Herbkersman faces Owens in District 118 election: Experience vs. change on key local issues
Incumbent Representative Bill Herbkersman, a Republican who has represented District 118 since 2002, is up against Democrat newcomer Charity Owens in this year’s election. District 118 encompasses central and western Bluffton, Sun City and parts of Okatie.
Herbkersman is seeking to extend his tenure, while Owens aims to bring a fresh perspective to the role. With Election Day approaching on Nov. 5, voters will decide between continuity and change. Here’s where the candidates stand on key issues.
Herbkersman’s platform and experience
Herbkersman’s priorities include workforce housing, supporting local educational institutions like the Technical College of the Lowcountry and the University of South Carolina Beaufort and advocating for seniors and their families, according to his campaign website. He said he champions programs for nursing homes and in-home care, with a focus on mental health services, especially for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
Herbkersman serves on the Ways and Means Committee, chairs a healthcare subcommittee and contributed to the committee that raised teacher salaries statewide. He has received the Green Tie Award for environmental efforts, particularly in preserving green spaces and clean waterways in the Lowcountry.
“The May River runs through my veins right here in Bluffton,” he said. “I made it a mission to do my part to make things better, to leave it a better place and that transcends down to politics.”
Drawing on his background as a business owner in the region, Herbkersman highlights his efforts on workforce development initiatives to create local employment. He said his business ventures have employed hundreds in Bluffton, contributing to the local economy. Additionally, his role in passing legislation to increase teacher salaries statewide demonstrates his support for education — a priority he believes will strengthen the community long-term, he said.
Herbkersman has also worked to expand Telehealth services in South Carolina, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also collaborating with Novant Health on the addition of a new hospital in Beaufort County. On infrastructure, he has advocated for road improvements and increased highway funding to manage Bluffton’s rapid growth.
In March, The Island Packet & Beaufort Gazette reported that after filing for re-election, Herbkersman listed his residence as an apartment in Bluffton’s Promenade, owned by his company, State of Mind Street Partners, after buying a home outside his district in 2021. South Carolina law requires legislators to live in their district on the filing day. Herbkersman confirmed the Promenade apartment as his legal address, noting his daughter lives at the Myrtle Island home, where he keeps cars and is “redoing” the property for her.
“We have been extremely transparent for the past 22 years. I’ll tell you the way it is — the proof is in the results we’ve been able to produce… We represent everyone in District 118, I’ve represented Beaufort and Jasper Counties for a while and I think you can take that to the bank.”
Owens’ platform and experience
Charity Owens, a political newcomer and U.S. Army veteran, said she brings a fresh perspective and aims to address what she sees as unmet needs in District 118. She entered the race motivated by what she describes as inadequate healthcare options for seniors in Sun City and Bluffton.
As the owner of a home healthcare franchise and a real estate brokerage, she said she has seen firsthand the challenges her elderly clients face due to limited healthcare resources locally. She cited the frequent need for residents to travel to Savannah or Charleston for specialized care, along with her belief that South Carolina’s refusal to expand Medicaid deprives residents of essential federal funds.
Owens’ platform includes expanding Medicaid, supporting women’s reproductive rights and enacting stricter gun safety measures. She said South Carolina is missing out on significant federal support by not expanding Medicaid, which could improve healthcare access for at least 350,000 South Carolinians, including many seniors in her district.
She has also voiced strong opposition to the state’s restrictive abortion law, saying it jeopardizes women’s lives by making life-saving care less accessible. She advocates for “common sense” reproductive rights, saying healthcare decisions should prioritize women’s autonomy and safety.
On gun policy, Owens calls for stricter training and permitting requirements for gun ownership, drawing from her military background to emphasize the importance of responsible firearm use. She clarified that her stance is not about limiting Second Amendment rights but rather ensuring safety through measures like training and background checks.
Owens’ economic platform includes tax reform aimed at alleviating the burden on working families, small businesses and middle-income earners, especially amid rising living costs. She said she would evaluate local budget allocations to ensure funding aligns with residents’ priorities, such as improving infrastructure to manage Bluffton’s population growth.
“I’m here for the long haul,” Owens said. “I not only want to work for the vision that I have for my children to make Bluffton a better place, but…to do a better representation across the board for everyone here in Bluffton. That’s not just the Democrats or just the Republicans, but every single person that lives in this district.”
Contrasting approaches to key issues
Herbkersman and Owens share a commitment to supporting seniors and improving healthcare but propose different approaches. Herbkersman emphasizes expanding Telehealth and supporting local healthcare projects, while Owens focuses on Medicaid expansion to enhance healthcare access across socioeconomic lines. Their views differ significantly on reproductive rights and gun safety, with Owens supporting more progressive reforms and Herbkersman upholding traditional stances on both issues.
On education, Herbkersman points to his record on raising teacher salaries as evidence of his commitment to education, while Owens has spoken about the need for expanded support systems, including mental health services for students. Regarding taxes, Herbkersman has voiced concerns about property tax increases and favors a conservative approach to spending to protect property owners. Owens, however, calls for a comprehensive tax relief plan aimed at helping working families and addressing inflationary pressures.
