Rex right choice for governor

Your recent editorial criticizing Education Superintendent Jim Rex for considering a run for Governor while serving in his current office is off the mark. In fact, running for governor is the single most important service Dr. Rex could offer to the people of South Carolina.

For nearly seven years, South Carolina has suffered under a governor who cares nothing at all about public schools, who does not recognize that strong public schools are the backbone of our state's economy, whose only education initiative is to drain money from public schools through private school vouchers.

The damage of these lost years is clear and substantial. The needs of public schools have been ignored while we have bickered over vouchers. Economic development has come to a standstill, leaving us with the fourth highest unemployment rate in the nation.

All of the Republican candidates for governor have pledged to continue Governor Sanford's push for private school vouchers. South Carolina cannot afford four more years without an education advocate in our state's top office.

Jim Rex is a leader in the tradition of South Carolina's finest governors - experienced, mature, capable and fully committed to strengthening our schools and our state. If he chooses to run, he will have this voter's full support.

Clay LeTindal

Aiken