Bluffton state house seat in play: Incumbent and challenger have different priorities
Weston Newton will face off against Kate Creech in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 120 race. District 120 legislators represent parts of Beaufort and Jasper Counties mostly south of the Broad River, not including Hilton Head Island.
Newton, the Republican incumbent, assumed the position back in 2013 after serving as the Chairman of the Beaufort County Council. He serves as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and previously chaired the House Legislative Oversight Committee. Newton has also practiced law for more than 25 years as a partner at Jones, Simpson & Newton, P.A.
His priorities include supporting tax cuts for families and small businesses, maintaining a balanced state budget, expanding education options, cracking down on fentanyl trafficking and protecting children from online predators, according to his campaign website.
In the past two years, Newton sponsored:
- H 3594, also known as the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2024. The bill was signed into law by the Governor in March.
- H 3774, also known as the Human Life Protection Act. The bill was recommitted to Committee on Medical Affairs in January.
In 2022 and 2020, Newton ran unopposed.
This year, he faces new competition: Kate Creech.
According to her campaign website, Creech is running to address the needs of women and children in the state. Professionally, she has served in customer service, specifically in business management and event production.
If elected, she would prioritize women’s reproductive rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, implementing common sense gun reform, establishing affordable housing solutions, investing in climate-conscious development and protecting intellectual freedom.
Candidate Responses
Both candidates were given the opportunity to respond to a series of questions from The Island Packet. Newton’s answers are below while Creech acknowledged she failed to respond by the deadline.
What explicit experiences have prepared you for this role? What qualifications distinguish you as the top candidate?
Newton: I have invested over 25 years of my life serving Beaufort County, first as Chairman of County Council, and for the past 12 years, as a member of the State House of Representatives representing parts of Beaufort and Jasper Counties including Bluffton, Sun City North, Okatie, Habersham and Hilton Head.
I understand the unique challenges that residents here face. I have a proven record of accomplishments as a consensus builder, and have led successful efforts to pass: the largest income tax cut in state history; a tough new law to increase criminal penalties for those who traffic fentanyl; laws that reform our bond statutes, ensuring criminals who commit crimes while out of bail have their bond revoked; balanced and accountable state budgets every year I have served; bills that raised pay for teachers, law enforcement officers, school resource officers, and first responders; school reforms that empower parents by increasing charter schools and vocational training programs, bills that fosters partnerships between educational institutions and local businesses to create pathways for students to gain practical skills and secure meaningful employment upon graduation; infrastructure improvements that also protect our natural resources; new safeguards for children from online predators; and laws to uphold our conservative values and reflect the principles of protecting traditional family values, encourage personal responsibility, support the sanctity of life, and promote responsible stewardship of our society.
If re-elected, what would be your top three priorities you hope to achieve while serving again as legislator?
Newton: My public service focus has been and will continue to be about getting things done.
1. I will continue my efforts to cut taxes and to make government more transparent, efficient, and accountable; continuing my work to make government trustworthy.
2. I will continue my efforts fighting for our district, to raise the level of the voices of my constituents, to bring home our fair share from Columbia and ensuring we always prioritize, preserve and protect the natural environment that makes this part of South Carolina special and unique.
3. I will continue leading the effort to prioritize public safety, because I believe public safety should always be the top priority of government.
What are your stances on the following issues?
Reproductive rights
Newton: As a father of two young daughters and a husband for more than 25 years, I respect the rights of women to make healthcare decisions; however, at a point during a pregnancy, a women’s interest does not outweigh the interest of the unborn child to live.
If by “reproductive rights” you mean “abortion rights,” I am proudly pro-life and proud of my record on insisting for exceptions: rape, incest, fatal fetal anomaly and the life of the mother. I will always fight the rights of the most innocent, while also expanding adoption alternatives and making healthcare for women more accessible and affordable. Further, I am proud of my record to make birth control free for low-income and uninsured or under-insured women.
Gun safety
Newton: While I was proud to be a leader of the legislation to prohibit the possession of firearms by convicted felons, I will always vote to protect the Second Amendment, believing that the right for citizens to defend themselves, their families and their property is one of the foundational principles of what has made America great.
Tax relief
Newton: I am proud of the progress we have achieved cutting income taxes (by nearly $1 billion last year alone) and will continue working for further decreases in the amount of income taxes we send to Columbia.
School safety
Newton: Public safety should always be priority one. I am proud that I was able to lead the successful fight to fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) for every school in our state as well as funding for mental health counselors for school children.
Advancing infrastructure
Newton: While we’re in better shape than we have been in years past, for too long, Beaufort County has not gotten our fair share from Columbia for much-needed infrastructure projects in this district. I will continue fighting to ensure we receive the funding we need to provide for the roads, bridges and other infrastructure we desperately need, while always remembering the importance of protecting our natural resources.
Final words
What else would you like to share with the people of District 120? What specific issues are you hoping to address for this community, if elected?
Newton: My reason for seeking a seat in the House in 2012 was to support the notion, somewhat alien to our state, that public service is not a way to advance one’s personal business, or that of one’s employer, but to advance the interests of the regular folks of our state. The reasons for my re-election bid remain the same.
For the first time in recent history, Beaufort County is becoming a force to be reckoned with in Columbia.
In 2025, we have a chance to send a group of legislators to Columbia to represent our county who have seniority at the State House and who are serving in several key positions.
Our Senator, Tom Davis, is the Chair the powerful Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee; Rep. Shannon Erickson is the Chair the House Education Committee; Rep. Bill Herbkersman will Chair the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee; Rep. Jeff Bradley is the Chair of the House Regulations Committee; and I am honored to serve as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
The future is bright for our community with so many opportunities on the horizon. I am honored to serve my constituents and ask voters for the privilege of continuing serving them for another two-year term.
The South Carolina House of Representatives: The body consists of 124 part-time citizen legislators elected every two years to represent the state’s districts. There are currently 87 Republicans, 35 Democrats and two vacancies in the House. The General Assembly’s annual session will begin on the second Tuesday in January and runs through the second Thursday in May.
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 1:29 PM.
