Charges and countercharges have flown, a lot of money has been spent and much has been made of where that money has come from in what has proven to be two of the most contentious State House races in recent memory.

Tuesday, Republican voters will decide a House race between Oconee incumbent Bill Sandifer and his challenger Ed Rumsey.

Ed Rumsey, 76

141 Ram Cat Alley, Seneca, SC 29678

Education: Bachelorā€™s Degree from US Military Academy; Masterā€™s Degree from Auburn University

Occupation: Self-employed; sales

Public Offices held: None; six years as Oconee Republican Party Chairman

William E. (Bill) Sandifer III, 63

112 Cardinal Dr., Seneca, SC 29672

Married, Wife Sandra: 4 children; 4 grandchildren

Education: graduate, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Also attended classes at Clemson University

Occupation: Manage own real estate and investments. Former owner/operator of Seneca Mortuary.

Public offices: House of Representatives since 1994

1) Gov. Mark Sanford has chastised the legislature for over-riding his vetoes and accused the assembly of driving state spending up. What is your opinion of recent state budgets? Do you agree with the governor? Describe your fiscal philosophy and offer a couple of examples of how you have or would work to control spending.

Rumsey: I believe out of control spending is one of the greatest problems confronting South Carolina and the Republican Party. Republicans rose to power in the 1990s by supporting the principles of limited government, less spending, and lower taxes. However, many Republicans in Congress and perhaps even more in the South Carolina General Assembly have forgotten the Reagan principles upon which they were elected and have become big spenders themselves. Over the past three years, South Carolina has increased government spending by an unsustainably high and alarming rate of 41percent. I support Governor Sanfordā€™s fight in Columbia to rein in the size of government, and I am honored to have received his endorsement in this primary election. If elected, I will work to establish a broad conservative coalition in Columbia that will put an end to pork projects such as funding green bean museums and Elvis impersonators. In Columbia, I will work to carefully guard your tax dollars and ensure that South Carolina government spending stays within its means.

Sandifer: Although I have disagreed with various items in the state budgets, I believe that the legislature has been very conservative in its approach. In order to fully understand various increases in the budget, it is necessary to remember that there were very lean years in which the total budget was less than the one for the previous year. When that occurs, it is necessary to ā€œcatch upā€ at some point.

I do not agree with the Governorā€™s characterization of the Legislature with regards to state spending. Although I agree with some of his proposals, others would make draconian cuts to agencies which would negatively impact their ability to provide necessary services. One such agency is Clemson University, which the Governor has repeatedly attempted to cut to the point of nearly preventing their ability to perform their mission as a land grant university.

My fiscal philosophy is strongly conservative and pro-business. The easiest way to control spending is to manage the income in the form of taxes that the government has to spend. I have helped pass the largest tax reductions in the history of the state. Over just the last three years they have amounted to more than a billion dollars. I have also co-sponsored and voted for spending caps on government at all levels (state and local). These are formula driven and would assure that government budgets do not grow faster than the economy and population. I have always contended that citizens know how to spend their money better than the government.

2) The state dramatically changed the nature of property taxation in South Carolina last year, shifting the burden to the sales tax. In light of current economic conditions, what is your opinion of this shift and, what will you do if the state comes up short in its ability to meet its obligation to local school districts

Sandifer: I believe that the shift to utilizing sales tax for school operations was a positive move. It accomplishes two main things. First, roughly 30% of the tax is paid by out of state visitors, thereby lessening the burden on South Carolinians. Second, by shifting the burden of school operating costs from property owners to consumers, we have spread the burden more equitably throughout the community. In the current economic environment it is even more critical that we do everything possible to reduce homeowner costs and reducing property taxes is one vital step. There are two parts to the answer concerning the potential of a shortfall in revenue to pay the school districts. The first is that we established a trust fund to help cover such an eventuality. The second is that in that situation, funds would be appropriated from the stateā€™s general fund to cover the shortfall. One fact that seems to be overlooked is the fact that according to all of the studies we have seen, sales tax is one of the most stable sources of tax revenue.

Rumsey: Currently only 44 cents of every dollar spent on education in South Carolina makes it to the classroom. The problem is not a lack of funds for local school districts but rather inefficiency in using the funds that are available. If elected, I will make certain South Carolinaā€™s public schools are adequately funded to ensure our students are not simply receiving an average education but an exceptional one. However, I will ensure funding for our schools by using conservative principles such as cutting waste and demanding higher efficiency from government rather than resorting

to burdening the already over taxed taxpayer.

3) What role should the state play in local economic development?

Rumsey: I believe one of the most crucial roles the state has in supporting local economic development occurs by giving communities the tools needed to compete in a global market place. These tools begin with an educated work force, removing prohibitive and unnecessary government regulations, and creating an environment conducive to responsible economic growth. As a retired small business owner from Oconee County, I am keenly aware of the many roadblocks government can create which discourage healthy economic growth. When elected, I will make sure Oconee County has all the tools necessary to thrive and compete in the global market place of the 21st century.

Sandifer: The state should be an active partner in economic development. The Department of Commerce has a responsibility to work closely with the local boards of economic development in advertising the availability of sites and providing leads to potential businesses to locate in a county. The department also provides expertise in negotiating with potential businesses and has the ability to provide some funding to assist in closing a deal.

4) Where do you stand on the issue of vouchers?

Sandifer: As a strong proponent of public education, I am opposed to vouchers in the form in which they have been presented to the legislature. I could probably support some type of vouchers for failing students in failing schools and for children with disabilities. In both instances, the wording would need to be very carefully drafted to prevent abuses.

Rumsey: South Carolinaā€™s most valuable resource is our children. Unfortunately, our current education system is decades behind where it needs to be to provide every child in South Carolina with the type of quality education they deserve. I believe the key to successful education reform in South Carolina is to move away from the status quo and look towards innovation to provide new opportunities for our children. Therefore, I am open to proposals such as private school tax credits for students attending failing schools. These proposals would provide families with more options for their childā€™s education, while at the same time giving public schools the tools needed to improve.

5) Does South Carolina need to continue refining its eminent domain laws?

Rumsey: Abuses of eminent domain pose some of the greatest threats to individual property rights in our country. Since the United States Supreme Court ruled in the ā€œKelo decisionā€ that the government has the authority to seize personal property for private use, many states across the country have been considering legislation to protect landowners from abuse of eminent domain. Under no circumstances do I feel it is appropriate for private land to be taken for private use, and I believe we need to do more in South Carolina to protect landowners from the threat of unnecessary government seizure of their property. If elected I will work to create clear and strict standards for eminent domain, limiting its use to only the rarest of cases.

Sandifer: The eminent domain laws need to be carefully examined to assure that their application is fair and equitable.

6) As more and more states become embroiled in legal battles over water rights, does the state need to take legislative action to protect these valuable resources?

Sandifer: The state must continue to remain active in protecting water rights. It appears that this will ultimately be a federal issue. But, South Carolina must be active in promoting its position on this critical issue. If that requires legislative action, we should take it.

Rumsey: If elected, I will work with members of the Georgia and North Carolina state legislatures as well as our United States Congressional Delegation to protect our valuable water resources from disputes from border states.

7) What have voters in your district defined as their ā€œmost important issueā€ for the assembly to be dealing with?

Rumsey: The voters of my district are most concerned with a lack of conservative leadership in Columbia. The voters want a State Representative who will stand with our Governor in bringing about much needed government restructuring, eliminating excessive spending, and improving the educational opportunities of our children. The voters of Oconee country are frustrated by Republican leaders who stand by idly as our government grows to astronomical levels, mortgaging away our childrenā€™s future for the conveniences of the moment. I have heard these concerns for years as chairman of the Oconee County Republican Party, and I am now seeking the office of State Representative to finally bring these concerns to Columbia.

Sandifer: I have made a concerted effort to determine what voters in the 2nd district feel is their most important issue. I have done so by sending survey cards, talking with constituents, and listening carefully to what voters are saying. Through all of these means, I have found that the single most important issue to voters is reducing taxes. And, I completely agree with those who have expressed themselves. As a strong fiscal conservative, I believe that people know how to spend their hard earned money better than government does.