Kyle White, Republican Seeking the S.C. House Dist. 6 Seat.

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

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 Kyle White, Republican Seeking the S.C. House Dist. 6 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 not in the legislature at the time.  But generally we must ensure that our district maps are drawn fairly and in accordance with the law. Following the most recent Supreme Court decisions, we have a responsibility to adhere to those rulings and maintain a transparent, lawful redistricting process. Fair representation and public trust depend on it.

2. How can the General Assembly work together to meet the challenge of being the nation’s fastest-growing state per capita? One of the issues most important to voters in this district is responsible management of growth.  We have to work with other members of the general assembly to push for concurrency laws to ensure infrastructure is in place before new developments go in.  We also have to ensure that impact fees are proportionate to the actual impact of new developments on existing infrastructure and services. It is also important to expand the existing 80-foot riparian boundary to 100 feet.  There are some other things that can be done as well, but we have to work together with other members of the general assembly on responsible management of growth.

3. Can the state keep up with infrastructure to meet this growth without raising taxes? Hopefully the legislation set forth in response to number 2 will help in this regard, but we also need state agencies to operate more efficiently with our tax dollars and we have to ensure that the available funds are coming back to this district to fund first responders and infrastructure projects.  Currently none of our tax dollars are coming back to the district while neighboring districts are getting seven figures this year for first responders and infrastructure, which is flabbergasting.

4. Should South Carolina do away with property taxes? Explain your conclusion. In the United States and in South Carolina we have a representative democracy, and if my constituents want me to push for the elimination of property taxes, I will work with other members of the general assembly to do that.  It will be a challenging problem, because funding has to come from somewhere, but other states have done it so there are models we can go by to try to accomplish it.

5. What can/should state government do to find sufficient funding for road maintenance and repair for both state, county and municipal roads?‍ ‍Hopefully some of the growth management initiatives discussed in response to number 2 will assist with this, but we have to be more efficient with the public funds we have already, and we have to fight for the fair share of resources to come back to the district.  That is not happening right now.  A prime example of this is when our current district 6 representative did not show up to the ACOG meetings regarding the project to pave 3 miles of Highway 178 in Pickens County and 3 miles of road in Anderson County, so budget cuts were dealt with by eliminating the Anderson County part of the project, and as a result the Highway 178 paving project stopped at the Pickens County line.

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 of threat to the life of the mother? We must always protect and defend ALL life. The fetal Heartbeat bill puts us on the path to do so.

7. What are the three biggest challenges facing your district and the state in the next five years? Anderson County is growing at an explosive rate, straining our infrastructure and public safety.  Our three biggest challenges are responsible management of growth, public safety, and infrastructure.

8. How do you view the balance between state government and local authority in both statute and funding? State Government must build and maintain relationships with county governments and municipalities and listen to the needs of these constituencies, and push for the laws and resources that empower local authorities to do their jobs safely and effectively.

9. What areas need addressing that the General Assembly has not addressed or has put off addressing? The issues addressed in response to number 2 are imperative, and while some legislation is in progress, it has to be pushed over the finish line to help us responsibly manage growth in the district.

10. What is the top priority of an elected official? Public service starts with listening to the needs of your constituents, showing up, and delivering results. People expect their elected officials to be accessible, responsive, and focused on solving real problems. At the end of the day, success is measured by how well you serve the people who entrusted you with the responsibility to represent them, and you should be judged on the results you deliver.  Talk is cheap.

11. What are the keys to working together with other members of the General Assembly to find common ground and pass legislation? Realizing that the constituents back home are counting on you to deliver results for them is one of the most important responsibilities of public service. You have to be willing to work with anyone, whenever possible, to find common ground and get things done. This would include finding a way to work with people you may not agree with in order to deliver results for your constituents.  At the end of the day, showing up, building relationships, and delivering real results should always come before politics.

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. My dad retired from 20 years of teaching at T.L. Hanna High School in May of this year.  My brother and I are frequently AGAINST the government in civil litigation, but to my knowledge I have no family members who have business dealings WITH any agency or organization that receives state funds.  We have no government contracts. My wife and I and my law firm donate money to too many nonprofits to count, including law enforcement and veterans organizations, who may receive state funds. I would not consider that business dealings, but I mention it out of an abundance of caution in the interest of full transparency.

13. Would you favor financial limits on financial contributions to campaigns? Campaign finance reform would fix a lot of the issues we have in politics today. For example, out of state dark money groups pump tons of money into our elections to assist South Carolina Freedom Caucus candidates.  There are many other issues in the context of campaign finance reform, but that is an anecdotal example.

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?I have been involved with many, including but not limited to: Anderson County Back the Blue (Committee Member); Honorary Member, South Carolina Sheriffs' Association; Member, South Carolina Troopers Association; Anderson Rotary Club Member; Graduate of Leadership Anderson; YMCA Youth Soccer Coach (since about 2020); Anderson YMCA Board Member; and Elder at Central Presbyterian Church.  We also frequently sponsor community events put on by nonprofits and other organizations.

15. Why are you running for election or reelection for this office?‍ ‍I am a lifelong resident of Anderson County, and I love this county. I want to have a strong and safe Anderson County that my kids will want to stay in when they finish school. I want them to want to raise their kids down the street from me so that I don’t have to get on a plane to see my grandkids.  We must work hard to preserve Anderson County for this generation, the next generation, and the generations to come.

16. What are your three favorite things about living and working in South Carolina and particularly your district? I was raised in Anderson County, and my parents instilled in me the values that make this community so special. My wife and I have worked to pass those same values on to our children. I love the small businesses throughout Anderson County that reflect our strong sense of community, hard work, and personal relationships. Most of all, I love the people of Anderson County. They are second to none, and it is their character, generosity, and commitment to one another that make this such a great place to call home.

17. If elected/reelected, what legacy do you want to leave for your time in office? I want my legacy to be that I stepped up at a time when unchecked development and crumbling infrastructure presented an existential threat to the community we enjoy, and that I faced the challenge successfully and got us back on track.