JOHNSTON – The Republican Women of Edgefield County, who hope to become an officially chartered organization after meeting again later this month, hosted four Congressional candidates last week from District 3 for a mini-forum at Pine Ridge Country Club.

Candidates on hand were State Senator Shane Massey, State Representative Rex Rice of Easley, Dr. Mike Vasovski of Aiken and Easley attorney Neal Collins.

Following an invocation by Charlotte Ann Seawright, the Pledge of Allegiance and reading of the Republican Creed by Kathy Cantrell and Ashley Burns, each candidate gave a brief introduction before being asked questions from the audience and some additional questions from hostess Mary Allison Pettigrew.

Senator Massey led off by discussing a couple of important items before the state Senate, including a state resolution that will admonish the Federal Government from increasing encroachment upon matters which are considered to be under the state’s control. Other matters before the senate included a bill that requires a photo ID at polling locations and the reform of state agencies.

Mr. Massey stated that he decided to run after looking at the issues before the American people and deciding that there was “too much at stake to sit on the sidelines.”

“I looked and saw a Congress that is completely out of control,” he said.

Representative Rice said his experience with small business allowed him to share a unique perspective into why the state’s economy has continued to struggle.

“I’ve run a small business and I understand what people are going through and what all the regulations coming down are doing to small business owners,” he said. “Here in South Carolina when we run out of money we don’t just print more. We need to take that thinking to Washington.”

Dr. Vasovski thanked his fellow candidates for their desire to enter or continue public service, while himself admitting to having been bitten by the “political bug” after watching a debate several years ago.

“The things I will do if elected are follow the Constitution, use the free market and stick to small government,” he said. “Those three simple things will solve almost all of the problems we are seeing.”

Attorney Neal Collins, the youngest of the candidates, displayed a vigorous enthusiasm for his campaign, explaining that his platform was based on Responsibility (both personal and fiscal), Recovery (jobs and education are the top two issues) and Reform (reform candidates reforming the political process, and hard-working, principled candidates not beholden to big donations and consultants).

“We have to have voices in Washington speaking out against all this,” he said. “Our next representative also needs to be the best salesman possible for this state.”

The Republican Women of Edgefield County will meet again on Thursday, March 18, at Pine Ridge Country Club starting at 6:15 p.m.