My experiences have taught me what it takes to build successful economic efforts in South Carolina. So, like many others who are concerned about the current economic condition of our state, I am deeply embarrassed by a Governor who has been completely missing in action on the jobs front. At this point, our Governor isn’t just absent in our economic development efforts; he’s actually an impediment that we have to work around in order to get anything done. South Carolina’s families deserve better than the struggling economy and soaring unemployment that we’re experiencing. That’s why I am running for Governor: to get South Carolina back in the jobs business and to get South Carolina working again
I feel so strongly about jobs because more and better jobs are the answer to South Carolina's problems. With a Governor who is truly engaged and focused on creating more jobs and growing businesses, we can help address our fiscal problems, improve our schools, and strengthen our families. And I wholeheartedly subscribe to the old saying that a good job is the best government program. South Carolinians should know that as Governor, I will wake up in the morning thinking about how to create jobs, and I will go to bed every night thinking about how to create jobs. There is no more important and fundamental issue in this election – and indeed for the future of our state – than jobs. And as Governor, no one will work harder than me to bring jobs to South Carolina.
The next Governor needs to lay out a wide-ranging agenda for immediate improvement and long-term transformation of South Carolina’s economy. Today I released the initial installment of the major economic action items that I think are necessary for our people to have not only the hope but the reality of better jobs for a better future. The complete plan is available on my web site, but here are the top line bullets.
As Governor, I will get South Carolina back in the jobs business with the following initiatives:
- Professionalism, Not Politics: I will end MarkSanford’s practice of appointing a political friend as Secretary ofCommerce. Instead, I will find the best, most experienced economicdevelopment professional that can be identified and appoint that man orwoman as Secretary of Commerce to work hand-in-hand with me to bringjobs to South Carolina.
- Bipartisan Jobs Cabinet: Immediately upon myelection, I will establish a nine person, bipartisan “Jobs Cabinet,”including members of the Legislature, the business community, and theresearch community to assist in identifying the best economicdevelopment professional for appointment as Secretary of Commerce. Iwill also call on this "Jobs Cabinet" to provide advice and counsel onother job development activities of my administration.
- Laying the Groundwork for Growth: In order toprepare for landing the major industry projects of the future, SouthCarolina’s next Governor must analyze and update our incentivesprograms, target the next automotive manufacturing facility underconsideration, and identify and certify “mega-sites” for majorindustrial prospects.
- Seizing Opportunity at South Carolina’s Ports and Preparing for the Future– the Expansion of the Panama Canal and the End of the Cuban TradeEmbargo: One of my administration’s top priorities will be to maximizethe job development assets and potential of the South Carolina PortsAuthority by first supporting the new leadership at the Ports Authorityin efforts to bring in new business immediately to our ports, and thento specifically focus on the major opportunities for enhanced trafficresulting from the completed expansion of the Panama Canal in 2014 andthe likely end of the Cuban trade embargo.
- Supporting Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Small Business Retention: Myadministration will complement its professional recruitment of largeindustries with a new focus on spurring more “home-grown” jobs amongour smaller employers and start-up entrepreneurial businesses andretaining our existing small business base with smart, targeted taxreform.
- Equality of Opportunity: My administration will be dedicated to insuring equal opportunity for minority and women entrepreneurs.
- Economic Development for ALL South Carolinians: Myadministration will get rid of the “Columbia always knows best”approach and be a reliable partner for local economic developmentactivities and organizations, especially in rural areas of the state.
- Educating the Workforce of the Future: My administration will maximize the potential of our higher education institutions as economic development engines.
- Leadership for Sustainable Economic Growth: SouthCarolina’s economic policy must protect our natural resources for thelong term while providing our entrepreneurs and businesspeople theefficiency and room for growth that drives our economy.
- Building Jobs Through Economic Clusters: Myadministration will develop and maintain a comprehensively mappedinventory of existing and new economic “clusters” as well as relatedeconomic activity across South Carolina to help guide our jobsdevelopment work.
South Carolina is filled with hope and opportunity, but for far too
long, our Governor has turned his back on efforts to build our economic
strength. We can’t afford to wait any longer – we must have leadership
from our next Governor to attract and create jobs for our people.