The Manning Times invited candidates in local and state races to participate in a question-and-answer feature addressing their backgrounds, qualifications, priorities and positions on issues affecting our communities.
Candidates seeking the same office received identical questions, allowing readers to compare their responses on the same topics. Questions were tailored to the responsibilities of each office, with some addressing recent developments covered by The Manning Times. The Q&As are organized by race, with candidates listed alphabetically by last name within each race.
Candidates were asked to limit their responses to approximately 100 to 150 words per question and were offered the option of participating through a phone or in-person interview. Candidates seeking the same office received identical response guidelines. Answers are published as submitted, with only minor edits for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, space and AP style. Response lengths vary according to the information provided by each candidate.
All candidates were given the same deadline to participate, which was subsequently extended to 10 p.m. Oct. 19 to allow additional time for responses.
Rep. Fawn Pedalino (R), incumbent
Tell voters about yourself, including your background, professional experience, community involvement and what has motivated you to seek or continue serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Before serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives, my experience as an EMT and business owner gave me firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing families and small businesses, shaping my belief that government should work for the people.
As representative for House District 64 and chair of the Clarendon County Legislative Delegation, I have focused on improving education, supporting small businesses, reducing government regulations, protecting individual freedoms, and addressing local concerns.
One of the most rewarding parts of serving is helping constituents navigate government agencies, resolve problems, and find answers when they feel unheard. I believe representation means more than casting votes in Columbia. It means being accessible, accountable, and willing to stand up for those you serve.
I am motivated to continue serving because I love our communities and care deeply about the future we leave our children. I remain committed to putting people before politics, protecting taxpayers, strengthening schools, and giving our communities a voice.
What values or principles led you to affiliate with your political party? Are there positions within your party's platform that you disagree with or would approach differently? If so, what are they, and how would you handle situations in which your party's position conflicts with what you believe is best for the residents of District 64?
I am a Republican because I believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, personal accountability, parental rights, and protecting the constitutional rights of every citizen. I believe government should respect taxpayers, support families and small businesses, and protect the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their children's upbringing and education.
I am also committed to protecting women's sports by opposing biological males competing in female athletic categories, and I oppose gender-transition surgeries for minors.
My responsibility is first and foremost to the people of District 64, not party leadership or political interests. When disagreements arise, I will listen to my constituents, examine the facts, and make decisions based on my principles and what I believe best serves Clarendon and Sumter counties. I was elected to represent people, not a political party.
What are the three most important issues facing residents of House District 64, and what specific legislation, funding priorities or other actions would you pursue to address them?
Clean, reliable water and sewer is the most urgent issue. Residents should not face failing town systems, boil-water notices, or local governments that drag their feet. I filed H. 4747 for a path to countywide service, secured a budget proviso for an independent audit of the town of Summerton's finances, and led the effort that got the county a grant to fully assess the Summerton water system so we know exactly what it takes and costs to fix it. The county is still dragging its feet. I will keep demanding results.
Second is schools that serve children and teachers. I support the expanded Teacher Loan Program for districts like Clarendon and Sumter and will fight for real accountability on every dollar — ending waste and making school boards answer to parents and taxpayers.
Third is roads and jobs. I voted for the SCDOT Modernization Act to cut bureaucracy, increase accountability to the governor and people, and speed projects by letting the state handle federal environmental reviews that have delayed work for years. That helps finish the I-95 bridges over Lake Marion. Since 2023, Clarendon County has seen about $300 million in investment and 628 jobs. I want more and will oppose anything that drives business away.
Recent South Carolina school report cards have highlighted both improvements and continuing academic challenges. What changes, if any, would you support in state education funding, accountability or academic intervention to improve student outcomes, particularly in rural districts such as Clarendon County?
I support stronger accountability tied to real student proficiency, not just "Average" ratings or high graduation rates that mask gaps. In rural districts like Clarendon, we are still well short of the state's 2030 goal of 75% of students at or above grade level, especially in math and high school end-of-course subjects.
I already passed the Grade Floor Bill to stop unearned grades from hiding problems. We should expand that approach: link more state funding to demonstrated academic growth and require earlier, data-driven interventions when students fall behind. Rural districts need flexible, targeted support for literacy and math — not one-size-fits-all programs — and clearer consequences when local leadership fails to deliver results despite heavy local property tax investment.
Teachers are not the problem; administration and board priorities are. Better use of benchmark and common assessments, which Clarendon has improved, can help prevent students from being tested on material they haven't been taught. Taxpayers and parents deserve better outcomes for the dollars we already spend.
South Carolina has introduced new student loan refinancing and forgiveness opportunities for eligible public school teachers. Beyond these programs, what steps should the General Assembly take to recruit and retain qualified teachers, particularly in rural and underserved districts?
Recruiting a good teacher is hard. Keeping one is harder. I supported expanding the Teacher Loan Program, which uses up to $10 million of the program's existing funds, including $5 million for forgiveness. Teachers can refinance up to $27,500 at 2%, with 20% forgiven each year they teach in a critical district. Clarendon and Sumter both qualify.
Beyond that, teachers tell me they leave because of how they're treated, not only because of pay. I believe change in local school district administration, including at the superintendent level, would help us keep good teachers.
At the state level, I'd support keeping teacher pay competitive, cutting paperwork and testing that takes time away from teaching, backing teachers on classroom discipline and creating easier pathways for local people, including career changers and veterans, to become teachers and stay in their hometowns.
The future of the Clarendon County Archives has raised questions about building conditions, preservation, public access and funding responsibilities. What role should the state play in helping preserve the county's historical records, and what approach would you support to ensure the collection remains protected and accessible?
Clarendon County's history matters well beyond our borders. Briggs v. Elliott began right here in Summerton and became part of Brown v. Board of Education. Records like ours cannot be replaced once they're lost to water, mold, or neglect.
Keeping and funding the archives is first a county responsibility. The state can support that effort without taking ownership of the collection. I have already submitted an appropriation request to help the county with building repairs. Any further state involvement should be tied to a clear, costed plan that protects the records long-term, keeps them in Clarendon County, and improves public access, including digitizing the most important materials so people can use them without risking the originals.
As delegation chair, I will continue pressing the county and local partners for a concrete path forward that puts preservation and access ahead of delay. Our history belongs here, and it should stay protected and open to the public.
Clarendon County has seen proposals involving data centers and battery energy storage systems, raising questions about economic benefits, infrastructure demands and local oversight. What role should state government play in regulating or supporting these developments, and how should the interests of local communities be protected?
I want good jobs in Clarendon County, and we're getting them. Since 2023, Homanit, Latitude, 84 Lumber and Quality Enclosures have announced about $300 million in investment and 628 jobs here. But new industries like data centers and battery storage have to work for the people who live next to them.
The state should set clear baseline rules for safety, fire protection, water use and decommissioning, and make sure residential power customers don't end up paying for infrastructure built for big users. Decisions about where these projects go belong at the local level.
Most of all, residents deserve a voice. When County Council moved a data center moratorium forward without a public hearing, I asked a simple question: Why not just let the public speak? Every major project should come with open hearings, honest numbers on jobs and tax revenue, and real protections for neighbors and farmland.
Residents of rural communities face challenges involving household expenses, access to health care and the availability of essential services. What specific state-level policies would you support to address affordability and improve access to medical care in District 64?
As a former EMT, I've seen what distance means in an emergency. In rural communities, the time it takes to reach care can change the outcome.
On affordability, I'll keep working to let families keep more of what they earn. That means keeping eliminate state income taxes, protecting homeowners from runaway property tax bills and keeping a close eye on fees and utility bills, which have hit some of our families hard.
On health care, I support strong funding and staffing for rural EMS, expanding telehealth and the broadband it depends on, and loan repayment and other incentives that bring doctors, nurses and mental health providers to rural areas. I also supported cutting red tape so clinics and providers can open and grow where people need them. Families in Clarendon and Sumter shouldn't have to drive an hour for basic care.
District 64 includes communities in Clarendon and Sumter counties with differing infrastructure and economic needs. How would you determine which local projects and services to prioritize when seeking state funding, and how would you ensure residents understand how those decisions are made?
I start with need and safety. Clean water, safe roads and bridges, public safety and drainage come before anything else, whether the project is in Clarendon or Sumter County. I also look at whether a project has local support, a clear plan, matching dollars and a local government ready to manage it well.
Clearing Newman Branch Swamp, for example, came from real drainage and flooding needs, and I secured $950,000 for that work.
Residents should never have to guess where their money goes. Member funding requests are public, and when someone asks, I share the records. I explain my priorities on my social media, at town halls and directly to my constituents when they call. I also expect every dollar to be tracked, which is why I've pushed for audits and line-item accounting. If I'm asking for your money, you deserve to know why.
Clarendon County has a history of closely contested elections, with residents holding differing political views. What steps have you taken, or would you take, to bring people together across party lines? What issues do you believe residents can find common ground on, regardless of political affiliation, and how would you work to build consensus around solutions?
Water, roads, schools and safety don't have a party label. When Summerton residents raised concerns about discolored water, billing errors and sewer backups, I hosted a town hall in July 2025 so every resident could be heard, whatever their politics.
My office helps anyone who calls, and I never ask how someone votes before helping them with a pothole or a state agency.
I believe most people in Clarendon County want the same things: clean water, good schools, safe roads, honest elections, fair taxes and a government that listens. I'd build consensus the way I always have, by showing up, listening first, sharing the facts openly and keeping public meetings open to the public. We may not agree on everything, but we can agree on our neighbors, and that's where good solutions start.
