Incumbent facing newcomer

JAMES ISLAND — Republican state Rep. Wallace Scarborough said his support of the Morris Island lighthouse project, the James Island Charter High School and parts of Gov. Mark Sanford's agenda illustrate why he deserves a fifth term in Columbia.

Democratic newcomer Anne Peterson Hutto said that after Scarborough's eight years in office, the problems facing House District 115 covering James Island and Folly Beach remain much the same, including local growth and traffic woes, along with various statewide problems as well.

"We are last in too many categories, especially education," she said.

Scarborough, 49, an insurance company vice president, barely won re-election two years ago after defeating Democrat Eugene Platt by about 40 votes.

But Platt is not on the ballot this year after losing the June Democratic primary to Peterson Hutto, and after two courts turned back his attempts to run on the Green Party ticket.

Peterson Hutto, 41, an attorney, moved to Charleston from New York City after meeting her future husband here during a visit in 1996. For this campaign, she's walking door to door most days or campaigning after work.

Strengthening education is the first campaign plank she talks about. She favors expanding vocational education and early childhood education and boosting teachers' roles as professionals.

Traffic problems on the islands can be addressed by stressing mass transit and encouraging bike lanes, she said. "We've got to get people out of their cars," she said.

Scarborough said one key coastal fight he wants to address is enforcing fairness in insurance coverage as it relates to flood and wind zones.

He's against "cherry picking" in which some insurance companies are writing policies only north or west of Interstate 95. He thinks at least a percentage of their coverage must include homes in the hurricane zone.

Scarborough said he is proud of his record in opposing the expansion of bridges onto small inland islands for development and efforts in support of preserving the Morris Island lighthouse.

Anne Peterson Hutto

PARTY: Democrat

BIRTHDATE: Sept. 23, 1967

FAMILY: Husband, David; two children.

EDUCATION: Carbondale (Ill.) Community High; University of Notre Dame undergraduate, 1989; law degree Brooklyn Law School, N.Y.

OCCUPATION: Attorney.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: None.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I am an outdoors person. I hike, I camp, I fish.

>NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: Strengthen education; control the reckless development we have on James Island and Folly Beach.

CONTACTS: huttoforhouse.com; E-mail: info@huttoforhouse.com; Phone: 406-0840

Wallace Scarborough

PARTY: Republican

BIRTHDATE: March 25, 1959

FAMILY: Two children.

EDUCATION: The Citadel, 1981, degree in education.

OCCUPATION: Vice president, Atlantic Coast Life Insurance.

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE: District 115 incumbent since 2000.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: I love taking my kids to Disney World. We go about every other year.

NAME A SPECIFIC GOAL YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IF ELECTED: Restructuring of government that Gov. Mark Sanford wants to do, including making the elected office of education superintendent, treasurer and secretary of state appointed Cabinet positions.

CONTACT: Phone: 573-3053

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com.