September LIBPA Newsletter
Reminder:
The October LIBPA meeting (October 14) will consist of a forum for the candidates for District 124 State House of Representatives seat. This forum is open to the public..
Island Notes:
Our compliments to Allen Patterson Residential Construction on Sams Point Road and the Low Country National Bank on Sea Island Parkway for consistently using well designed landscaping to make our community a bit more attractive.

Welcome to “It’z a Philly Thing”, located in the Lady’s Island Shopping Center next to Babcock Furniture Store. Owner Ms. Priscilla Butler, who came to the lowcountry from Philadelphia, offers a menu of “Philly” style sandwiches, sausages and wings plus the original Philadelphia Water Ice. They are open from 11 AM to 6 PM. (Yes, it’z is how they spell it).

New member selected for LIBPA Board of Directors. Ms. Kim Gallant, who with Ms. Elizabeth Harding publishes the Lady’s Island News, has agreed to serve as a member of the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association Board of Directors.

Sign of the times. With regret we note that Sea Island Tile, on Highway 21 just before Chowan Creek Bridge, has closed its doors as has the Sand Dollar Tavern on St. Helena Island. Word has it that another restaurant (Weezie’s Crab Shack) is planning to open at the former location of the Sand Dollar.

My Thrift Shop recently opened its doors in the Tidewatch Business Center located across from the entrance to Lady’s Island Middle School on Sea Island Parkway. The hours of operation are 10 AM to 5 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The store will have furniture, decorative items, rugs, dishes, books and similar items but will not include clothing, toys or large appliances in their inventory. All proceeds go to Christ Center of Lady’s Island Church. Tax deductible donations of items to the thrift shop are accepted by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 524-3090.

Welcome to the Williams Group, a public relations firm offering marketing, media services and overall public relations consulting. John Williams, President of the company and the former Director of School & Community Relations for the Beaufort County School District intends to establish the new company on Lady’s Island.
LIBPA Membership Status Report: by Gail Clark, Membership
We, in LIBPA, are in the middle of our 2008 membership drive and extend a special thanks to each of our members for continuing to spread the word regarding the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association and the role it plays in our community.

Our membership presently consists of 167 business members, 57 residential and 24 complimentary members for a total of 248 members. We have gained 24 new members to date. However, we lost 34 members from our 2007 roster. So, we’re actually down by 10 from last year. The reasons for non-renewals were varied but suffice to say the faltering economy was a significant factor. So if we can attract 10 additional members this year we will be even with our 2007 membership.

Please invite a friend, neighbor or business acquaintance to an upcoming meeting, so they can see what a great and informative organization we have! This is a wonderful networking opportunity, and in this economy, we all need each other’s support!
LIBPA Members Recognized As 2008 "Reader's Choice":
Each year the Beaufort Gazette asks its readers to vote for their favorite local businesses and each year we are proud of the number of our members who are recognized in this manner. Following are the LIBPA members who were selected as a “Readers Choice”
Publix Super Market – Best grocery store and best bakery
Lowcountry National Bank – Best bank
Butler Marine – Best boat dealership
Dr. Ray Kearns – Best chiropractor
Patterson Construction – Best contractor or builder or remodeler
Zippy Lube – Best oil change
Omni Health & Fitness – Best fitness center
Lady’s Island Country Club – Best golf course or club
Grayco – Best hardware store and best kitchen or bath fixture store
Mazzanna’s Lawn Service – Best landscaping service
Tom Aydelette of Aydelette Insurance Agency – Best insurance agent
The Upper Crust – Best pizza
Wendy Goller of Keller Williams Realty – Best real estate agent or realtor
Island Travel – Best travel agency
Hobbit Hill – Best daycare facility (tie vote with Honey Tree)
Keller Williams Realty – Best real estate company
School Busses, Safety and Sams Point Road
School is back in session and there are approximately 4000 students on Lady’s Island roads going to and from our schools each day. Many of these students will travel by school busses. Everyone knows (or certainly should know) that motorist must always stop when they are traveling behind a bus with flashing amber or red lights. When they are approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights from the opposite direction, drivers must stop if they are on a two-lane road. If they are on a four-lane (or more), road, highway or private road and meet a stopped school bus, they do not have to stop. Regardless of the fact that the law no longer requires stopping, drivers should slow down and proceed with caution. So, on the four lane portion of Sams Point Road you do not have to stop if meeting a stopped school bus but must stop on the two- lane portion of Sams Point Road or any other two-lane road.
Lady's Island Planning Items:
The Lady’s Island Community Preservation Committee met at the Lady’s Island Airport conference center on August 4, 2008. Following are highlights of the agenda.

Standardization of sign regulations in the Village Center. A representative of Butler Marine presented computer generated images of their commercial facility which is presently under construction on Sea Island Parkway along with the types of signs authorized by the county as compared to what is authorized by the City of Beaufort. The committee voted to request the planning
departments of Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort to take such steps as necessary to standardize the sign regulations as they pertain to the Village Center.

New definition of rural zoning. The Beaufort County Planning Department, as part of its program to rewrite the 1997 Comprehensive Plan is considering the use of a sliding density scale versus the presently authorized 1 house per 3 acre authorized density for rural areas. Although the use of the sliding density scale would only slightly increase the number of houses allowed in the rural part of Lady’s Island it was recommended by the committee that further study be conducted regarding the impact of additional density on environmentally sensitive areas such as Coosaw Island.

Mayfair Court redevelopment/zoning. Mayfair Court is the dirt road beside the Video Warehouse on Sams Point Road. The housing on this road has been used primarily as rental property, consists of mobile homes in various stages of deterioration and has been included in the redevelopment district. The road is prevented from connecting with the Professional Office Village by one undeveloped lot. The owners of the property along the road are requesting their lots be rezoned to a commercial type of zoning (either Professional Office District or Village Center). The committee voted to support such rezoning if it is part of a comprehensive
package to (1) pave the road and (2) connect it with the Professional Office Village. The request for rezoning will now be considered by the Beaufort County Planning Commission followed by County Council.

The Lady’s Island Community Preservation Committee consists of representatives of the community organized for the specific purpose of providing a voice for Lady’s Island on matters of growth and zoning. Meetings are held at 10 AM on the first Monday of each month at the conference room of the Lady’s Island Airport. All meetings are open to the public. Request for subjects/projects to be reviewed by the committee should be directed to the Beaufort County Community Preservation Planner Brian Herman
(470-2730).
Another Victory For Lady's Island/St. Helena Fire District:
Teams representing the Lady’s Island/St. Helena Fire District recently demonstrated their exceptional professional competency while competing in the following events at the state firefighter’s competition.

Vehicle Rescue. On July 17th and 18th the Lady’s Island Fire District’s vehicle rescue competition team captured the State Title bringing home awards in 5 different categories including 1st Place Overall, Top Incident Commander and Top Medic. The team, which recently placed 5th in the 2008 National Competition in New York, is now qualified to compete in the 2009 National event to be held in Seattle, Washington. After literally 4 months of practicing for the event, all of their hard work and determination has resulted in the Lady’s Island team being a nationally recognized force in vehicle rescue and extrication. The team is grateful to have such a supportive community behind them, and their continuing efforts and advancement in technical abilities is an asset to everyone who lives or visit’s the Lady’s Island area. The 2008 Vehicle Extraction team consists of Battalion Chief Eric Taylor, Lt. Robbie Morgan, Lt. Joe Garvin, SFF/Paramedic Scott Sampson, SFF Billy McKay and SFF David Sewell.

Combat Challenge. This competition consist of a 7 person team that must individually carry a 50 pound section of fire hose up a 5 story tower, then pull a 50 pound hose section by rope up to the top of the tower, descend the tower, once at ground level using an
8 pound sledge hammer move a 165 pound block of steel 10 feet and then drag a 165 pound manikin a distance of 100 feet. This event is timed and the fastest time wins. The entire event is performed wearing firefighter protective clothing and a breathing
apparatus weighing a combined total of 70 pounds and a total time in excess of 2 minutes is probably not competitive. The Lady’s Island/St. Helena Fire District won 5 individual trophies in this event. The members of the Combat Challenge Team were Battalion
Chief Danny Williams, Lt, Sanford Picklesimer, Firefighter Keith Kersey, Steve Gates, , Brandon Beaton, Layne Jackson, Nic Thompson and Heidi Charest.

Of special note was the performance of Firefighter Heidi Charest, who took first place in the female division of the combat challenge with a time equal to the third fastest in the world for female firefighters. Battalion Chief Danny Williams took second place in the Chief’s division and the over 40 division. The male/female tandem team of Firefighters Hedi Charest and Nic Thomson placed second in that event.

Editor’s Note: The information contained in this article was provided by Chief Bruce Kline and Battalion Chief Eric Taylor. On behalf of the entire Lady’s Island community a very special congratulations and thank you is extended to our vehicle rescue and combat
challenge teams and all of the members of the Lady’s Island /St. Helena Fire District for their contribution to our community and high professional standards. Please know we are very proud of you.
Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Report:
Based on the following data derived from www.foreclosure.com the number of single family homes involved in bankruptcy proceeding in Beaufort County would appear to have stabilized. The number of family homes involved in foreclosure proceedings is
another matter. As can be seen the number of foreclosure proceedings increased significantly in July and August.

 
Month  Bankruptcy Foreclosure
March 37 89
April 32 84
May 29 86
June 24 85
July 39 106
August 35 121

The last part of the sad cycle of bankruptcies and foreclosures was highlighted by the August 22, 2008 edition of the Beaufort Gazette which contained legal notices announcing the public auction of 54 homes or lots.
Economic Impact of the Arts:
In 1999, a study (Economic Impact of the Arts on Beaufort County, SC) was conducted to measure the economic impact of visual and performing arts on Beaufort County. At that time, it was determined that direct expenditures of the industry totaled more than $10 million annually. In addition, the study indicated that for every $1 of financial support allocated to the arts by local governments, $6 is returned to the local economy. While this information is dated, it provides some indication of the economic importance of this industry.

(Source: Chapter 6, Cultural Resources, Visual and Performing Arts, Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan)
A Look At Total Real Estate Market: By Everett Ballenger, President, Beaufort County Association of Realtors, Keller Williams Realty/Ballenger Associates.
The theme of this article normally deals with the real estate picture as presented by single family residences in five specific areas
namely – Beaufort, Mossy Oaks, Port Royal, Burton and Lady’s Island. This month, in an effort to provide a more comprehensive
picture of the local real estate market, we will look at all of northern Beaufort County plus Fripp and Harbor Island and in addition to residential include all classes of real estate, such as undeveloped and commercial property. The following charts compare the total northern Beaufort County real estate market for the first 8 months of 2007 to the same period in 2008.
Total Sales For Northern Beaufort County 1/1/07 – 8/11/07
  HIGH LOW AVERAGE MEDIAN TOTAL
PRICE		 LISTING
COUNT
LIST PRICE $2,500,000 $10,000  $314,839 $236,750 $250,612,494  
SOLD PRICE $2,500,000 $10,000 $296,869 $225,000 $236,308,137 796
DOM*     203 144    
Total Real Estate Sales For Northern Beaufort County 1/1/08 – 8/11/08
  HIGH LOW AVERAGE MEDIAN TOTAL
PRICE		 LISTING
COUNT
LIST PRICE $3,650,000 $25,000 $291,199/11.3% $209,000/11.8% $161,470,759/35.6%  
SOLD PRICE $3,650,000 $20,000 $275,279/11.3% $204,900/9% $152,229,806/35.6% 553 -30.6%
DOM*     221+8.2% 161 + 10.6%    

* DOM – Days on market
If there was only one real estate office in northern Beaufort County (there actually are 71) the Broker in Charge, based on the
information in the above charts, would tell you that in the first 8 months of this year their business had experienced a 37% drop
in gross sales from the previous year, the average sale price had seen a 11% drop, and time on the market had increased about 9% (think 5-7 months today as an average time from listing to sale). Even though the inventory is still high it is 30% smaller than it
was at the same time in 2007. This reduction in inventory numbers is not as much due to sales as it is to an increased hesitancy
on the part of sellers to enter today’s tough market. Following is a closer look at what has sold this year in the real estate market.

2008 Closings - (As of 8/11/07)
Type Number % of Total
Commercial 12 2.2%
Land (undeveloped) 91 16.3%
Condominiums/ Townhouses 59 10.6%
Single Family Home 380 68.1%
Mobile Homes 16 2.8%
Total 558 100.0%

A closer look at the types of land shows of the 91 land closings there were 5 of farm acreage, 7 mobile home lots, 11 resort lots
and 68 residential lots. The numbers show quite clearly that the residential market is the engine that drives the local real estate
market.

Some “experts” say there is still an affordability gap between present house prices and what people earn. With the reduction in
prices of houses the gap must be a lot closer now than it was two years ago! At the moment the rental market is very strong, and
as a result rents have risen lately. A turning point to watch for in the market will be when it costs more to rent a home than to
buy it. Once they get to a tipping point, we will see renters looking at the buying versus renting alternative.

In the next few weeks we will start to move into the fall selling season. If you are thinking of selling, this might be a good time to
put the property on the market. Potential buyers should really keep an eye on the interest rates…even a small increase can make a huge difference over the lifetime of the average mortgage. There are some rays of sunshine though, the latest pending homes
sales index from the National Association of Realtors shows that contracts were up in June by 5.3 percent. Regionally, the South
saw the biggest jump in pending sales jumping 9.3 percent. The Midwest saw a 1.3 percent gain. Some metro areas are already
seeing a stronger market. Only in the months to come, will we know whether, on a national level, we have turned the corner.
Here in Beaufort County I feel we will see some areas do well, while others may continue to experience the doldrums for some
time to come.
Beaufort County Farmland:
The last USDA Census of Agriculture conducted of Beaufort County farmland which actually produced crops was in 2002. As can be seen by the following chart, even with an outdated census, Beaufort County lost almost 10,000 acres of active farm land over 15 years (1987 -2002) in question. That is an average of 2 farms going out of business each year and 654 acres of farm land converted to other uses on an annual basis.
Year Number of Farms Land in Farms (acres)
1987 125 54,152
1992 120 44,800
2002 116 44,337
2008 97 48,261

(Source: Chapter 6, Cultural Resources, Visual and Performing Arts, Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan)
Food For Thought: By Jim Hicks, Lady’s Island Representative, Beaufort County Planning Commission
Our nation, our state, our county and our island is in the process of coping with change. It would be nice if we could limit our involvement in the necessary changes to simply electing the best candidates running for the various offices in November and allow governments to fix things. We all know it doesn’t work that way. As a community we have two choices (1) become involved and attempt to have a voice in seeking solutions to the challenges of today or (2) do nothing and complain if displeased about the outcome. As a member of the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association you have chosen to be involved and through LIBPA have a voice in seeking solutions.

Following are some of the questions that are going to be answered or at least attempted to be answered over the next year.

Lady’s Island Airport: A long range master plan for the Lady’s Island Airport is scheduled to be developed in the near future. Should the runway be extended to a length capable of accepting jet aircraft? Should the number of hangars be increased and if so should businesses which bring economic development to Beaufort County be given priority access to these hangars?

Public Schools: Where, on Lady’s Island, should the property be purchased for the construction of the third elementary school? Is moving the 5th grade from Coosa and Lady’s Island Elementary to Lady’s Island Middle School the best solution to overcrowding? What is the best school calendar – year round or traditional?

Parks: Should the general design of Crystal Lake Park be similar to the children’s play area at Water Front Park or should it be more like the park at Pigeon Point in Beaufort? Since the Springfield Road Park, for which land has been purchased, will be an active park and thus include a sports complex (ball/soccer fields) - what else should be included in the park (a community center, tennis courts)?

Bike/walking paths: When gas was much less than $4/gallon the emphasis was on having pathways that encouraged and supported biking, walking or jogging for health and fun. As can be seen today in the Village Center and along Sams Point Road an increasing number of residents are using these sidewalks to travel to and from stores in the Village Center. At $4/gallon gas, will the Beaufort County High School parking lot be as crowded as it was last year? If our residents and especially our children are going to increasingly use bikes, scooters or walk then what type of roads, sidewalks and paths do we need to start planning for and where should they be located? Just as important, if not more so, is the question of how they will be funded. How about if we decide now that in 2013, if the Beaufort County voters choose to allow continuation of the present 1% sales tax (and it will be proposed), one of the designated projects must be funding for bike/walking paths? If we can agree with that decision then proper engineering work could be accomplished to insure accurate funding is identified and the question of long term maintenance addressed.

Vision for the Village Center: In 1999 when the zoning for the Village Center was being developed by the Lady’s Island Community Preservation Committee there was a Beaufort County/City of Beaufort annexation war in progress. Zoning shopping by developers was the normal way of doing business. In spite of this confrontation, Lady’s Island and the City of Beaufort managed to reach agreement as to the basic zoning details for the Village Center. As a result, although annexation still occurs it does not
occur as a result of “zoning shopping”. In 1999 the Village Center was envisioned as being a home for the professional services needed by the 24,000 + residents of Lady’s Island, St. Helena, Fripp, Dataw and Harbor Islands plus to a lesser degree the residents of the City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal. The number of professional service type of businesses located in the Village Center today indicates that the original vision was correct. Actually, the Village Center may have become so popular that we lost a number of businesses due to the inflated price of undeveloped property. The Village Center still has undeveloped property and some that needs to be redeveloped. The introduction of condominiums adds a new residential factor when looking at the future of the Village Center. With this and other new factors such as the widening of Lady’s Island Drive another look at what the Village Center should be in the future would appear in order.

Under no circumstances are these the only areas of concern to Lady’s Island that will have to be addressed over the next 12 to 18 months but they are some of more important ones. The Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association and its members will be involved in the search for answers to the questions posed in this article. If you are a member, thank you for your support; if you are not a member and live or work on Lady’s Island please consider joining us.
New Construction:
Construction of five new garages to support the occupants of the Tidewatch commercial complex on Sea Island Parkway was recently approved by the Beaufort County Development Review Team. The only restriction is that the use of the garages be limited to occupants of the commercial complex and not for rent or lease.
City of Beaufort To Develop New Comprehensive Plan:
South Carolina law requires that county and municipal governments have a comprehensive plan to guide their growth. The same law requires that after a plan has been in effect for 5 years it must be reviewed and after 10 years rewritten. Beaufort County is completing the rewrite of their comprehensive plan. The Town of Port Royal and the City of Beaufort are beginning the process to rewrite their comprehensive plans.

The City of Beaufort has graciously invited Jim Hicks, Lady’s Island representative on the Beaufort County Planning Commission, to serve on the committee established to guide the development of the new city comprehensive plan. The new comprehensive plans for the City of Beaufort and the Town of Port Royal are scheduled to be completed in the latter part of 2009.
From The Editor:
This month we are privileged to share with our members articles from each of the candidates for the District 124 seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives and the candidates for District 46 seat in the South Carolina Senate. These articles were provided at the request of the Lady’s Island Business and Professional Association. A special thank you is extended to each of the candidates for taking the time to share their thoughts on the key issues with our members.
Labor, Commerce, and Industry: By Kent Fletcher, Democratic Candidate for District 46 State Senate Seat
 Many of us wake up everyday and go to work, while others have already paid their dues and retired. Beaufort County has thousands of hard-working people who deserve someone to work for them. As we hit full stride in the 21st Century, many of us have seen the United States mature from industry to information. Those who can deliver it, along with good service, can find an edge. While competition is fierce though, our current economy is fragile. We see that everyday from our pay and retirement checks to the prices we pay at the grocery store.

Tourism has driven our economy for many years. Aside from the food and beverage industry, our remaining labor pool largely exists in other service sectors including hospitality, retail, finance, and education. While we continue to move forward, let us take a look together at our future and what we can expect.

The Lowcountry has a new port on the way. With any new business, we expect new jobs and more industry as we build the site and work there. It is great to see the state’s Public Railways Commission putting forth a study of the economic impact as well as our current and future infrastructure and transportation capabilities. We also have a great opportunity to lure in other new industries like the Target and IKEA distribution centers on the Georgia side of the Lowcountry corridor. These additions will help us to secure the income and stable lifestyle everyone deserves while we continue working to preserve our vital local small businesses from the souvenir shops, to farming, to Bay Street, and the shrimp boats. As your next State Senator, I will work to draft legislation that will attract new corporations to complement our local economy and actively pursue them through direct contact.

Beaufort County also needs to convert to new forms of energy and make them our primary means of powering our daily lives. The summer is coming to a close and gas prices are going down, but this does not solve our short or long-range needs. We have technology that allows us to integrate solar power systems into our roof shingles. With tax incentives and gradual conversion, home and property owners can see immediate reductions in their utility bills and a big return on their investment. On complete conversion, we can be entirely free of natural resources like coal and oil and work from the abundance of solar and wind energy while assisting our local utility companies with the transition. I will work to bring tax subsidies that will help us partner our power companies with organizations that can provide the necessary tools of conversion to ensure our transition is a benefit, and not simply another economic burden.

We must continue to remember our bread and butter too. Thousands of people come here every year for our beaches, bike paths, and history. Just like New Orleans has its Creole, we have our Gullah and other rich and diverse heritages. By attracting more visitors through interstate bureaus of travel, all our small business owners would see a lift in annual revenue and commerce, our labor force would see better work, and one culture would complement another. Coupling this with new energy that replaces the false promise of off-shore drilling will help improve our economy rather than costing each of us with the price of coal and gas. I will make it one of my primary initiatives to see both of them through and work with our experts in the environment to ensure that we maintain our fragile ecosystem.

The Lowcountry has been called the future location of choice. We must see these things through, while providing our military veterans and senior citizens the tax breaks they have earned to retool for the modern workforce or retire. As your broker in Columbia, I will revive a movement to exempt our retired service-members from state income tax and help revise an insurance industry that penalizes our seniors. I understand that in order for us all to prosper, we must all work together. I ask for your support and vote on November 4th. Thank you for taking the time to read about some of our plans for the next four years.
Time To Hold State Legislators Accountable: By Tom Davis, Republican Candidate for District 46, State Senate Seat.
 During my time as Governor Mark Sanford’s chief of staff, I got an inside look at how state government “works.” And I was amazed to see state legislators who campaigned on cutting wasteful spending taxes turn around once they were elected and support silly projects. Consider some of the items recently funded by the legislature: a
balloon festival, inflatables for a parade, a beach party for a group of visiting German politicians and a TV documentary promoting Jazz to young viewers. All of those wasteful projects, paid for with your tax dollars, were hand-picked by state legislators as being “good for our state’s economy.”

Here’s the bottom line: Economic growth won’t happen in the Statehouse. It happens when entrepreneurs see a demand and meet it. They create businesses. They open stores. They provide goods and services. They take the risk and enjoy the profit, which they share by creating jobs and investing in their communities.

People in Beaufort County want state legislators to stop doling out pork and to refocus their attention on the legitimate functions of government – like ensuring that law enforcement has the resources to keep us safe, helping those who cannot meet their own basic human needs, fixing our highways and bridges, and providing an excellent system of education for our children.

One of the main reasons we spend money on local festivals and parades (instead of roads and troopers) is because we don’t hold state legislators accountable for their actions. And a big part of that problem is because the voting system in Columbia is hidden from public view.

Last session the S.C. Senate recorded only 1% of its votes on final passage of bills, while the S.C. House of Representatives recorded only 8% of its votes. The average for the legislature overall was only 5 percent! The rest were “voice votes” with no record of how individual lawmakers voted.

We can’t hold our elected officials accountable if we don’t know how they voted – and have no way of finding out. For instance, last session House lawmakers approved cost-of-living increases for their own retirement pay. Want to know how state legislators voted? Forget about it; the vote was unrecorded.

Everyone – Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives – should demand that state legislators record their votes, particularly when tax dollars are involved. Other states require lawmakers to stand behind the decisions they make when spending your money, and so should South Carolina.

Frankly, a lot of legislators have become too comfortable with their power. They don’t want to give it up. But that power ultimately
belongs to you – not them – and at the very least you deserve to know whether or not it’s being wielded in your best interests.
It’s time we held our lawmakers accountable. It’s time we started calling the roll. And if the voters of District 46 elect me to represent them in Columbia as their Senator, I will make sure that they never have to wonder where I stand on any issue, or how I voted.
Setting America’s Economy Right: Restoring Academic Excellence Is Mandatory: By Jim Brown, Democratic Candidate for District 124, S. C. House of Representatives
When one considers starting or running a business in Beaufort County, an obvious obstacle comes to mind: Locating quality, skilled employees with self-confidence, concern and vision for their own future and that of your company.

American business prosperity coincides with that period in our history when the education level of the average citizen was on the rise. Between 1870 and 1950, the education level rose nearly .8 years per decade. By the
1950s, the work force in America had a 35 year advantage over its industrialized European competitors.

By the 1960s, America’s education system was the envy of the world. And it promoted belief in the American dream that a person could transform his or her life through a commitment to education and hard work. This vision replaced the Old World caste system mentality rooted in inheritance and nepotism.

Unfortunately, our once stellar education system is now in dire need of repair.

Nationally, high school graduation rates in the United States peaked in the late 1960s at 80 percent. From 1970 to the present, the education level in the U.S. has grown at such a modest pace that many nations have surpassed us in scholastic achievement.

Here in South Carolina, the high school graduation rate hovers around 50 percent, which is failing by any standard.

Not only does our public schools’ low graduation rate reflect negatively on the ability of South Carolina businesses to adequately meet their staffing needs, but it also discourages educated and highly-skilled professionals from relocating to the Palmetto State for fear that their children will suffer academic setbacks due to being educated in low performing public schools. This reverberation
has a positive correlation to the crime rate and a negative correlation to the real-estate market.

Undeniably, improving the public education system will only bring positive gains. The number one correlation with increased income is increased education. Further, underemployment and unemployment are the number one correlation with violent crime. Working to improve the employability of South Carolina workers will drive down the incidence of violent crimes in our state.

No longer should our education system be funded through a “minimally adequate” mind-set. South Carolina should prohibit the allocation of public school money to private school vouchers, an agenda being promoted politically by out of state interests.

Additionally, the General Assembly should work to fund the operating costs of our public school system through uniform state funding carved from recurring state income tax monies. This would have the dual benefit of lowering property taxes, and leaving education earmarks at the local level to fund infrastructure costs such as land purchases, and school construction and maintenance costs.

These simple reforms will serve South Carolina well as we strive to build our state “not with bricks and mortar... (but)... with minds.”

Jim Brown is the sole partner and owner of the Law Offices of Jim Brown, P.A., the Immediate Past President of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the 2008 Democratic nominee for the South Carolina House Seat 124. For more information regarding his position on the key issues please visit his web site (www.jimbrownforhouse124.com).
Together Let's Keep Beaufort A Special Place: By Representative Shannon Erickson, Candidate for District 124 S. C. House of Representatives Seat
 When you live in a place as special as Beaufort, South Carolina, it’s not hard to find opportunities to stop and smell the flowers. As your elected Representative for House District 124, it is my duty and responsibility to protect and defend those things which we hold dear. The 2nd year of the 117th South Carolina General Assembly has adjourned and I am pleased to say that we accomplished several strong pieces of legislation for the citizens of our state. I am honored that the citizens of House District 124 elected me to serve as their voice on these issues and hope that you will allow me to continue with the momentum I have built over this busy year. From small business health care groups and the elimination of the P.A.C.T. test, to illegal immigration reform, I promoted the Lowcountry’s opinions and needs. Having a bill, “Lauren’s Law,” successfully pass both the House and Senate and then signed into law by the Governor in June 2008 was also a tremendous joy.

I am very proud of my first year as your state representative and am enjoying the honor of serving you immensely. Every day, I receive numerous emails, calls and letters (in fact, there were 114 emails just yesterday). I am told that the communication in this district is high compared to other areas and it is exciting that you care enough to let me know your ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Constituent service is one of the most rewarding parts of this job, and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many wonderful citizens in our area. When I hear from you about your issues, my job is to see if there is a law or regulation that is impeding a need or is not supportive of a need. That’s how we tackled D.U.I. reform, financial identity fraud & theft protection, stronger restrictions on where sex offenders can reside, charter school law revisions, allowances for out-of-state concealed weapons permits, alligator management policies, and in-state tuition for collegestudent dependents of deployed military personnel just last session.

So, the work has only just begun! Thanks to many of you, there are plenty more items on my "to do" list. Since I am asking you, the voters of House District 124, to grant me the privilege of returning to Columbia next year as your Representative, I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts with you on some of the key items that the General Assembly needs to address in the 2009 session.

• Equitable funding for our schools. Our antiquated funding formula must be replaced and the dollars must follow the child. I believe we have made great progress in sharing our story and forming alliances with other donor counties. I am absolutely dedicated to this reform.
• Home rule legislation. Beaufort is a special place and it needs to be able to govern itself in its towns, cities, municipalities and county. I want to remove state road-blocks that get in the way, and in so doing, ensure that governments closest to the people are in a position to take the lead on key issues.
• Infrastructure needs. My desire is that Beaufort County will get a guarantee of infrastructure dollars for our roads and bridges. I have conferred extensively with our friends at the Department of Transportation to see that we get these much needed dollars.
• Beach re-nourishment funds. A friend wrote me and said “it isn't about the sand, it's about the people” and I couldn’t agree more. Simply stated, we must protect our resources.
• JOBS! With my education and small business backgrounds, I understand the need for a qualified workforce and for citizens who want and deserve good jobs to have them available. I have met with the Department of Commerce and the state’s economic developers and will continue to push for more economic diversity.
• Safety & crime prevention. Last session, I introduced three pieces of “get-tough-on-crime” legislation and got one passed into law. I will continue to work with Sherriff Tanner and Solicitor Stone to push legislation that supports tougher penalties and closes loopholes that plague our legal system.

So, some tough battles have been fought and won and other issues are still there to take up. Together, we’ve achieved some solid victories for the citizens of House District 124 in just the past few months. My hope is that you will allow me to continue to represent our special corner of South Carolina. I thank everyone who wrote, emailed, or called me to share their thoughts. As YOUR Beaufort voice in Columbia, I always want to hear from you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for the honor of serving you and the trust that you have placed in me. I am dedicated to continued hard work for Beaufort! Together, we can insure that it remains a very special place.

If you desire additional information regarding my qualifications or past experience please visit www.electshannon.com.
Representative Shannon S. Erickson owns and operates Lowcountry Building Blocks, Inc. dba Hobbit Hill Preschools. Endorsed by
NFIB and the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, Rep. Erickson currently serves on the Military, Medical & Municipal Committee, on the Criminal Domestic Violence Study Committee and the Abstinence Education Task Force.