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Friday, March 29, 2024 - 12:10 AM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Dwight Loftis for SC State Senate District 6

On Monday November 12th, State Rep. Dwight Loftis announced his candidacy for the South Carolina Senate, seat 6. This seat was held by US Congressman-Elect William Timmons.

He expressed his gratitude for the confidence the citizens of District 19 have placed in him in past elections to represent them.  He said it is a privilege and honor to represent the community and a responsibility that he takes very seriously. Loftis pledges the same commitment of service that he gave District 19 as a state representative.

He gave the following press release:

"The issues that I have on record of advocating for, I will continue advocating for in the Senate with the same passion.

"We are very proud that our South Carolina economy is robust and growing. It has been rewarding to have worked with the Governor and the Department of Commerce to promote legislation that allows our citizens to have better job opportunities and quality of life.

"Byt the economic success we are experiencing brings new challenges to maintain this prosperity. I share a major concern, along with industry leaders, the Department of Commerce and others who are seeking solutions to address an increasing critical “skills gap” in the workforce. The job skill requirements in today’s technology-driven economy requires more and different skill sets.  

"Unfortunately our education system is not adapting quickly enough to meet workplace requirements. This means that we must change our approach in how we’re educating our future workforce beginning in the K-12 system and beyond.

"Other states are addressing the changing workplace skills needed by offering computer science curriculum, more project based and applied learning in the classroom.  Arkansas, for example, is incorporating Computer Science curriculum in classes K-12 as seventy percent of new jobs require some phase of computer literacy.  As other states are moving to address these skill-needs, the South Carolina House sent the Senate Computer Science legislation with over one hundred sponsors only to have the legislation die without action. This puts South Carolina another year behind other states.

"I wish to carry my knowledge, work and experience on Ways and Means Committees, centered on economic development and education, to the Senate to align with others in that chamber that recognize the urgency of education reform."

Lofits also said that other issues that are important to the citizens of our state are:

We must continue to focus on tax reform, to allow citizens to keep more of their money and to enhance our economy to meet the challenge of other states competing for new industries.

We must go further to resolve issues with the state retirement plan with more options to allow us to correct our imbalance.

Many challenges are ahead for South Carolina. Dwight Loftis' experience from thirty-five years as a business owner in the community, experience with issues on Education Committees and the House Ways and Means Committees, brings knowledge of the issues that will allow him to immediately join in Senate debate on these matters.

Loftis says, "My goal is to encourage efficiency in government and investment in South Carolina, which includes investment in human capital."

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