Gov. Nikki Haley Endorses Tony Barwick in Senate 35 Race

In recent sessions with the media, Gov. Nikki Haley has made no secret of her intention to get involved in state senate and house races. She’s proclaimed 2012 the “year of the petition candidate,” which seemed to be a clue as to where she may throw her support, especially with a petition candidate, Katrina Shealy, mounting a serious challenge against Haley’s rival Jake Knotts in Senate District 23.

While Shealy still seems to be a good bet to get Haley’s formal backing, it was Tony Barwick, a Republican running for Senate District 35 in Sumter, who was the first to receive the governor’s endorsement. On Thursday afternoon, Haley appeared with Barwick at an event in Sumter that drew approximately 200 supporters.

Senate 35 has long been safely Democratic. The seat was held by Phil Leventis, who did not seek re-election after over 30 years in office. Thomas McElveen a Sumter lawyer and son of the town’s mayor Joseph McElveen, is challenging Barwick from the Democratic side. With McEleveen’s strong ties to Sumter and a history of going blue, the Senate 35 would appear to be safe for Democrats, but the Republican-controlled legislature re-drew the district’s boundaries and now the seat is up for grabs.

But Haley said she’s not supporting Barwick simply to get more Republicans in the senate. “I need to know someone in the legislature will have my back and I know Tony Barwick is going to be there for me,” she said.

Haley also cited Barwick’s background in business as a plus for voters, compared to that of McElveen, who is a lawyer. “We have too many trial lawyers who run for office to help their business.,” Haley said, arguing that attorneys often support legislation that impedes growth.

Barwick, who is seeking public office for the time, suggested that his top priority—like many new candidates in this elelction cycle—is ethics reform.  He said he believes in creating and funding an ethics commission that would save South Carolina taxpayers in the long run. “I believe that we need a separate, independent group with the power to enforce ethics violations,” Barwick said.

In his remarks to the crowd, Barwick explained that, as the first person in his family to go to college, he understands the link between education and good employment, whether that education is at four-year university or a trade school. He said that without the education he received he would not have been able to start and be successful as a small business owner.

Haley said that looking just at a candidate’s party can at times be limiting. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Democrat or Republican,” she said. “You’re either pro-business or you’re not.”

Haley said she anticipates making more local endorsements and appearances for candidates in the near future.

As an endorser, Haley is 2-0 this year. She backed Lee Bright in the primaries in Senate District 12 and Tom Rice in the primary for the new 7^th congressional district.