Possible run for Congress

I am seriously considering running for the new 7th Congressional District seat as a Republican. I am a political outsider but not a political novice.

Currently in my 39th year teaching American history in South Carolina, I have taught American and world history at advanced levels for 30 years in Socastee High School’s Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Named South Carolina’s Outstanding Teacher of American History by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1992, I was Horry County’s District Teacher of the Year in 1993. Active in educational politics since the early ’90s, I have been an advocate for students and teachers on a variety of issues of public concern.

Born, reared and educated in the Pee Dee, a graduate of Francis Marion College (now “University”), I am very familiar with our needs – education, jobs and roads. From the Sandhills to the sand dunes, my connections with this region stretch literally across the eight counties of our new district.

A love of history, a revolutionary spirit and conservative values are in my blood. My eighth and ninth great-grandfathers, Thomas Smith Sr. and Jr., were the first and second governors of the colony of South Carolina. Britton’s Neck was named for my sixth great-grandfather. My fifth great-grandfather, Henry Britton, fought under Francis Marion in the American Revolution. My great-grandfather Benjamin Britton Chandler served the Pee Dee in the state House of Representatives. My father was a tobacco farmer. He inspired me with stories of a rich heritage which I have spent my life studying and teaching.

With this heritage have come important changes. Valuing much of what my ancestors created, but thankful that we have made vast strides in putting the dark stain of inequality behind us, we must forge ahead to improve upon those conservative values that helped shape our nation – faith, frugality, and individual initiative. Greater expectations of entitlement and dependency on government have handicapped us. We need a new revolution – back to our roots.

Jefferson wrote that our unalienable rights come from our Creator, not government. Valuing the right of anyone to differ, our nation was founded on this “self-evident” truth. We need to look to God for His divine providence and recognize, as President Ronald Reagan did in his farewell address, that “if we forget what we did, we will not know who we are.” That means the good and the bad. We need to admit our mistakes but embrace those sound, fundamental principles established by the Founding Fathers, especially limited government.

The national government does have an important role to play. It should provide a strong military for “the common defense” and should be responsible for the “general welfare” of the people. It should not be responsible largely for our “specific” welfare. We must find ways to reduce the size of government, make it more effective and efficient, and live within our means.

Education, jobs, and roads should be our focus. Innovative ways to address literacy, expanded choice in educational options, and increased incentives for business and industry should follow I-73 into the heart of our district.

The Pee Dee and coast need someone to represent all the people of our district with passion, dedication, and integrity. I am that person, a son of the Pee Dee.

The writer lives in Surfside Beach.