Education, immigration among top Dist. 44 issues

Campbell, West face off in Senate special election

MONCKS CORNER — Democrat John West and Republican Paul Campbell will face off Tuesday in a special election for the District 44 state Senate seat.

Campbell and West are vying for the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Bill Mescher in April.

West, 51, is an attorney and former mayor of Moncks Corner. Campbell, 60, is a retired Alcoa executive who won the Republican primary and runoff by substantial margins.

Both men consider education, immigration and growth among the chief issues facing the district.

Campbell said his experience in business and the fact he's a Republican will give him the advantage in a Republican-controlled General Assembly.

"John and I are philosophically really close," Campbell said. "But I think the fact that I'm a Republican is a significant difference when it comes to representing Berkeley County in Columbia."

West, a former vice president and chief legal officer for Santee Cooper, said he trusts the voters to decide who is the stronger candidate.

"I have a long record of working with Democrats, Republicans and independents," West said. "I do not anticipate anything will change when I'm elected."

West is a charter board member of the Berkeley County Foundation for Education, which partners with area businesses to provide materials for area schools.

He supports the bill, vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford, that would allow public school students to cross district lines to attend the school of their choice. He expects it to pass next year.

"I believe parents ought to have a right to decide where they send their children in public schools," he said.

Campbell said he helped create programs at Alcoa benefiting both at-risk and gifted students.

He said he wants to know more about what impact school choice within the public school system would have on transportation and the schools.

"I like the idea of choice in schools," he said. "But it's not a simple solution."

Both men are targeting illegal immigration. Campbell said the government shouldn't award contracts nor should it provide incentives to businesses who employ illegal immigrants.

West said the state should give local governments the power to set law and prosecute illegal immigrants who are here without proper documentation.

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John West

AGE: 50.

FAMILY: Wife, Priscilla; daughter, Claire, 24; sons, Marshall, 22, Cam 22, Mason, 20, Connor, 17, and Cooper, 14.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Berkeley High School, 1975; Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from the University of South Carolina, 1978, attended a Master's program in public administration at USC, 1979; attained a law degree from the USC School of Law, 1982.

OCCUPATION: Attorney.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: Ran and won a special election for Moncks Corner mayor in 1993. Served until 1996.

WHY YOU ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE: Berkeley County is home. I want to fight to protect the values that are important to my family, my friends and my community.

THE TOUGHEST ISSUES FACING YOUR DISTRICT: Illegal immigration. It's what's on people's minds. We've done many focus groups, talked to a lot of people from many groups and walks of life, and they see this as the biggest threat to the quality of life here in Berkeley County.

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Paul Campbell

AGE: 60.

FAMILY: Wife, Vicki; daughters Christie, 38, and Caroline, 19; son Jeremy, 35; and four grandchildren.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Lewisville High School in Richburg, 1964; Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Clemson, 1968; master's degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville State University, 1978.

OCCUPATION: Retired Southeast Region president for Alcoa. Owns consulting firm Paul Campbell LLC.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: None.

WHY YOU ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE: I think I can bring a sense of business to state government. I can help it become more efficient and effective and reduce taxes. I understand job creation, meeting payrolls, profit-loss in a business and I can bring this perspective to Berkeley County with constituent service.

THE TOUGHEST ISSUES FACING YOUR DISTRICT: Education is probably No. 1. Illegal immigration is an issue, as are congestion, growth and preserving the Lowcountry quality of life in Berkeley County.

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Where to vote

Polling places for the precincts involved in the Senate District 44 Republican primary Tuesday. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

There has been one change in polling locations.

Voters at Stratford 1 & 2 are asked to use the bus entrance.

Poll locations

Boulder Bluff 1: Goose Creek Municipal Building, 519 North Goose Creek Blvd.

Carnes Cross Road 1: Whitesville Rural Fire Dept., 115 Sunview Ave., Moncks Corner.

Carnes Cross Road 2: Pine Ridge Fire Dept., 565 Myers Road., Summerville.

Devon Forest: Devon Forest Elementary School, 1127 Dorothy St., Goose Creek.

Goose Creek 1 & 2: Goose Creek High School, 1137 Redbank Road., Goose Creek.

Hanahan 1: Otranto Fire Dept., 1200 South Basilica Ave., Hanahan.

Hanahan 2: Hanahan Elementary School, 4000 Mabeline Road., Hanahan.

Howe Hall: Howe Hall Elementary School, 115 Howe Hall Road, Goose Creek.

Moncks Corner 1: Berkeley High School, 406 West Main St., Moncks Corner.

Moncks Corner 2: National Guard Armory, 320 Airport Road, Moncks Corner.

Moncks Corner 3: Berkeley Middle School, 320 North Live Oak Drive, Moncks Corner.

Moncks Corner 4: Berkeley Intermediate School, 777 Stoney Landing Road, Moncks Corner.

Pinopolis: Berkeley Elementary School, 715 Highway 6, Moncks Corner.

Sangaree 1 & 2: Sangaree Intermediate School, 201 School House Lane, Summerville.

Sangaree 3: Sangaree Elementary School, 1460 Royle Road, Summerville.

Stratford 1 & 2: Use bus entrance of Stratford High School, 951 Crowfield Blvd., Goose Creek.

Stratford 3 & 4: College Park Middle School, 713 College Park Road, Ladson.

Wassamassaw 1: Longridge Fire Dept., 1382 Longridge Road, Moncks Corner.

Wassamassaw 2: Pineridge No. 2 Fire Dept., 1068 Jedburg Road, Summerville.

Westview 1: Westview Elementary School, 100 Westview Blvd., Goose Creek.

Westview 2 & 3: Westview Middle School, 101 Westview Blvd., Goose Creek.

Whitesville: Whitesville Elementary School, 324 Gaillard Road, Moncks Corner.

Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or at aparas@postandcourier.com.