary and general election races. Thanks in part to the electorate’s desire for change and the generosity of our members, endorsed candidates won 17 elections – an impressive 73 percent of the races in which the Club PAC was involved.

The South Carolina Club for Growth State Action PAC has already endorsed seventeen strong, fiscally conservative incumbents for re-election. Today, the State Action PAC is proud to announce the first challenger/open-seat endorsements of the 2008 primaries:

TIM SCOTT (HOUSE DISTRICT 117 – CHARLESTON)

Tim Scott is a very successful small business owner, Chairman of Charleston County Council and a strong fiscal conservative. Endorsed by Governor Sanford last fall for state treasurer and recently for this office, Tim has never voted for a tax increase nor has the council ever increased taxes during his thirteen-year tenure. Long-time incumbent Tom Dantzler, who has consistently received “F” ratings from the Club, recently chose to retire rather than face a great candidate like Tim.

Tim’s opponents for the open seat, Wheeler Tillman and Bill Crosby, both present causes for concern. Tillman served for six years in the House during the 70’s as a Democrat, ran again for public office as a Democrat in the 1980’s and only switched parties earlier this decade. Crosby wants to spend billions of dollars a year in taxpayer money on mass transportation and making local libraries a statewide responsibility.

We think Tim is unquestionably the best candidate in this race based on his record as a strong fiscal conservative and reformer. Tim will also make history as the first African-American Republican elected to the legislature since Reconstruction. Tim Scott is a rising conservative star, and we urge you to send him to the Statehouse.

STU RODMAN (HOUSE DISTRICT 123 – HILTON HEAD)

Stu Rodman is a proven, reform-minded leader who will bring his fiscally conservative principles to Columbia. He currently serves on the Beaufort County Council and was elected to the Beaufort School Board, giving him valuable insights into government.

As a businessman with an M.B.A. and an engineering degree, Stu understands how important it is for South Carolina to be competitive in the global marketplace by lowering taxes, limiting government bureaucracy, and improving educational opportunities for our children. Stu also served on Governor Sanford’s 2003 State Commission on Management, Accountability and Performance, which suggested ways to restructure and streamline state government.

Stu is challenging incumbent Richard Chalk. Chalk received an “F” in 2007 on the S.C. Club for Growth’s scorecard, which reflects his poor voting record on fiscal issues. Chalk supported a higher gas tax on working families and was one of the few Republicans to vote to overturn Governor Sanford’s vetoes on all fifty budget items in the Club’s “Lard List.”

One can only assume Chalk was trying to send a message when he voted to overturn Governor Sanford’s veto of pork items like $150,000 for a new pottery program, over $8 million for Senator Hugh Leatherman’s pet projects in Florence and $9 million for a program editorial writers called “a legislative slush fund.” We hope you will send a message to Chalk by supporting Stu Rodman.

KATRINA SHEALY (SENATE DISTRICT 23 – LEXINGTON COUNTY)

Katrina Shealy is a proven leader and reformer in Lexington County. Her experience as an insurance underwriter gives her a great foundation in fiscal issues and she recognizes that South Carolina’s out of control growth in state spending must end. She supports state budget spending caps as well as tax cuts that will lower our state’s high income tax to encourage new businesses and better paying jobs. Katrina also supports important tort and worker’s compensation reforms that will safeguard our small businesses. As Chairwoman of the Lexington County Republican Party, she has done an incredible job of building a grassroots network of people who will work to support her campaign.

Her opponent is incumbent RINO (Republican In Name Only) Jake Knotts, who earned an abysmal 8 out of 100 on our most recent legislative scorecard. Knotts voted against a 29% reduction in our state income tax in 2005, complaining that letting you keep more of your tax dollars would reduce what he and his legislative buddies got to spend on government programs. And spend it they have – growing government by over 40% in the last few years! Last year Knotts even voted to send $950,000 of your tax dollars to the aforementioned Green Bean Museum and later voted to override every single one of Governor Sanford’s 228 budget vetoes that would have saved taxpayers $167 million.

To say that Knotts has worked against Governor Sanford’s reform agenda is like saying that John Edwards is willing to pay “a little extra” for a haircut. He has cast crucial votes to kill Sanford-backed restructuring plans and to prevent parents from having increased choices about where to educate their children. Just last year, Knotts voted to give a liberal judge a ten-year term on our State Supreme Court. He explained his vote by saying that the candidate was “a female who puts more diversity on the bench. It shouldn’t be about being conservative.”

Frankly, we are not sure how Knotts even calls himself a Republican after publically supporting Democrats Jim Hodges and Tommy Moore over Governor Sanford in the last two gubernatorial elections. Fortunately, he’ll finally get a chance to face Republican voters.

Knotts’ defeat will remove a major legislative roadblock to lowering taxes, slowing government growth and implementing common-sense structural and educational reforms. Katrina’s election will provide sorely needed leadership for her district and the state. In fact, Knotts seems to agree – he contributed $100 to her campaign for House in 2002. Once you are over the shock of hearing that he actually supported a Republican for a change, we hope you will support the real Republican in the race- Katrina Shealy.

Each of these legislators has shown a continued commitment to limited government and responsible spending, while leading efforts to change South Carolina’s antiquated system of government. All earned a combined grade of “B” or better in the Club’s legislative scorecards and cumulatively represent approximately the top 10% of grades for the entire General Assembly.

South Carolina Club for Growth Executive Director Matt Moore released the following statement on the endorsements:

“On behalf of our membership across the state, I’m proud to announce these endorsements. We believe leadership matters. South Carolina’s future generations will benefit from these legislators leading the charge to reform our state government.

Through the support of hundreds of members around the state, we are hopeful that many more change-oriented legislators will join these reformers at the Statehouse next January. We will be carefully monitoring their re-election efforts. Should credible challengers run against any of them, we will urge our members to contribute generously to these endorsed incumbents.”

SC State Senate:

Legislator – District #, Area, Party
Kevin Bryant – 3rd District, Anderson, Republican
Danny Verdin – 9th District, Laurens, Republican
Mick Mulvaney – 16th District, Lancaster, Republican
Greg Ryberg – 24th District, Aiken, Republican
Larry Grooms – 37th District, Berkeley, Republican
Chip Campsen – 43rd District, Charleston, Republican

SC State House of Representatives:

Legislator – District #, Area, Party
Don Bowen – 8th District, Anderson, Republican
Michael Thompson – 9th District, Anderson, Republican
Jeff Duncan – 15th District, Laurens , Republican
Dwight Loftis – 19th District, Greenville, Republican
Eric Bedingfield – 28th District, Greenville, Republican
Herb Kirsh – 47th District, York, Democrat
Thad Viers – 68th District, Horry, Republican
Nathan Ballentine – 71st District, Lexington, Republican
Nikki Haley – 87th District, Lexington, Republican
Jim Merrill – 99th District, Berkeley, Republican
Chip Limehouse – 110th District, Charleston, Republican

“The South Carolina Club For Growth State Action PAC is pleased to offer our endorsement to four additional candidates for the State House.  We are pleased today to endorse Alan Boatwright, Don Bowen, Kris Crawford, and Phillip Shoopman as they run to put the House in order.  All four of these fine candidates will bring their established leadership to bear in Columbia by working for fiscal sanity, lower taxes, government restructuring, and free market educational choice.”

Alan Boatwright is a leading businessman in Greenwood who is running against Gene Pinson, the State Action PAC’s #1 target. Pinson has made a name for himself both by missing key votes on income tax and tort reform, and for voting against 80% of Governor Sanford’s budget vetoes, against eminent domain reform and against school choice.

Don Bowen is a former Board member of the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers who is running to bring his message of limited government to Columbia.  He is opposing Becky Martin, who opposed eminent domain reform, school choice, and all but 2 of the budget vetoes, while supporting tax increases to fund huge expansions in Medicaid.

Dr. Kris Crawford is running in Florence on the need for free market reforms and is a champion of solid economic thinking.  As an emergency room and SWAT team doctor, Kris understands the need for scientific standards in workers compensation and tort cases.  Kris is running in an open seat.

Finally, Phillip Shoopman is running for an open seat in Greenville.  Phillip is emphasizing fiscal responsibility, government reform and school choice in his race.  Phillip has a solid record of service on the State Board of Education, with the Greer Chamber of Commerce, and as Governor Sanford’s appointee to the commission that recommended we join the other 49 states in privatizing our school bus fleet.

The South Carolina Club for Growth State Action PAC is the premier donor network of fiscal conservatives in the state.  We bring the reputation of respected South Carolina business leaders and the resources of hundreds of South Carolina conservative donors to bear on the statewide and legislative races that have the potential to make a difference in the way our state is operated.  We are a political organization dedicated to improving the income, wealth, and education of people in South Carolina by helping elect candidates who will be leaders in the fight for economic growth, lower taxes, and smaller government. The Club honors the legacy and policies of Ronald Reagan, educating the public to put
sound economic thinking back into politics.

“The South Carolina Club For Growth PAC is proud to endorse Karen Floyd in her race for Superintendent of Education.  Karen has been a leader in her role as Chair of the Spartanburg County Council, building consensus while fighting for taxpayers’ rights.  Karen stands for greater classroom discipline, open market educational choice reforms, and greater accountability.  We are pleased to offer her our endorsement today.”

The PAC also announced the first of its endorsements for State House races.

“We are also announcing our endorsement in three contested State House races. We are pleased to support an experienced legislator in Jeff Duncan (District 15), an experienced taxpayer advocate in Dan Harvell (District 7), and an experienced education reformer in Sheri Few (District 79).  All three will bring their established leadership to bear in Columbia by working for fiscal sanity, lower taxes, government restructuring, and free market educational choice.”

The three races represent three separate kinds of races the Club PAC will be involved in this year. Jeff Duncan is an incumbent who has worked tirelessly for important reforms in the House.  Dan Harvell is running for the seat vacated by Ronnie Townsend, a former Democrat who championed the status quo from his position as Chairman of the Education Committee.  Sheri Few is running against an entrenched incumbent (Bill Cotty) who has cast votes against income tax cuts, against school choice, and against important reforms in workers compensation standards, torts, and eminent domain.

In the coming weeks, the Club PAC will announce additional endorsements, and publicly release our 2005‐2006 House Legislative Scorecards.

The South Carolina Club for Growth State Action PAC is the premier donor network of fiscal conservatives in South Carolina.  We bring the resources of hundreds of conservative donors to bear on the statewide and legislative races that have the potential to make a difference in the way our state is operated.  We are a political organization dedicated to improving the income, wealth, and education of people in South Carolina by helping elect candidates who will be leaders in the fight for economic growth, lower taxes, and smaller government.  The Club honors the legacy and policies of Ronald Reagan, educating the public to put sound economic thinking back into politics.