Candidate for 3rd Congressional District holds talk

Mike Vasovski, a local vying for South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, met with a small group of citizens Wednesday to "learn the answers to the questions."

The Aiken physician plans to be at Pat's Restaurant downtown every Wednesday except Oct. 21 from 6 to 7:30 a.m. to listen to district voters and get a feel for what issues are important to them.

This time, the issues ranged from the shaky economy to the public school system and the health care reform plan approved by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

"This is a good place to start," said Kim Redlein, who met with Vasovski and two others at Pat's. "Most people are pretty scared, pretty disgusted with federal control, federal interference. This is the time to make a move and wake people up."

Vasovski, who has never ventured into politics before, said he was inspired to run for the seat as he and his wife supported 2008 presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Incumbent Rep. Gresham Barrett is not seeking re-election so he can try for the governorship.

"This is all about me learning the answers to the questions," Vasovski said. "For example, it is my job to figure out how much the federal government should be involved in public education, if at all. I'm finding out the federal government is so involved, it may be impossible to unwind that, if that's the right thing to do. It (the federal government) provides so much money to the school system, and that's the hook."

Twelve percent of the federal government's 2010 budget - or $46.7 billion - was allocated to the Department of Education.

"There has to be some way to make people accountable for it," said Carolyn Rischbieter, a teacher at South Aiken High School.

South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District encompasses Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda, McCormick, Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

Vasovski said that, according to previous elections, it will take 32,000 votes to win the seat.

According to the Federal Election Commission, six Republicans and one Democrat have announced their candidacy. The Republicans are businessman Richard Cash; attorney Neal Collins; Laurens County Rep. Jeff Duncan; attorney James Galyean; District 83 Sen. Shane Massey; Rep. Rex Rice; and Vasovski. The one Democrat is Jane Dyer, a commercial airline pilot.

"Your opponents, if they supported the stimulus package or the bailouts, they're dead," Redlein said. "The rational population won't vote for them."

For more information on Vasovski, visit www.vasovskiforcongress.com.