Dear Friends,
Over the past decade, the SC Club for Growth PAC has worked hard to find, elect and hold accountable fiscally conservative lawmakers. Thanks to your support, we have played a crucial role helping elect solid conservatives, which has made us a “farm team” of sorts for the national Club for Growth. We are proud that several of our early-backed candidates are now representing us in both the United States House and Senate.
Our candidates have also made a big difference in Columbia including this year when they led the effort to pass a decades-long push to restructure state government.
We are making progress, but there is a long way to go – especially on the issues of expanded school choice and real ethics reform, both of which have stalled in the legislature. We need more fiscal conservatives in Columbia.
Every election cycle we ask for your support of candidates that we believe will make South Carolina a better place to work and live. For the 2014 Primary we are only asking you to contribute to one candidate; we feel that the Superintendent of Education race is that important.
Meka Childs
Meka has experience in South Carolina’s public schools as a student, teacher and policy maker. She is one of the many success stories, but has also seen first hand the shortcomings of our state’s public schools.
After graduating from Airport High School in West Columbia, Meka attended Duke University for undergraduate and graduate school. Upon completion of her Masters degree, she taught in the Richland County public school system and then went to work for Governor Sanford as an education policy advisor. Meka then went to serve on the SC Education Oversight Committee and work for Superintendent Mick Zais. She clearly has a passion for education reform.
Meka believes that just money – without enhanced competition and better policies – won’t help our schools. She believes that there should be increased accountability in classrooms and at the Department of Education. She supports parents choosing the best education for their child regardless of their economic situation or zip code.
One of her main opponents in the Republican primary is a former Democrat legislator currently working as a lobbyist for the school administrators. They work against most of the reforms we believe in. In case you think there is a typo above, I will repeat it.
A leading contender for the Republican nomination for Superintendent of Education is a lobbyist for the status quo and former Democrat lawmaker.
Another is a personal injury attorney who hasn’t taught in nearly three decades. Others are largely single-issue candidates. Current Superintendent Mick Zais has made some strides during his term but much more work needs to be done to improve our schools. We believe Meka Childs is the only one who can make this happen.
Conservatives from around the state are rallying around Meka’s campaign. Amongst others, Senator Kevin Bryant and Representative Eric Bedingfield (consistent Tax Payer Heroes on the SC Club for Growth Foundation’s Scorecard) have endorsed Meka as has noted upstate conservative activist Bob Castellani.
Meka is incredibly bright and hard working, and South Carolina needs her leading the education system. We ask that you please join us in generously supporting Meka Childs for Superintendent of Education.
SC Club for Growth Political Action Committee
The SC Club for Growth PAC targets races where status quo politicians are challenged by true fiscal conservatives. Below are candidates that we believe are in winnable races but will need some extra help in crossing the finish line. Contributions to the PAC will be used in these and other targeted races to defeat incumbents that campaign on fiscal responsibility and accountable government but forget these promises when they go to Columbia.
Jonathon Hill – House District 8:
Jonathon is running against Representative Don Bowen. While we endorsed Bowen eight years ago, he has continually voted for more spending and frivolous pork projects. These spending habits have garnered him a 50 on the SC Club for Growth Foundation’s 2013 Scorecard. Jonathon will bring his small business experience to the statehouse and watch after your tax dollars like they were his own.
Ed Harris – House District 3:
We endorsed Ed last cycle. However, after he defeated incumbent RINO Rep. Skelton in the primary, Ed’s victory was ruled invalid because of the same technicality that kicked hundreds of other candidates off the ballot. The good news is that Ed will take what he has learned about running a business and apply those same principles while in Columbia.
Gaye Holt – House District 34:
We endorsed Gaye in 2012 in her run as a petition candidate. She won more than 35 percent of the vote – an incredibly high number for a petition candidate. Her opponent, Rep. Mike Forrester, has voted against common sense reforms and for higher budgets for too long and has a 58 average on the Club’s Foundation scorecard for the last four years.
We are always very careful to only ask for your investment in races where our direct and PAC funds can make the difference. Meka’s race is very tight and can go either way depending on our help.
All investments in our PAC and races – no matter the size – help both the candidates and the entire reform movement.
Thank you in advance for any amount you can contribute.
Cordially,
Dave Ellison
comments