Issues Affecting Chester, Fairfield, Union and York

Leah Moody cares about South Carolina. There are, however, a number of issues that directly affect the quality of life for residents in Chester, Fairfield, Union and York counties. We can count on Leah to tackle these issues and provide the results oriented leadership we need working for us in the State Senate.

Healthcare

Leah wants to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible to all South Carolinians. The quality of our health is directly tied to the quality of our jobs. Our economy cannot be productive if our employees are not healthy. Leah supports studying where gaps in quality healthcare exist in our South Carolina and increasing access to quality health care in all the rural areas of State.

Education

Leah is a product of the South Carolina public school system and supports full-funding of public schools. Education is always the key to having a competitive community, beating the war against poverty, and improving the quality of life for thousands of South Carolinians. We can count on Leah to make sure our teachers have the tools and resources they need to teach our children well and prepare them for the future. She will also have the opportunity to work on developing a teacher retention plan for our state and help our rural school districts that are hit hardest when teachers are offered opportunities they cannot afford to pass up. She will be an advocate for building up community models of support for our public schools by bringing community leaders, elected officials, parents and taxpayers together to create action plans and put our schools first.

Job Security

The small businesses of Chester, Fairfield, Union and York counties need to be able to compete. Unfortunately, they do not have the same opportunities that businesses in larger counties like Charleston, Greenville and Richland counties enjoy. But, we can change that.

Leah will work to make sure our local businesses get the support they need whether it be tax reform or locally-oriented stimulus packages that help rural counties. Leah's long-range business development plan for Senate District 17 will address the following:

• Keep and do everything we can with the businesses we currently have;
• If we lose companies, we must do everything we can to make sure we are prepared for other businesses and that we are not dependent only in one area of business;
• Develop strategies to attract the type of economic development we need for rural counties;
• Prepare our real workforce development with our youth to carry us in to the future;
• Encourage entrepreneurship by investing in ourselves

Gasoline

Out of necessity, residents of Chester, Fairfield, Union and York counties use their automobiles more than any other area of South Carolina. Thus, when the price of gas jumps, we feel the squeeze on our wallets here more than someone in Charleston. Leah believes we should look at ways to lower the gas tax burden for rural areas that have to drive further away for employment, healthcare, schools and other needs. She also supports the need to have research and begin developing alternative sources of energy and fuel, not just for our cars, but also for more jobs and new opportunities.

Crimes and Safety

Our neighborhoods belong to us and our communities should be as safe as possible. Leah supports helping our local communities rid themselves of the gangs and street crimes that are preying on our youth and victimizing our elderly residents. We must develop after-school programs and educational alternatives to keep our kids away from gangs. We must bring our neighborhoods, churches, businesses and governments together to work on this complex problem.

It's A New Day

The politics of the past have left far too many people behind. We must have a voice that speaks for all people. I will be a state senator who believes in improving the quality of our lives and our children's lives to come. We must have a strong voice that stands up for justice and fights injustice head on. IT'S A NEW DAY! As your State Senator, I will work everyday to move Chester, Fairfield, Union and York counties forward.