Name: Bert Walker

Age: 70

Office: Beaufort County Board of Education, District 6.

Number of years living in the area you seek to represent: Six

Family: Wife Sharon Walker, six grown children

Education: Dual Bachelor of Science degrees in management and human resources, Microsoft certified professional, PADI certified SCUBA diving open-water instructor

Current occupation/employer: Retired

Employment, military and volunteer history: U.S. Air Force, early automated-supply systems and logistics for 19 years, first sergeant nine years, six of those years supporting Air Force One operations, February 1961 to March 1989; private SCUBA diving business in Okinawa, Japan, and Tampa, Fla.; information technology program management, employed by several IT companies including Automation Research Systems, IBM, FC Business Systems, Anteon Corporation, Cherryroad Technology Inc., and General Dynamics from 1989-2005; coached elementary-age youth baseball and basketball (six years), middle school baseball and basketball (six years), adult military basketball and softball coach (10 years); SCUBA diving safety diver (four years); supported my wife with many school activities during her 20 years of teaching in Maryland; supported my wife and other teachers in the Beaufort County School District for the past five years; volunteered as golf marshal and laser ShotLink operator at the Heritage golf tournament for the past five years; assisted with Marches for Mammories and served as Sun City Information Technology Committee chairman

Please list all public offices to which you've been elected, when and where: None

Please list any unsuccessful runs for public office and when: Sun City Board of Directors, 2008

Other prior political and government experience: None

Key endorsements you've received: None

Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponent?

People should vote for me because of my years of leadership and management experience, my information technology background, and my close association with the educational process through my wife's 25-year teaching career. People should vote for me because I developed a website (http://schoolchoiceforsouthcarolina.blogspot.com) for the community to utilize as a resource to research subjects and issues related to education, and that will further assist me in making informed policy decisions. Finally, people should vote for me because I have the time and desire to work on issues parents feel are important to their children's education.

The following separates me from my opponent:

Strategic governance plan changes: I will ask for a complete review of the plan with an eye to changing the process by which parents and concerned citizens come before the board to present issues. Currently anyone wishing to speak in open board session is only allotted three minutes to present an issue. This needs to be extended. Also, a period of time after board business needs to be set aside for citizens to give feedback on issues presented during the board meeting. The current plan is too restrictive and inhibits the free flow of information between the board and the community.

Have you ever been convicted of a crime (felony), been disciplined by a professional licensing board or organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? If so, please give the details. No

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your federal, state or local taxes? If so, please give the details. No

Are there any personal details about you that voters would be interested in knowing?

I have signed a pledge not to run for a second term. I feel this will allow me to make better decisions without being influenced or encumbered by the desire to be reelected.