Hilton Head’s state Rep. Jeff Bradley faces rematch in June 9 vote. What to know
The last time Hilton Head’s state house seat was open for the Republican primary, two people celebrated winning the election in one night.
A vote-counting snafu first projected Phil Hartman, a former schools superintendent, up by about 50 votes over S.C. Rep. Jeff Bradley for District 123’s primary in 2018.
“You go to bed at night, you won an election. You wake up in the morning and discover that wasn’t quite the case,” said Hartman.
The counting error from local election officials flipped the results. Bradley actually beat Hartman by a little over 100 votes.
Now the two are facing off again for the chance to represent Hilton Head in the S.C. House of Representatives in Columbia. Whoever wins on June 9 will face off against Christine DeVries, Democratic candidate and former nonprofit association executive.
Bradley, an Edward Jones financial advisor, has served the district since 2015. He’s running on his success forcing “persistent discussions” on the state’s underfunded pension system and voting for reforms to add more money to the debt-ridden funds.
Bradley also said he has been advocating for money from the State Infrastructure Bank for Hilton Head’s bridge overhaul, which is already partly funded by the voter-approved penny tax for transportation.
Meanwhile, Hartman says that unlike Bradley, he would be able to give the part-time job his full-time attention. Hartman said his main issue is education overhaul. This includes supporting pay increases for teachers, especially as Beaufort County’s school district has consistently struggled to retain educators.
Local issues
The weekend before Memorial Day saw roaring crowds on Coligny Beach to the delight of business owners looking to rebound from coronavirus losses and to the chagrin of residents worried about virus spread.
The Island Packet asked both candidates where they stood on a number of local issues related to the impact of coronavirus on the Hilton Head community.
Where do you stand on the enforcement of social distancing with crowds returning to Hilton Head’s beaches?
- S.C. Rep. Bradley: “Obviously I’m concerned about the re-introduction of the coronavirus, but at the same time, we have to continue to live our lives . . . I think we have to let people open their businesses, open their restaurants, open the beaches and serve the tourist community.”
- Hartman: “When we open our beaches to the public and they can’t be socially responsible, yeah I can see why people are frustrated ... if people are not social distancing, maybe we need to re-look at that.”
On reports of restaurants hosting more people than the suggested 50% occupancy and workers being required to wear masks:
S.C. Rep. Bradley: “I’d rather not see the sheriff ticketing people for going to restaurants. We’re trying to reopen the economy. We have not yet seen a resurgence of COVID-19 . . . we can let the market decide whether or not the non-compliance of mask-wearing by restaurant workers [affects] who goes and who doesn’t go to the restaurants.”
Hartman: “I think it’s up to each individual owners of restaurants . . . but it doesn’t forgive the aspect that we need to be socially responsible and take it upon ourselves to make sure that this virus doesn’t continue to spread.”
Would you support a reintroduction of a business lockdown if the coronavirus sees a resurgence on Hilton Head?
- S.C. Rep. Bradley: “If the governor took input from his health experts and believed that a reintroduction of his advice that we show stay home, I would support that. But I’m not going to go on record saying I think we should shut everything down again. I’m an advocate of personal freedom.”
- Hartman: “If the virus started coming back at such a pace that it was more than normal, yeah, we’d need to do something. We’d need to figure out how to stem the tide again.”
Should the town continue going toll-less on the Cross Island Parkway?
- S.C. Rep. Bradley: “At some point we need to re-implement the tolls so we have the revenue to pay the bonds off. . . This was a slow way to ease the burden on the people of this area. . . let’s leave it off for the time being.”
- Hartman: “I don’t want to get into a situation where we are right now with the bridge coming onto the island where it’s almost condemned . . . as far as the tolls go, I hope we can figure [out] a way to maintain that bridge, so we’re not in a situation 20-30 years from now of having to spend a huge amount of money. If tolls are the answer, I don’t mind paying tolls.”
Background
How much does it pay to be a state legislator representing Hilton Head?
“A whopping $10,400 a year,” said Bradley.
“We don’t do this for the money,” he said. “It’s a service.”
Bradley’s income is supplemented by his work with Edward Jones and serving on the board of the Cypress of Hilton Head Island retirement community.
Hartman said his retired status as a school superintendent and work in the community would be helpful. He said he would treat the statehouse job as full time.
Hartman also says he’s “unencumbered by any restrictions from my employer,” referencing an incident where Bradley “recused” himself from a state bond vote because Edward Jones had asked him not to vote on those.
Bradley says the charge from his opponent is unfair, considering there has been only one bond vote in six years.
“To say that is a characteristic that should preclude me from holding the position, I don’t think it’s accurate,” he said.
Final pitch
Bradley and Hartman share a few things:
- Both want to see funds spent repairing Hilton Head’s bridges
- Both say their political ambitions go no further than being a state legislator
- Both support some sort of protection for businesses that may get sued by workers for lacking coronavirus protection
They differ in their priorities amid COVID-19.
Bradley said he wants to make sure that the $1.9 billion in federal aid provided to South Carolina is well spent, namely to replenish the state’s fund for unemployment benefits.
He also said that as the chairman of a committee overseeing relief for small business, he’s “the biggest hawk on regulations in the state of South Carolina” and wants to make sure no red tape is getting in the way of businesses reopening.
The Facebook page for Bradley’s campaign announced on Saturday morning that the legislator earned the endorsement of S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, who reportedly said Bradley had “remarkable” leadership as COVID-19 swept through Hilton Head.
Hartman said his focus is on reforming education for the state and community of Hilton Head, even during a pandemic.
“Why are teachers not having free periods? Why are they working through their lunch hour?” asked Hartman. “It’s time for us to provide them with the necessary support and necessary materials to be successful as possible.”
Primary preview in The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette:
Sunday: S.C. House District 118: Herbkersman vs. Covert
Monday: S.C. House District 123: Bradley vs. Hartman
Tuesday: Beaufort County coroner, Jasper County coroner
Wednesday: Jasper County sheriff
