Jesse Turner, Republican Seeking the S.C. House Dist. 11 Seat.

All candidates for the South Carolina House of Representatives seats serving Anderson County were given multiple opportunities to share their positions unedited with voters in The Anderson Observer. Here are the answers from Jesse Turner, Republican Seeking the S.C. House Dist. 11 Seat.

1. Were you in favor of the last-minute redistricting the state to create new voting districts? Explain your support or opposition. I was opposed to redistricting, as I am opposed to all gerrymandering. It doesn't matter who's in control. We either play fair or not at all. To attempt redistricting in the middle of an election cycle and without proper oversight was reckless. If redistricting is going to happen, it needs to be done by an independent oversight committee and should be based solely on population and geography, not race or party affiliation. Let's stop trying to rig the game and have some integrity.

2. How can the General Assembly work together to meet the challenge of being the nation's fastest-growing state per capita? We are in no way, shape, or form prepared for an influx of more people. We already have failing infrastructure. Why would we continue to strain it further? I suggest introducing legislation to ban FILOT deals, stop supporting subsidies and special interests, and prevent massive housing developments from being approved without proper planning. Putting hundreds of homes in one area sounds good at first, but the jobs don't follow. You're building commuters, not a community.

3. Can the state keep up with infrastructure to meet this growth without raising taxes? Absolutely. We don't have a funding problem. We have a spending problem. The issue isn't how we'll get the money. The issue is how the money is being wasted. Stop the corporate giveaways and special-interest deals, and take a hard look at what our tax dollars are actually funding. You may be unpleasantly surprised.

4. Should South Carolina do away with property taxes? Explain your conclusion. Yes. Property tax is nothing more than government theft that harms senior citizens and people on fixed incomes the most. Your property may "go up in value" arbitrarily, but did your retirement income increase with it? If you own something, you own it. You paid for it when you purchased it, and you shouldn't have to pay a subscription fee to the government to keep it.

5. What can/should state government do to find sufficient funding for road maintenance and repair for both state, county, and municipal roads? Fixing the roads is a three-part solution for me. First, we increase funding through medical cannabis legalization. The tax revenue generated should be dedicated to road infrastructure and prohibited from being diverted into the general fund. This creates a steady source of funding for roads. Second, we need to focus on preventative maintenance. It's not hard to figure out how to fix our roads. Look at the states doing it best and see why it's working. They all have one thing in common: preventative maintenance. They focus on preventing failures and making proper repairs, not patchwork fixes. Do it right the first time. Lastly, we're already years behind on repairs, which means we need to consider hiring out-of-state contractors to help catch up. The longer we delay, the more damaged vehicles, popped tires, and motorcycle accidents we'll see. We can't keep pushing this problem down our crumbling roads.

6. Is South Carolina's current abortion prohibition enough, too strict, or should it be amended to reject abortions even in the case of rape, incest, or threat to the life of the mother? I am pro-life, but not in the same way many of my fellow Republicans are. I believe protecting life should be of the utmost importance. However, the direction we're heading seems more focused on punishing the mother and preventing proper care than on saving the life of the child. Many lawmakers want to violate state sovereignty by punishing women for actions taken in other states. Not only do I believe that's wrong, I believe it's unconstitutional. If we're going to be pro-life, then we need to be fully pro-life. That means supporting both the child and the mother. We should be addressing medical bills, financial burdens, foster care reform, adoption reform, and every other issue that affects families facing difficult situations. That's the direction we should be moving, not expanding government power into people's lives beyond our state's borders.

7. What are the three biggest challenges facing your district and the state in the next five years? Five years? We'll be lucky if we make it two at the rate we're going. We have an insane number of people who can't afford the basic necessities of life. Our infrastructure is crumbling from within, literally. My district is one of the poorest and most overlooked districts in the state. We can't even trust their drinking water. And what is being done to fix it? Nothing. Our roads are some of the worst in the United States, so where are our tax dollars going? Certainly not back into our district. My opponent is voting to give family court judges pay raises when they're already making over $200,000 a year. Meanwhile, families are struggling to afford groceries, utilities, and housing? Make it make sense. On top of that, the cost of living continues to rise while legislation does little to address it and continues to support regulated monopolies like Duke and Dominion. Something has to change.

8. How do you view the balance between state government and local authority in both statute and funding? I believe decisions should be made as locally as possible. The people closest to the issue usually understand it best. That being said, it's the responsibility of the state to step in when local decisions impact the entire state or when the rights of citizens need to be protected. Take the Anderson County Duke FILOT deal, for example. That's projected to cost taxpayers over $2 billion in lost tax revenue. Who benefits from that? Not the citizens. Not the taxpayers. A corporation. That's backwards. The state should empower local communities while also ensuring taxpayer dollars are protected and constitutional rights are upheld.

9. What areas need addressing that the General Assembly has not addressed or has put off addressing? The General Assembly seems to put off, or intentionally let die in committee, anything of real significance. It's easier for politicians to avoid taking a vote than it is to publicly defend one. We need to fix that. If major legislation is still sitting in committee, then we should still be in session. I don't care how long it takes. The people's business should be completed before legislators go home. We need term limits, meaningful criminal justice reform, judicial reform, property tax reform, infrastructure accountability, and as always greater government transparency. Far too many important issues get buried because leadership doesn't want members on the record. We the people deserve better.

10. What is the top priority of an elected official? To represent the people. The entire purpose of a representative is to represent the citizens who elected them. Not their donors. Not PACs. Not lobbyists. Not special interests. We the people. Too often, elected officials stay in office for decades while accomplishing very little for their constituents and quite a lot for themselves. They stop representing the people and start representing their own pockets. Government exists to serve the citizens, not the other way around. If elected officials remembered that simple principle, we'd solve a lot of problems.

11. What are the keys to working together with other members of the General Assembly to find common ground and pass legislation? We currently have a Republican supermajority. Finding common ground "should" be a no brainer as we all are supposed to share common core values. A Republican, in the truest sense, should stand for smaller government, fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, law and order, and protecting the constitution. Before voting on any bill, every member should ask themselves one simple question: "How does this law increase or protect the freedoms of the people of South Carolina?" If it doesn't increase freedom, protect freedom, or fulfill a legitimate constitutional function of government, then it probably doesn't need to exist.

12. Do you or any of your family members have business dealings with any agency or organization that receives state funds? If so, please list. None whatsoever. That would be in my opinion a conflict of interest.

13. Would you favor financial limits on financial contributions to campaigns? Absolutely. Money shouldn't be involved with politics. We don't need politicians who are bought and paid for by special interests, PACs, corporations, or wealthy donors. Citizens deserve to know exactly who is trying to influence their vote and who their elected officials are truly accountable to. Transparency should be the standard, not the exception. Furthermore, I believe Citizens United should be overturned at the federal level so we can finally get dark money out of politics. Far too many mudslinging attack ads, which I am a victim to, and political campaigns are funded by organizations that most voters know nothing about. The question every voter should be asking is simple: who's paying for this, and why? If someone is spending money to influence your vote, you have a right to know who they are.

14. How have you been involved in the community (include any charitable/nonprofit work, volunteer efforts, fire service, etc.) and why is this important to you? Many candidates love to pander for votes by volunteering right before election. You won't find me doing that, you'll find me on the streets knocking door to door to meet every single person I can and their concerns. It's not a good deed if you have to boast about it...But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

15. Why are you running for election or reelection for this office? We need to be the change we want in the world. At some point you get tired of yelling at your TV "who voted for this" questioning why nothing gets done for the people and instead decide to stand up and fix it yourself. We clearly can't rely on our current representation to fix it for us and I refuse to sit idly by while our state continually is thrown into the gutter. I'm tired of people that don't represent the people continually holding office.

16. What are your three favorite things about living and working in South Carolina and particularly your district? I love the independence and freedom we still have here. I love that even when my neighbors and I disagree politically, I know that if I needed help, they'd be there. And they'd know I'd do the same for them. That's something you don't find everywhere anymore. I also tremendously admire the opportunities available here. Whether it's starting a business, building a farm, learning a trade, or pursuing a new idea, South Carolina still offers people the chance to create something for themselves. We have hardworking people, strong communities, and a culture that values personal responsibility and self-reliance. You want to start a farm? Do it. You want to start a business? Do it. People here will support you, encourage you, and help you succeed. That's my kind of people.

17. If elected/reelected, what legacy do you want to leave for your time in office? I want my legacy to be simple: He told the truth, fought corruption, and did everything he said he was going to do. I will call out corruption whenever I see it, even if it's coming from my own party. I will do whatever it takes to get the job done right and with integrity. That's my pledge and the people will see and remember that...and if I don't? We’ll bring back tar and feathering and run me down the streets. That's not a joke...that's my commitment.