Hilton Head and Daufuskie island state house candidates address ferry concerns, share stances ahead of election day
Lisette Cifaldi, a 50-year Hilton Head Island resident and a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, is running against Representative Jeff Bradley, a ten-year State House veteran, to represent District 123 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Their district includes Hilton Head and Daufuskie islands, along with parts of Jasper County.
Cifaldi, based on her campaign website, is running for the seat because “my voice, the voices of my daughters, sisters, mother, female friends and colleagues have been silenced in South Carolina.” Her priorities range from investing in teacher retention to addressing climate change at the state level.
Bradley was first elected as the District 123 representative in 2014. According to his campaign website, he has mostly focused his legislative efforts on education, regulatory reform and public infrastructure.
In 2020, Bradley secured 62.5% of votes against his opponent, Christine deVries, and in 2022 he ran unopposed.
Both candidates were given the opportunity to respond to a series of questions from The Island Packet. Both Cifaldi and Bradley responded to the questions, which can be found below.
What experiences have prepared you for this role?
Bradley:
I bring over 40 years of business experience on Hilton Head Island, paired with decades of community service, including my leadership in local service organizations, education nonprofits and community foundations to Columbia. My 10 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives, serving in key roles such as Chairman of the Regulations and Administrative Procedures Committee; Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Cyber Crime committee and Vice Chair of the Education Committee, makes me as strong and effective as any legislator on the House floor.
My seniority allows me to continue delivering results for District 123 immediately — without the learning curve a freshman legislator would face. I understand the legislative system, how to work within it and how to make it work for our district.
Cifaldi:
As a Hilton Head resident for over 50 years and the mother of daughters who attended our local public schools, I have a deep understanding of this community’s needs. My family, like many others, experiences the challenges our district faces and regularly shares with me. With over 25 years as a psychotherapist and national consultant in conflict resolution, I have honed my skills in listening and problem-solving. As a small business owner, I understand the struggles entrepreneurs face firsthand.
To prepare for this role, I completed an intensive training program with Emerge, which equips women to run for public office. Over the past ten months, I’ve connected with residents across District 123 and learned they are ready for new leadership that truly reflects their values.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Bradley:
Education Reform: Improving educational outcomes continues to be a top priority for me. Although we have made significant progress over the last four years, our system is still not meeting my expectations and I will continue to advocate for reforms that drive success.
Regulatory Reduction: I will continue leading the effort to review and eliminate outdated or burdensome regulations to foster a more efficient and business-friendly environment in South Carolina. I’m looking forward to the knowledge of learned this year about artificial intelligence to be of great value in this effort.
Artificial Intelligence and Workforce Development: As Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Cybercrime committee I’m committed to protecting South Carolinians and ensuring that they are prepared for the future by incorporating AI education across all age groups — K-12, higher education, and adult learners—so our workforce remains competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.
Cifaldi:
If elected, my top three priorities will be to prioritize and enhance public education, protect the environment, and support small businesses. I will advocate for better funding and resources for our public schools to ensure every child receives a quality education. I’ll fight to protect our natural resources, especially safeguarding our coastline from over-development. Additionally, I’ll focus on supporting small businesses by promoting policies that encourage economic growth and help entrepreneurs succeed. These priorities align with the needs of our district and reflect my commitment to improving the quality of life for all residents.
What are your stances on the following issues?
Reproductive Rights:
Bradley:
I believe in protecting the unborn while recognizing the complexity of reproductive rights. It is important to find solutions that reflect the values of our state and its citizens.
Cifaldi:
I do not believe legislators belong in our bedrooms or our bodies. I trust women to make the right decisions for themselves and their families and will work to restore access to reproductive freedom while protecting IVF and birth control.
With a maternal mortality rate 47% higher than the national average, South Carolina’s abortion ban puts women’s lives in even greater jeopardy. Because of penalties and restrictions within the abortion ban, OBGYNs aren’t choosing South Carolina for their residencies which reduces healthcare access for all women. These women are having to go out of state for abortion care. South Carolina has one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation, and the state legislature has made no provisions for supporting children from these forced pregnancies.
Gun Safety:
Bradley:
I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and the rights it guarantees. I believe in protecting law-abiding citizens’ right to bear arms while also supporting measures that keep firearms out of the hands of those who would misuse them.
Cifaldi:
I will strongly support measures in the Statehouse to reinstate permit and training requirements for gun purchases because the safety and well-being of our communities depend on responsible gun ownership. I also support safe gun storage laws. I am opposed to Permit-Less/Constitutional Carry which Jeff Bradley voted for and was signed into law (H.3594), thus reducing the age of gun ownership in SC from 21 to 18 and removing permit and training requirements.
As a therapist, I also strongly believe that mental health interventions are a key component in preventing senseless gun deaths. I am passionate about improving access to mental health resources, especially in schools. When our children are mentally and emotionally healthy, everyone succeeds.
Tax Relief:
Bradley:
I am a strong advocate for tax relief. I believe that South Carolinians are better equipped to manage their own finances than the government. I voted for the 2022 income tax cuts and the 2024 acceleration of those cuts, putting more money back in our citizens’ pockets.
Cifaldi:
I support a fair and equitable tax system. The 2024 tax cut enacted by the state legislature primarily benefits higher-income earners and creates a widening inequality gap. Tax relief can benefit all families, as long as they do not undermine critical public services such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.
I support focusing on equitable tax policies that foster a balanced economy without sacrificing public services relied upon by most of our residents. We must maintain state investments in workforce development and public infrastructure to promote long-term economic growth of our communities. In addition, I support targeted tax reductions such as a childcare tax credit that could benefit our working and middle class families. I will also push for tax incentives that encourage local and corporate investment in affordable and workforce housing.
School Safety:
Bradley:
As a strong advocate for school safety, I actually led the floor fight enabling schools to hire qualified outside vendors for school resource officer duties when traditional hiring methods fall short. Ensuring a safe environment for our students is critical.
Cifaldi:
I believe that school safety starts with children who are mentally and emotionally healthy. Therefore, I support providing extensive mental health resources in our schools as the front line strategy for improving school safety. Although school shootings have been an issue for decades, the shift to online schooling during the pandemic has resulted in a mental health crisis among our youth that will only exacerbate the already complicated phenomenon of school shootings.
We need enhanced security measures such as controlled access to buildings and increased presence of trained school resource officers to create a safer learning environment while ensuring a focus on student well-being. I believe it is also important to foster stronger partnerships between schools, local law enforcement and the community, as well as develop peer mentoring programs to create student-to-student inclusivity initiatives.
Advancing Infrastructure:
Bradley:
I have consistently supported infrastructure improvements, including expanding major arteries, enhancing rural road safety and upgrading bridges. I will continue working to advance these efforts, ensuring South Carolina’s infrastructure supports our growing economy.
Cifaldi:
Addressing the infrastructure needs of our communities relies on a coordinated effort between our state legislature, our county councils and our incorporated town leaders. Our communities face unique infrastructure challenges due to our population grown, seasonal tourism and our environmental concerns.
We have been discussing for years the need to improve our road and traffic management system, and as an elected official, I would advocate on behalf of the communities I represent for funding and technical expertise to address our challenges. Another significant need in our community is stormwater management and coastal resilience. I am disappointed that our state legislature has no comprehensive plan to address the impact of climate change on our coast. Our water and sewer systems must be expanded and modernized, we must invest in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure and we must reinforce our coastal defenses to protect property and natural habitats.
How do you plan on addressing community concerns about the ferry service to and from Daufuskie Island?
Bradley:
The ferry service issue on Daufuskie Island needs to be addressed collaboratively between the residents and the county. I am committed to working with both parties to reach an acceptable solution that ensures reliable ferry service. If the current contract doesn’t meet the needs of residents, I will work diligently to find a resolution that better aligns expectations with the service being provided. I am ready to assist residents in any way possible to achieve an improved service.
Cifaldi:
I have spoken to the residents of Daufuskie about their appalling lack of safe, reliable transportation to and from their island. The County Council has done a disservice to the residents of Daufuskie by taking the lowest bidding contract to provide this needed service and then continuing with the contract when the proposed boats in the request for proposal were not provided. The ferry company is out of compliance with its county contract, violating the federal ADA requirements and should therefore have their contract terminated.
I will work with the Beaufort County Council to temporarily resume the ferry contract with Haig Point until an experienced provider can be contracted or Lowcountry Ferry provides the original boats listed in its RFP. Addressing this issue should include improving the consistency and reliability of the schedules, and ensuring the safety of those who use the ferry service. The infrastructure must be improved at the docking locations as well.
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 25, 2024 at 12:20 PM.
