Exciting Times in Charleston with New Senate Seat Up for Grabs
Charleston, S.C. is buzzing with excitement as a new South Carolina Senate seat becomes available in District 20! This new district covers parts of downtown Charleston, West Ashley, and James Island, creating a perfect storm of interest among locals. The competition is heating up with two main candidates, Ed Sutton, a Democrat, and Kendal Ludden, a Libertarian, each bringing their own unique perspectives to the table.
Growth and Opportunity in Charleston
With Charleston experiencing rapid population growth, Ed Sutton couldn’t hide his enthusiasm about entering the race for the Senate seat. “It is exciting because very rarely will we gain a Senate seat,” he mentioned. Sutton highlighted the necessity of the new seat, arguing that it reflects the demands of a growing community. “Charleston’s just growing so much, so population demands that we have another Senate seat,” he added.
Crucial Community Issues
One of the hot topics in the campaign is the current focus of state politics. Sutton slammed the attention given to issues that he believes only resonate with a narrow segment of the population. “They spend way too much time in Columbia talking about issues that maybe only the far-right extreme cares about,” he said. “Meanwhile, the rest of us are asking questions like, hey, we’ve got a traffic problem down here. Hey, we’ve got a flooding problem, our schools aren’t adequate.”
On the other hand, Kendal Ludden is aiming to offer a different approach to politics, emphasizing a need for unity beyond traditional bipartisan lines. “The government’s broken, obviously,” he said. “You take red and blue and you beat it together to make it purple, which is a libertarian color. So I think everybody just needs to come together.”
Divergent Views on Education
Education policy is another area where Sutton and Ludden part ways significantly. Sutton is staunchly opposed to school vouchers, calling them “a scheme to defund public schools.” He is committed to protecting public education, stating, “We have to draw a hard line there and make sure that we’re protecting our public schools.”
In contrast, Ludden advocates for a more extreme approach, suggesting that public schools should not exist at all. “I think Donald Trump is correct, get rid of the Board of Education on the federal level,” he proposed. “It should all come back to the community.” This stark difference in viewpoints certainly gives voters a clear choice.
The Housing Situation
When it comes to affordable living, both candidates offer different solutions. Sutton proposes revisiting the low-income housing tax credit in order to better align with community needs. “We need to go back and look at how we restructure that and incentivize the right type of units being built here,” he suggests.
Ludden, meanwhile, links the housing crisis to inflation and advocates for a total free market approach. “You can’t print the amount of money that they printed,” he argues, emphasizing his belief in unrestricted market dynamics.
Voter Engagement and Upcoming Election
With early voting around the corner, starting Monday, October 21, both candidates are making their pitches to the public. Ludden has made it clear that he is open to discussions with anyone in need of help. “I would be willing to speak to anybody and help anybody with their issues,” he said. Meanwhile, Sutton points to his long track record of community involvement, stating, “My history in the district speaks for itself.”
The election day is set for Tuesday, November 5, giving constituents a chance to weigh in on which candidate will best serve the new District 20’s needs.
