Rep. Garry Smith Talks Redistricting in Visit to Mauldin Rotary

Earlier this week Representative Garry Smith paid a visit to the Mauldin Rotary Club and broke down the recent redistricting efforts that took place in Columbia.

It looked for all the world that redistricting efforts would be hampered by disagreements about where to put a new seventh congressional district. wanted it in the Upstate, while Lowcountry officials wanted it there. But when it came time to vote, lawmakers were able to coalesce around a single plan (which had little impact on the Upstate), if for no other reason than their passage of a plan meant that redistricting would not be turned over to judges. That happened during the last redistricting efforts in 2001 and it left a bad taste in the mouths of many.

“If that had happened again that would not have been beneficial to the state,” Smith said.

Gov. Nikki Haley signed the redistricting package shortly after the vote and it now needs to be approved by the Department of Justice. For more information on redistricting click .

Smith, who was a re-elected by a landslide in 2010, also talked about the current political climate, the economy and education. Much has been made about the rancor in politics at the national level during the recent debate over the debt ceiling as well as the prominent role played in it.

But Smith believes talk about a poisonous political climate might be overblown pointing out how politicians once came to blows on the House floor.

“We’ve had some heated debates but we haven’t seen anything like that,” he said.

Furthermore, Smith pointed to debates between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and, generations later between, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas.

“They were vicious,” Smith said. “Some of those guys really played hardball. Adams said that if Jefferson got elected people should lock away their children.”

When the session resumes at the Statehouse, Smith believes the focus will return, as it should to the economy.

“We’ve got to make the environment for economic development and business better in South Carolina,” he said.

Smith would like to see some tax incentives put in place for businesses but also to continue the effort to improve education throughout the state. He noted that from a facility standpoint schools in South Carolina have been upgraded in recent years. The challenge now is to find teachers who can teach subjects like physics, that have the potential to lead to highly-skilled employees, thereby making the state a more attractive place for employers.

Smith also commended schools superintendent Mick Zais for prioritizing innovation in schools.

“There has been a surge in virtual schools across the country and South Carolina has been at the forefront of that,” Smith said.

Smith cited an example where a student who may not have access to a science program at his home school could access one via communication technology.

“We are in somewhat of unique situation here in Greenville County. We have some of the best private and charter schools in the state and that’s had an impact on our public schools and made them more competitive,” Smith said.

Last night, as part of the 9^th Annual Ice Cream in the Park, Smith also made a redistricting presentation to citizens at the Simpsonville Senior Activities Center.