Greg Anderson’s upbringing and professional career have taught him the incredible value that a South Carolina public education can hold. Because of those lessons learned, Greg is committed to ensuring that the children of the Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda Counties receive a top notch education without the political influence that comes from Columbia and Washington, D.C.
"I am anti-voucher," says Greg, "the schools here have something for everyone. We don’t need other people making decisions on what is best for the 25th District. The local school officials and the teachers here know what is best." With his experience as the school board attorney for Edgefield County Schools for the past twenty years, Greg has gained a valuable insight into the problems that public schools face today, and how to best solve them. "The State Department of Education and the legislature send mixed messages. We need to let schools run at the local level."
Greg points to one of his experiences as the school board attorney in showing how out of tune Columbia is with the rest of the state. "Several years ago, the state required us to keep our buses in one central area. We have many bus drivers who now were having to drive across Edgefield County to pick up buses in the morning and then back again in the afternoon. It ended up costing us bus drivers and causing a lot of inconvenience."
Whether it be the students at Midland Valley High School, McCormick Elementary School, or anywhere in between, the people of the 25th District can rest assured that Greg Anderson will be an advocate of a quality public education for all of our students.
When serving as an Assistant Solicitor in the 11th Judicial Circuit under Donnie Myers, Greg Anderson realized quickly the challenges that faced law enforcement. With a position in the South Carolina Senate, Greg is prepared to act quickly to make sure that local law enforcement is given the tools necessary to combat crime.
"Gang activity is a big issue that we need to act on immediately," Greg continues, "Johnston already has had a problem with gang activity. I favor strengthening laws to address the gang issues in our community."
In addition to the growing problem with gangs, Greg also had laid out an agenda that would see to it that law enforcement throughout the district is ensured the help and resources to investigate and effectively prosecute cases. With the 25th District being comprised of largely rural districts, Greg wants to make sure that the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s influence in the area is not trimmed and there are enough troopers to keep the roads safe at all times of day and night.
When Greg Anderson gave up his job as Assistant Solicitor in the 11th Judicial Circuit, he did not give up his commitment to keeping his community safe and standing up for the men and women of law enforcement. As a South Carolina State Senator, Greg Anderson will work as hard on the Senate floor for law enforcement as he did in the court room.
As a lifelong resident of the 25th District, Greg Anderson has seen prosperous economic times for his community, and unfortunately, the tough economic times as well. "This is an area of the state that has been hard hit. In Graniteville and Saluda they have lost factories. McCormick has been neglected for a long time. The politicians have not put enough effort into replacing the plants or jobs here."
Greg’s experiences have prepared him to become an advocate for economic development in the 25th District. "I see how hard the people of this community work and they need help," says Greg. Greg is prepared to tap into the resources of the 25th District in order to recruit jobs to the area. With plentiful land available and a great location on Interstate 20 between Columbia and Atlanta, Greg is prepared to use his position in the South Carolina State Senate to "give incentives to attract industry to the area" and "push the Governor to recruit jobs to the area."
"Jobs help our area in every phase. Quality jobs means that the people living in our district can have a better way of life," says Greg. Greg Anderson realized long ago what a wonderful place the 25th District was to raise a family. As a State Senator, he will work hard to ensure that others see the 25th District as a great place to work!
One of the most challenging problems facing our nation today is the issue of health care. The 25th District faces many of the same, and yet some very different problems, than the rest of the state and the nation. Greg Anderson is prepared to use his position in the South Carolina State Senate to make sure that the health care concerns of those in the 25th District are addressed.
"I am proud of the small town feel that our district has, however McCormick and Saluda Counties are the only two counties in the state without a hospital in their county," says Greg. When chosen to represent the people of the 25th District, Greg will make sure that the counties making up the 25th District will not be neglected when it comes to quality health care.
"I believe that we need to look at raising the tax cigarettes. It has not been raised since 1977," Greg says in explaining why he favors taxing cigarettes, "statistics have proven that raising taxes on cigarettes will decrease teen smoking, provide long term health benefits, and also provide revenue that can be used to fund health insurance programs."
As a past Chairman of the Edgefield County Hospital Board of Directors, Greg has seen firsthand the challenges facing health care today and is ready to offer solutions at the 25th District’s representative in the South Carolina State Senate.
"I am proud that our communities have hospitals and not medical centers. I like it that we have town gyms and other things that are unique to small towns," explains Greg, citing just one of the many reasons why he loves calling Edgefield and the 25th District home, "It was fun growing up here. It was a community atmosphere." With changes over the past decade in the South Carolina legislature, one thing will remain certain; Greg Anderson is committed to seeing that the small town communities like Edgefield, Johnston, Saluda, McCormick, and the Horse Valley keep their identity by being linked together in how they are represented in the South Carolina State Senate.
In 2010, the United States Census Bureau will determine population changes throughout South Carolina that will allow the South Carolina State Legislature to redraw the district lines, thus putting the communities of the 25th District in jeopardy of being separated. Greg Anderson wants to make sure that the communities making up the 25th District will remain together when the State Legislature redraws the district lines.
"There needs to be solidarity between our communities," Greg says, "We have small communities with similar interests and beliefs. We need to make sure that we keep it that way." As the next Senator from the 25th District, Greg Anderson will be dedicated to serving the best interests of the people, and not the politicians in Columbia.
I support a comprehensive energy plan for South Carolina that provides affordable, abundant and safe energy to our citizens and protects human health and the health of the planet.
We need to change the old ways that were dictated by the big oil companies and we don't need Washington special interests telling us to solve their messes - either offshore or on Wall Street. Shane Massey is misleading voters by saying that drilling will reduce their gas prices. He needs to explain instead why the legislature's own Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Study Committee that was authorized in 2007 has not yet had its first meeting.
One thing the experts agree on is that drilling is not a long term solution. Sen. Lindsay Graham hit it on the nail when he said "The worst thing we can do as a nation is taking the easy way out. If you start opening up offshore drilling, then you are buying time and you are not addressing the fundamental problem with fossil fuels." (The Sun News, 6/3/05)
I'm going to Columbia to help create new energy jobs and to remind my colleagues in the Senate that we need to heed the lessons our grandparents taught us: to stop waste and put conservation first. That's the best way to save money and save energy at the same time.