Taxes
James will propose a state personal income tax exemption for Police, Fire, EMS, Educators, and Active-Duty military members in South Carolina. These essential roles ensure community safety and education. Exempting them acknowledges their importance and helps address the recruitment and staffing crisis these vital fields are currently experiencing. While James aims for a full repeal of the state personal income tax, this exemption marks a significant first step.
Infrastructure
James is committed to advocating for increased infrastructure funding for District 116. Over the years, our tax dollars have been collected by state and local governments without sufficient reinvestment in our community. This lack of adequate allocation must be rectified. James intends to push for an audit of SCDOT and the State Infrastructure Bank. If this audit shows a that we have not received our fair share of infrastructure dollars, he will propose legislation for the restoration of the General Assembly's authority over infrastructure spending. It's time to ensure that our tax dollars are allocated fairly. James has the relationships with those in government to help ensure we are not forgotten, and he will work in partnership with county and state leaders to address these issues.
Health Care
At 3 years old, James’s daughter Kinsey was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. They were told by a local hospital that the tumor was terminal and inoperable. The doctors gave Kinsey between 12 and 18 months to live. After much prayer, James decided that he would not just accept the diagnosis originally given and was going to fight to save his daughter’s life. James reached out to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN and Kinsey was accepted as a patient. After receiving new scans, they were told that Kinsey had been misdiagnosed and her tumor was in fact operable. Her tumor was still very aggressive, and the survival rate was extremely low, but there was hope! Her tumor was fully removed, and she received 30 rounds of radiation along with 4 rounds of chemotherapy. She has now been cancer free for over 2 years! James knew that the story could not end with the miracle experienced by his daughter. Since the moment they returned from treatment, James has been working with to bring a St. Jude Affiliate Clinic to the Lowcountry will so that all children, regardless of their ability to pay, have access to world-class care for pediatric cancer and sickle cell anemia. This is a top priority for James and his family. James and His wife also speak at St. Jude fundraisers throughout the state and have helped in raising over half a million dollars for St. Jude and children’s cancer research.
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Public Safety
Fentanyl is destroying our communities. We must send a message that as South Carolinians, we will not tolerate human trafficking or the trafficking of fentanyl in our state. As a member of the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad, James sees firsthand the deadly effects of fentanyl
and the devastation it causes families. We must take an even stronger stance and push for harsher penalties for those involved in human and fentanyl trafficking. It is up to us to end this crisis since the Biden Administration has made it clear that it will not do so.
Second Amendment
As a member of the US Navy, James swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. He will always fight to protect our rights guaranteed within it. James advocates for the right to bear arms as a fundamental aspect of individual liberty, self-defense, and the preservation of outdoor traditions.
Immigration
With our current Sheriff refusing to work with ICE and other immigration officials to hold criminals who have entered our country illegally, James will propose legislation forcing law enforcement and local partners who are tasked to protect our communities to uphold their oath. South Carolina will not be a sanctuary for illegal activity. We must prevent illegal immigrants from draining our resources and hold those committing crimes accountable for their actions. We must send a message that our borders are NOT wide open for illegal immigration.
Conservation
James is an avid outdoorsman who is committed to conservation. We must have smart and intentional growth that maintains the beauty of the Lowcountry and ensures that our natural resources are maintained for future generations. If we lose the beauty and charm that makes the Lowcountry what it is today, it is gone forever. It must be preserved.