Forum draws fireworks

An otherwise convivial forum for area candidates hosted by the Aiken Branch NAACP drew a few fireworks when S.C. Senate District 25 Republican incumbent Shane Massey sounded off on a dispute stemming from last week.

His opponent, Democrat Greg Anderson, takes the position that Massey voted against an legislative amendment in May that would have allowed local governments the option of allowing The Lord's Prayer, along with other historical documents, to be displayed in government settings.

Massey said he did support the final version of the measure, which included The Lord's Prayer. His original vote on the amendment was a procedural situation at the time, he said. At that time, some senators were adamantly opposed to the bill, said Massey, and were introducing a variety of amendments with the intent of killing the legislation.

"This is what's wrong with politics," he said. "You don't tell the whole story, but pick out a procedural vote and make it look like the way Shane Massey really thinks. This is a bunch of nonsense, as low as you can go."

The forum also drew most of the candidates for three of the four available Aiken County Board of Education seats. Darrell Blocker and Keith Liner are seeking the District 4 seat in North Augusta. In District 8, the candidates are Tammy Conner-Moore, Chuck Leopold and Donna Moore Wesby. District 9 candidates Johanna Blue and Richard Hazen also attended the forum.

Other school board candidates are Dave Best in District 9, and John Bass and Alberta Williams in the District 1 seat that comprises the Ridge Spring, Salley and Wagener areas.

Three unopposed candidates also participated in the forum - S.C. Rep. Bill Clyburn, D-Aiken, Coroner Tim Carlton and Aiken County Councilman Willar Hightower.

In describing her qualifications for the School Board, Conner-Moore discussed her previous work as a physician in which she saw children with serious needs. The common thread was that none tended to see education as a priority. Religion and family units and values also seemed to be missing.

"I have a dedicated passion to see that these youth are changed into well-rounded students," Conner-Moore said. "We need to integrate community programs with those of the schools."

Wesby cited her work as a business owner for the past five years. Previously, she said, she worked in education outreach at the Savannah River Site, assisting students with internships and school-to-work programs. As a business owner in tough economic times, Wesby said, she knows how to stretch a dollar.

"You need someone on the board who is approachable," she said. "A lot of people know me as accessible."

Leopold noted his 40 years as an educator, including 23 years as an Aiken County principal in schools with at-risk populations. He also served on the State Board of Education and national education organizations. That gives him the knowledge, he said, "to offer proposals and suggests to specific questions that are facing the education community."

Asked about the obesity issue among young people, Massey said math and reading have been emphasized in school as they should be. Physical education has been neglected, but it goes beyond the school system.

"We need to address it from an cultural standpoint," he said. "Parents need to get their kids to go outside and run and play."

Anderson, the Edgefield County School District attorney, said he supported the board's effort there to put nurses in all district schools. The nurses are the right personnel to coordinate efforts to make kids more aware of good health and nutrition, he said.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.