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.
Dr. Michele Demery (D)
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.
My name is Dr. Michele Johnson Demery, and I am a lifelong resident of Clarendon County who has dedicated my professional career and personal life to serving others, especially children, families, and the communities of South Carolina.
For 27 years, I served in Clarendon County School District, where I worked to support students, strengthen educational opportunities, and help prepare young people for the future. I currently serve as a fifth-grade special education teacher in Berkeley County School District. My experience in education has given me firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing our schools, the importance of supporting teachers, and the need to ensure that every child — regardless of background or ability — has access to a quality education. I hold a Ph.D. in leadership and supervision from Capella University, which has strengthened my commitment to leadership, accountability, and service.
My commitment to community service extends beyond the classroom. I serve on various boards and organizations at my church. Through these roles, I have remained connected to the needs of individuals and families and have seen how access to resources, strong community relationships, and compassionate leadership can make a meaningful difference. I am also a wife to my husband, Daniel, and a proud mother and grandmother. My family is an important source of inspiration and reminds me why it is essential to build a better future for the next generation.
My decision to seek a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives is rooted in my belief that the voices and concerns of our communities deserve to be heard and represented. I want to use my professional experience, educational background, and commitment to service to help address the issues that affect our daily lives, including public education, affordable health care, economic opportunity, infrastructure, and the rising cost of living.
My motivation is simple: to turn a lifetime of service into meaningful public service. I want to help create opportunities for our children, support working families, strengthen our communities, and ensure that residents have a voice in the decisions that shape their future. I would approach service in the South Carolina House with integrity, compassion, accountability, and a commitment to listening to the people I represent.
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 affiliated with the Democratic Party because I believe government should expand opportunity, protect people's rights, and help ensure that everyone — regardless of income, background, or ZIP code — has a fair chance to succeed.
No party has every issue exactly right. I may disagree with particular proposals or believe they need a different approach, especially when the practical effects on local families, small businesses, or taxpayers have not been fully considered. I would listen to residents, review the evidence, consult people affected by the decision, and work toward solutions that reflect District 64's needs.
My party affiliation is important, but it does not replace my responsibility to the people I represent. If the party's position conflicts with what I believe is best for District 64, I would explain my reasoning openly, stand by my judgment, and advocate for the district — even when that means disagreeing with my 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?
The three most important issues I would prioritize for the residents of House District 64 are quality public education, economic opportunity and affordability, and access to affordable health care. These issues affect our families, our workforce, and the long-term future of our communities. I would pursue practical legislation, responsible state funding, and partnerships that address the needs of residents in both Clarendon and Sumter counties.
I would advocate for equitable school funding that reflects the needs of rural districts, stronger early literacy and mathematics programs, and expanded tutoring and academic intervention for struggling students. I would also support legislation and funding incentives to recruit and retain qualified teachers, improve access to career and technical education, and strengthen partnerships between schools, technical colleges, and local employers. Our students deserve the opportunity to graduate prepared for college, careers, military service, or entrepreneurship, regardless of their ZIP code.
I would work to attract and retain businesses that provide stable, well-paying jobs while helping existing small businesses grow. My priorities would include supporting workforce training, expanding access to affordable housing, improving roads and broadband infrastructure, and promoting responsible economic development in underserved communities. I would also advocate for reviewing the tax and fee burdens on working families, seniors, and people on fixed incomes. State economic development incentives should be transparent, accountable to taxpayers, and tied to measurable outcomes such as local hiring, job quality, and long-term community benefits.
I would advocate for policies that strengthen rural hospitals and health care facilities, recruit and retain health care professionals, and expand access to primary care, maternal health, mental health services, and preventive care. I would support funding for community-based clinics, telehealth services, and workforce development programs that encourage qualified health care professionals to serve rural communities. I would also work to identify opportunities to use available state and federal funding to reduce barriers to care, particularly for seniors, children, low-income families, and residents who must travel long distances to receive medical services.
My commitment is to listen to the people of House District 64 and turn their concerns into measurable legislative action. I would work collaboratively with residents, educators, health care providers, local governments, businesses, and fellow legislators to develop practical solutions. I would also advocate for transparent budgeting and regular reporting on whether funded programs are delivering results. Our communities deserve a representative who understands local challenges, uses public resources responsibly, and works to expand opportunities for every resident.
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?
South Carolina's public education system must ensure that every student, regardless of where they live, has access to a quality education and the resources needed to succeed. In rural communities such as Clarendon County, we must address the challenges that can affect student achievement, including teacher recruitment and retention, access to academic support, limited resources, and differences in educational opportunities.
I support a comprehensive approach that connects equitable state funding, meaningful accountability, and early academic intervention. State education funding should take into account student needs, poverty levels, transportation costs, special education services, and the additional challenges faced by rural school districts. Every child deserves a strong educational foundation, and a student's opportunities should not be determined by their ZIP code.
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 and retaining qualified teachers requires more than student loan forgiveness. We must make teaching a profession that people want to enter and a career they want to continue. South Carolina's 2025 START task force identified career advancement, compensation, recruitment pathways, and teacher support as important areas for action. I would prioritize the following legislative and funding initiatives:
Accountability and implementation
I would advocate for transparent reporting on teacher vacancies, retention rates, subject-area shortages, and the effectiveness of state-funded incentives. Rural districts should receive resources based on demonstrated need and limited local fiscal capacity, rather than being expected to compete on equal terms with wealthier districts that have greater resources.
My goal would be to work with educators, school administrators, parents, and fellow legislators to develop practical solutions that help every school recruit and retain qualified teachers. For Clarendon County and other rural communities, keeping excellent teachers in the classroom is an investment in student achievement, stronger schools, and the future of our communities.
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?
The Clarendon County Archives is more than a building; it is the keeper of our community's history, identity, and legacy. Its collection preserves records, photographs, family histories, school records, and other materials that help residents understand where we came from and how our communities developed. Protecting these records is a responsibility we must take seriously.
I believe the state should serve as a partner with Clarendon County by providing technical assistance, helping identify available funding, and supporting appropriate preservation efforts. As a legislator, I would work with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, county officials, historical organizations, and community stakeholders to identify state appropriations, historic preservation grants, and other public or private funding opportunities. I would also advocate for a transparent assessment of the building's condition, realistic restoration costs, and the long-term resources needed to maintain the collection.
My approach would focus on three priorities:
The public deserves regular updates about the collection's location, preservation status, funding, and plans for reopening. Decisions about the archives should involve meaningful community input and recognize the historical significance of the collection to all Clarendon County residents.
Our history cannot be replaced once it is lost. I would work to bring the appropriate state and local partners to the table, pursue responsible funding solutions, and help ensure that Clarendon County's historical records remain protected, preserved, and accessible for generations to come.
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?
Economic development can create opportunities for Clarendon County, but it must be pursued responsibly, transparently, and with the interests of local residents in mind. Data centers and battery energy storage systems may attract private investment, generate tax revenue, and support infrastructure improvements. However, these projects can also raise legitimate concerns about electricity demand, water consumption, environmental impacts, fire safety, noise, and the potential costs to utility customers.
As a member of the General Assembly, I would support a clear statewide regulatory framework that establishes consistent safety and environmental standards while respecting the authority of local governments to make land-use and zoning decisions. Developers should demonstrate that adequate utilities, roads, emergency services, and other infrastructure are available to support their projects without unfairly burdening existing residents.
My priorities would include:
I recognize that these developments can offer economic opportunities while also presenting challenges that deserve careful consideration. Each proposal would be evaluated on its individual merits, require appropriate protections, and ensure that local residents have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their lives.
Clarendon County's future should be shaped by responsible growth, public accountability, and respect for the people who call this community home. Economic development should improve the quality of life for residents, protect our natural resources, and provide lasting benefits — not simply bring investment to the area without sufficient consideration of its costs.
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?
Residents of rural communities deserve the opportunity to live healthy, productive lives without being overwhelmed by the cost of basic necessities or having to travel long distances for medical care. In Clarendon and Sumter counties, I would focus on practical state-level policies that help families manage everyday expenses, strengthen rural health care, and ensure public investments produce measurable results.
My commitment is to pursue practical policies that help families keep more of their hard-earned income while ensuring that quality health care is accessible to rural residents. By combining responsible fiscal decisions, targeted assistance, stronger health care infrastructure, and community partnerships, we can work toward a healthier and more economically secure future for House District 64.
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?
My responsibility would be to listen to residents in both counties, evaluate local needs objectively, and advocate for state funding that delivers measurable benefits to the people we serve. Every community deserves to be heard, and funding decisions should be based on documented needs, public benefit, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars — not political favoritism.
My commitment is to be accessible, fair, and accountable to every community in House District 64. I would approach state funding as a public responsibility, using clear criteria and open communication to ensure that decisions reflect the needs of the people rather than political considerations. By listening carefully, setting measurable priorities, and reporting results honestly, we can build trust and make responsible investments in the future of both Clarendon and Sumter counties.
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?
I believe effective leadership begins with listening, respect, and a willingness to work with people whose opinions may differ from our own. In a community like District 64, where residents may have different political affiliations and perspectives, we must remember that we share many of the same concerns about our families, our schools, our jobs, our health care, and the future of our communities.
My approach would be to focus on the needs of the people rather than party labels. I would make myself accessible to residents from all political backgrounds, listen to their concerns without prejudice, and create opportunities for open, respectful dialogue. I would also work collaboratively with local officials, community organizations, business leaders, educators, faith-based organizations, and fellow legislators to identify shared priorities and develop practical solutions.
I believe we can disagree without being disagreeable. Representing House District 64 means representing all constituents — not only those who voted for me or share my political views. My commitment would be to build relationships across party lines, pursue common-sense solutions, and measure success by the positive difference we make in people's lives. Our community is stronger when we work together, respect one another, and remember that our shared future is more important than our political differences.
