WEBVTT OF FURMAN UNIVERSITY, A WYFF NEWS 4 COMMITMENT 2018 SPECIAL. IT IS THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE FOR GOVERNOR. ♪ CAROL: GOOD EVENING. MICHAEL: WELCOME TO ESTIMATE TONIGHT’S DEBATE BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. THIS DEBATE AT FURMAN UNIVERSITY, CO-SPONSORED BY WYFF, THE UPSTATE CHAMBER COALITION, AND FURMAN UNIVERSITY. CAROL: WE ARE BRINGING THIS DEBATE LIVE TO A STATEWIDE AUDIENCE. ON NOVEMBER 6, VOTERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA WILL ELECT A GOVERNOR TO SERVE FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS, BUT FIRST DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE WILL FACE A PRIMARY VOTE IN JUNE. MICHAEL: WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CANDIDATES. WE HAVE MARGUERITE WILLIS AND PHIL NOBLE. JAMES SMITH WILL NOT APPEAR TONIGHT. THESE ARE THE LOGISTICS TONIGHT. AS MODERATORS WE WILL ASK THE QUESTIONS. THE CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. WE DO WANT THIS TO BE A DISCUSSION, A DEBATE. CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN 30 SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL WHEN NEEDED. LATER IN THE DEBATE, NIGEL ROBERTSON WILL JOIN US TO BRING QUESTIONS FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE. AT THE END OF THE DEBATE CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN 2 MINUTES FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT. NOW LET’S INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CANDIDATES. PHIL NOBLE IS A BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT FROM CHARLESTON. HE’S A GREENVILLE NATIVE WHO WAS AN EARLY ADVISOR TO BARACK OBAMA’S, AND WAS A FELLOW AT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AT HARVARD. MARGUERITE WILLIS LIVES IN FLORENCE, WHREE SHE IS THE FORMER FIRST LADY. HER HUSBAND WAS THE MAYOR OF FLORENCE. SHE IS A GREENVILLE NATIVE AND A COLUMBIA-BASED ATTORNEY WHO TRIES ANTI-TRUST CASES IN FEDERAL AND STATE COURT. WITH ALL OF THAT SAID NOW FOR , THE FIRST QUESTION. CAROL: THIS QUESTION IS FOR BOTH OF YOU. WE’RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH MARGUERITE WILLIS. THE TOPIC IS PRESENCE. WE FOUND THAT 29 OF 30 PRISON REFORM BILLS THIS SESSION NEVER MADE IT TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE AS GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS WHAT HAPPENED AT LEE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION? TIM: I DRIVE BY LEE -- WILLIS: I DRIVE BY LEE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION EVERY DAY. THAT WAS BUILT TO HAVE 80 FOLKS GUARDING PRISONERS. ABOUT 40 WERE THERE THE NIGHT THAT THE HORRIFIC INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. IF YOU DO NOT ADEQUATELY STAFF THE REASONS, YOU HAVE -- -- PRISONS, YOU HAVE A SI WHERE THE INMATES ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE THE PAY FOR THE FOLKS GUARDING THE PRISON. IN ADDITION, WE KNOW THAT SURROUNDING THIS PRISON THERE ARE FIELDS, AND PEOPLE SHOOT CONTRABAND OVER THE WALLS WITH ARROGANCE -- AIR GUNS. WE HAVE TO STOP THAT. ONE OF THE LAWS THAT DO NOT GET OUT OF THE SENATE --. MICHAEL: YOUR TIME IS UP. YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A REBUTTAL. CAROL: WE NOW ASK THE QUESTION TO PHIL NOBLE. THE QUESTION IS PRESENCE -- PRISONS. WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE AS GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS WHAT HAPPENED AT LEE CORRECTIONAL? NOBLE: THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN, LIKE WE COULD GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COOPERATE WITH US. WE COULD JAM THE RADIO. CONTRABAND COMES I THE REAL REALITY OF IT THIS IS PRETTY TYPICAL OF HOW STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN OPERATING. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS DYSFUNCTIONAL AND BROKEN. THE PRISON SYSTEM IS JUST THE PRIMARY, MOST RECENT EXAMPLE THAT IS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PERTINENT. IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE TODAY. ABOUT 40% OF THE PERSONNEL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE EITHER VACANT OR THEY ARE VERY NEW TO THE JOB. THAT IS THE REAL ISSUE HERE. MICHAEL: I HAVE A FEELING THAT YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP. WILLIS: I WANT TO FINISH WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER. WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROPOSED LAWS THAT DID NOT MAKE OUT THE -- OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE LEGISLATURE KICKS THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD YEAR AFTER YEAR. THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS ENDING TO PENALIZE FOLKS WHO PROVIDE CELL PHONES TO INMATES, $10,000 AT A TIME. THAT MIGHT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE, IF YOU CRIMINALIZE THAT CONDUCT. IT MIGHT STOP THE CELL PHONES COMING IN. THE GANGS TALK TO EACH OTHER BY CELL PHONE IN THE PRISONS. CAROL: PHIL NOBLE, THIS HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATION. A WINTHROP PAUL FOUND THAT EDUCATION IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS. WHAT OF EDUCATION REFORM NEEDS THE MOST ATTENTION, IN YOUR OPINION? NOBLE: ALL OF IT. OUR SCHOOLS ARE ESSENTIALLY 50TH IN THE COUNTRY. WHERE ARE THE WORST -- WE ARE THE WORST. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE GOOD SCHOOLS, AND THERE ARE SOME IN THE STATE. WAY TO TAKE THE GOOD SCHOOLS AND BUILD ON THAT -- WE NEED TO TAKE THE GOOD SCHOOLS AND BUILD ON THAT. WE BASICALLY NEED TO JUNK THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND REINVENT PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE HAVE BEEN NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES FOREVER, AND NOTHING FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGES. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO CATCH A LEAKY BUCKET -- PATCH A LEAKY BUCKET. WE NEED TO DO LOTS OF SPECIFIC THINGS. WE NEED TO DOUBLE THE TEACHERS IN THE STATE. WE CAN DOUBLE IN FIVE YEARS -- PAY OF TEACHERS IN THE STATE. WE CAN DO THAT IN FIVE YEARS. THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS THAT WE NEED TO REINVENT IT. CAROL: MARGUERITE WILLIS, EDUCATION QUESTION. THE WINTHROP POLL, EDUCATION IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN. CAROLINIANS. WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS GOVERNOR TO REPAIR THAT? WILLIS: THERE ARE MACRO SOLUTIONS AND MICRO SOLUTIONS. I AGREE -- DISAGREE WITH THE WOMB FROM CLASSROOM OPINION. PUTTING THAT ASIDE FRAME AND IT, THE MICRO PROBLEMS ARE THE ONES THAT I CAN FIX IMMEDIATELY. FOR EXAMPLE, INCREASING TEACHER PAY. PHIL NOBLE WANTS TO FIRE A BUNCH OF TEACHERS. I DON’T WANT TO DO THAT. I WANT TO LOOK AT THE BEST TEACHER IN THE STATE, AND HIM OR HER ON TELEVISION. PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT LIVED IN AT THE PD THAT HAVE NO TEACHERS. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE SCHOOL DAY. THAT WOULD HELP IN THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SINGLE MOMS CANNOT AFFORD DAY CARE. IT WILL ALLOW THESE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN POOR AREAS, TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MEAL A DAY, AND STRUCTURE TO THEIR SCHOOL DAY. I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE FAILING --. MICHAEL: YOUR TIME IS UP. MR. NOBLE, I HAVE A FEELING THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. NOBLE: THE REALITY IS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO EVER HAVE EXCELLENT STUDENTS UNTIL WE HAVE EXCELLENT TEACHERS. WE WILL NOT HAVE EXCELLENT TEACHERS UNTIL WE PLAY THEM A GOOD WAGE. THAT IS THE REALITY. IF WE DOUBLE THE TEACHER PAY IN THE STATE, THEN WE CAN RETAIN THE 6000 GOOD TEACHERS. WE CAN BRING IN MORE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, AND WE CAN BRING IN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OTHER PROFESSIONS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE. WE HAVE TO FIX TEACHERS FIRST. MICHAEL: I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP. WILLIS: WE HAVE TO ISSUE THAT IS IMPORTANT HERE, AND IT IS POVERTY. POVERTY IS THE RECORD OF SO MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS -- ROOTS COURT -- ROOT CORE OF SO MANY OF T PROBLEMS. WITH REGARD TO TEACHERS, PHIL NOBLE’S SOLUTION IS TO FIRE TEACHERS. WE CANNOT DO THAT RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE AND WE MUST FEEL THAT SHORTAGE. MICHAEL: A FOLLOW-UP HERE. TUITION AND -- IN STATE COLLE IN THE STATE HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO STOP IT? NOBLE: CAN I RESPOND TO HER QUESTION? I AM NOT FOR FIRING TEACHERS. I AM FOR IMPROVING THE PLAY OF TEACHERS, HOLDING TEACHERS ACCOUNTABLE. IT IS ABOUT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE. TWO WISHON -- THE FIRST THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET RID OF THE TUITION -- TUITION -- THE FIRST THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET RID OF THE TUITION WAIVERS. WE ARE GIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF SOUTH CAROLINA TAX MONEY TO OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS. MICHAEL: FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND STATE COLLEGES. WILLIS: WE NEED TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THOSE SCHOOLS. WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE SCHOLARSHIPS MORE CAREFULLY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS HAPPENING, THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THEIR SCHOLARSHIP KIDS BEING ABLE TO AFFORD SCHOOL. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE PROMISE OF ERROR LOTTERY. MUST MAKE THAT WORK FOR ALL STUDENTS. CAROL: WE HAVE ANOTHER EDUCATION QUESTION. MARGUERITE WILLIS, THIS IS YOURS TO START. SOUTH CAROLINA RUNS ITS SCHOOL BUS FLEET, BUT PLANS TO PRIVATIZE THE SYSTEM HAS GAINED TRACTION. SHOULDN’T REMAIN -- SHOULD BECOME PRIVATIZED OR REMAIN OUT IS THAT HOW IT IS WILLIS: I WANT TO KEEP IT RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE TENDS. I THINK IT IS OUR DUTY -- THE LEGISLATORS DUTY TO GET THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. WHEN HE TO KEEP THAT RUN BY STATE. -- WE NEED TO KEEP THAT RUN BY THE STATE. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE HAS NOT WORKED WELL IN PRISONS OR IN SCHOOLS, SO I WOULD KEEP IT IN THE STATES HANDS. OF ELECTRIC BUSES ARE QUIETER, HAVE LESS EMISSIONS, THEY ARE BETTER FOR THE KIDS. THE KIDS CAN GET TO SCHOOL IN A SAFER AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY VEHICLE. A GIVES THEM SOME PEACE ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL, AS OPPOSED TO BEING IN A DECREPIT DIESEL SCHOOL BUS THAT IS UNSAFE. CAROL: PHIL NOBLE? CAROLINA SCHOOL BUS FLEET SO FAR. HOW WOULD YOU REPLACE THE AGING FLEET? NOBLE: I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD PRIVATIZE THE SYSTEM. WE NEED TO SET UP A SEPARATE AGENCY THAT WILL RUN THE SCHOOL BUSES IN AN EFFICIENT WAY, AND AT ON THINGS LIKE WHY FIGHT -- ADD-ON THINGS LIKE WI-FI, SO KIDS CAN WORK ON THEIR HOMEWORK TO A FROM SCHOOL. ADVERTISE ON HER SCHOOL BUSES. THE LOTTERY BUYS ALMOST $1 MILLION PER YEAR, MAYBE MORE, IN ADVERTISING DOLLARS. WHY SHOULD THAT MONEY NOT GO TO THE SIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUSES? WE COULD HAVE OTHER S BUSINESSES TRANSFER THEIR ADVERTISING DOLLARS OVER TO THIS COOL BUSES, AND THEREFORE BE ABLE TO AFFORD MORE AND BETTER SCHOOL BUSES. [APPLAUSE] NOBLE: I DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES ITSELF. I’M NOT CONVINCED THAT PUTTING AN ADVERTISEMENT ON THE SIDE OF A SCHOOL BUS IS ONE TO SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY. THE LOTTERY IS A BASIC PROBLEM. THAT IS NOT WORKING THE WAY THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO. MICHAEL: WOULD USE IT TO REPEAL THE LAW AS GOVERNOR -- WOULD YOU SEEK TO REPEAL THE LAW AS GOVERNOR? NOBLE: I WOULD NOT. WE ARE FUNDING UPPER AND MIDDLE INCOME KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE, WHEN LOW INCOME KIDS CANNOT AFFORD IT. A VAST MAJORITY OF THE FUND DURING -- FUNDING LOTTERY COMES FROM LOWER INCOME FAMILIES. WE SEE BLACK FAMILY SUBSIDIZE THE TUITION OF LOWER INCOME WHITE FAMILIES. WILLIS: I AGREE WITH RESTRUCTURING THE LOTTERY. I THINK WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE. DUTCH LOTTERY -- THAT THE LOTTERY DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISE. SOME OF THESE KIDS WHO REALLY NEED THE LOTTERY DOLLARS TO GET TO SCHOOL AND A BETTER PLACE IN THEIR LIFE, AND IN THE STATE. WE DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THESE DOLLARS AWAY FROM THOSE CHILDREN. CAROL: PHIL NOBLE, YOU HAVE THE FIRST RESPONSE ON THIS. IT IS ON THE GAS TAX. A YEARLY INCREASE ON THE GAS TAX IS NOW STATE LAW AND WOULD GO UP EVERY YEAR IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR. WHAT PROJECTS, CURRENT AND FUTURE, ARE MOST DESERVING OF THAT FUNDING? NOBLE: WOULD NEED TO DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS WE FUND BASED ON MERIT AND NOT POLITICS. THE REALITY IS THAT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE SORT OF PLANTATION POLITICS THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF IN THE STATE AM A WHERE THE LEGISLATORS GET TOGETHER AND DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT, AND TELL THE REST OF US TO GET LOST. THE REALITY IS THAT THE ROAD FUNDING DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE ON NEED, AND NOT BASED ON POLITICS. I THINK THAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING THAT WE NEED TO DO. WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE MONEYS FOR HIGHWAYS. IT IS A SHAM TO SAY THAT WHAT WE DID WITH THE GAS TAX IS GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE. CAROL: MARGUERITE WILLIS, THE SAME QUESTION. THE YEARLY INCREASE IN THE GAS TAX WOULD GO UP EVERY YEAR WHILE YOU WERE GOVERNOR. WHAT PROJECTS ARE MOST DESERVING OF THAT MONEY? WILLIS: THE UNSAFE FIST RADS THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE AND BRIDGES SHOULD GO FIRST. SECOND, WHATEVER INDUSTRY NEEDS TO GROW AND BECOME PROSPEROUS. I COULD GIVE A TESTIMONY RIGHT NOW TO THE BAD ROADS, BECAUSE I COMMUTE EVERY DAY FROM FLORENCE TO COLUMBIA. I HAVE HIT EVERY POTHOLE ON THAT ROAD ONE MILLION TIMES. MANY OF OUR RURAL ROADS, PARTICULARLY, ARE VERY DANGEROUS. THE FOLKS KNOW WHICH ARE THE DANGEROUS BRIDGES AND ROADS. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE FIRST. THEN WE NEED TO ASK THE INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE YOU PROFITABLE AND TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL? THAT IS WHERE WE GO. [APPLAUSE] MICHAEL: BEYOND THE GAS TAX, WHEN IT REACHES ITS CAP, WHAT NEW TAX WOULD YOU ADVOCATE TO FIX THE ROAD? NOBLE: ABOUT A THIRD OF THE GAS TAX REVENUES IN THE STATE COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TOURISTS. I THINK WE OUGHT TO INCREASE THE GAS TAX SO THAT BOTH FROM OUT OF STATE MORE OF THE TAX. WE CAN REBATE SOME OF THAT BACK TO LOW INCOME SOUTH CAROLINIANS. THAT IS A WAY FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO PAY FOR OUR TAXES AND ROADS, WHICH IS JUST SMART POLITICS, WHICH IS KIND OF ABSENT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GOVERNMENT, TO SAY THE LEAST. NOBLE: I DISAGREE WITH MR. NOBLE. THERE IS MONEY IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE NEED TO HOLD THOSE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE TO GIVE US THE MONEY. WE NEED THE FEDERAL DOLLARS DOWN HERE. MOST OF OUR TRANSPORTATION BUDGET COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT FROM STATE GOVERNMENT -- STATE MONEY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE DOLLARS HERE. THAT REQUIRES A STRONG GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. MICHAEL: YOU ARE DOING GREAT ON TIME. WE APPRECIATE THAT. CAROL: MARGUERITE WILLIS, THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP ON THE D.O.T.. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BECOMING A CABINET POSITION? WILLIS: ABSOLUTELY, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE THE STATE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE A RELATIVELY WEAK GOVERNOR, BECAUSE AFTER RECONSTRUCTION NOBODY WANTED A BLACK MAN TO BE GOVERNOR. THEY MADE THE GOVERNOR’S POSITION DELIBERATELY WEAK. OVER TIME THE GOVERNOR’S POSITION HAS GOTTEN STRONGER, BUT WE NEED TO MOVE SEVERAL OF THESE POSITIONS INTO THE GOVERNOR’S CABINET SO THAT SHE CAN BE A REAL EXECUTIVE. [APPLAUSE] CARO PHIL NOBLE, ON THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BECOMING A CABINET POSITION? NOBLE: ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD GET BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AT 100% UNDER THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS BASICALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATOR AND THE CRONIES. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. MICHAEL: OPPORTUNITY FOR REBUTTAL, 30 SECONDS, ANYONE? CAROL: PHIL NOBLE, THIS GOES YOU FIRST. 24 SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES HAVE A HIGHER JOBLESS RATE NOW THAN THEY DID WHEN YOU’RE AGO JOHN:. WHAT MUST BE DONE TO ADD JOBS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, WHERE FEWER PEOPLE ARE WORKING? NOBLE: WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SKILLS TO OUR EXISTING, EMERGING WORKFORCE TO DO THAT. GREENVILLE, LAURENS, AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES PROVIDE 100% FREE TUITION FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF SCHOOL FOR GRADUATES. IF THOSE COUNTIES CAN DO IT, THE ENTIRE STAY UP TO DO. IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD. VOLVO HAVE 1500 JOBS TO FILL. THEY HAD TO INTERVIEW 45,000 PEOPLE TO FILL 1500 JOBS. THAT JUST SHOWS YOU TH EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FUNDAMENTALLY NOT AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE JOBS THEY NEED IN THE MODERN WORLD. THAT IS THE BASIC ISSUE. [APPLAUSE] CAROL: MARGUERITE WILLIS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE. WHAT MUST BE DONE TO ADD JOBS AND COMMUNITIES? WILLIS: PHIL AND I HAVE A DIFFERENT SLANT ON THIS. I THINK THAT THE KEY ISSUE IN SOME OF THESE COUNTIES IS POVERTY. JOB NUMBER ONE FOR THE GOVERNOR IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I’M GOING TO FOCUS THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, WHICH REPORTS TO ME AS GOVERNOR, ON POVERTY IN THIS PLACES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE JOBS. WE MUST ILLUMINATE THE POSSIBILITY -- ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF KIDS FAILING SCHOOL AND NOT GETTING JOBS. IT IS RELATED TO EDUCATION. THE POINT OF IT IS THAT WE HAVE TO GOT TO LOOK -- HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT POVERTY. WE HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT KIND OF JOBS AND BUSINESSES THAT WILL COME TO UNION COUNTY, MARION COUNTY, CASES WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. I THINK WE’RE SMART ENOUGH TO DO THIS. I KNOW THAT I AM ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. MICHAEL: MISS WILLIS, THINK YOU FOR THAT. IF FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR YOU, PHIL NOBLE. WE HAVE BMW AND BOEING IN THE STATE. WHAT PLACES WOULD YOU GO AFTER WHAT POVERTY IS TIGHT -- WHERE POVERTY IS HIGH? NOBLE: IF YOU TAKE THINGS L BOEING AND BMW, AND PUT THEM IN LEE COUNTY AND MARION COUNTY, THEY CANNOT DO THE JOB. THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE IS THAT WE HAVE IMPORTED LABOR, BECAUSE SOUTH CAROLINA CANNOT DO THE JOB. WE MUST FIRST START OUT WITH JOBS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO. RELATIVELY LOW SKILL J THE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN THE RURAL AREAS FIRST. ONCE THEY HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP SOME SKILLS, THEN WE CAN MOVE UP THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOPHISTICATION CHAIN. YOU CAN’T HAVE BOEING IN MARION COUNTY. MICHAEL: MISS WILLIS, YOUR THOUGHTS? WILLIS: I WOULD BRING ALMOST AND THE KIND OF JOB OVER THERE. I AM NOT OPPOSED TO CASINO GAMBLING. I WOULD LOOK AT EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE TO GET JOBS INTO THESE PLACES. I DISAGREE. WE HAVE KIDS WHO HAVE THE LIGHT OF HOPE IN THEIR LIVES. WE JUST NEED TO DO OUR JOB BY THEM. THEY CAN DO THE JOBS, THEY CAN DO THE WORK, WE CAN HELP THESE KIDS. TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS AN OPTION , BUT JOB ONE IS TO GET ANY KIND OF JOB OVER THERE THAT IS A DECENT COMPANY AND IS A DECENT WAGE, AND WILL HELP THE COMMUNITY LEAVE THIS POVERTY-STRICKEN SITUATION. [APPLAUSE] MICHAEL: MR. NOBLE, 30 SECONDS. NOBLE: ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT I WORKED ON IN MARION COUNTY, IS PROVIDING LAPTOPS FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY KIDS. ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD. IT HAD A HUGE IMPACT. WE HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE. WE ACTUALLY CAN DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE IN THE STATE. WE HAVE TO INCREASE THEIR EDUCATION, AND TECHNOLOGY SKILL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE JOBS FOR THEM TO MOVE INTO. WE DO NOT HAVE EITHER ONE OR NOT. WILLIS: I WOULD JUST SAY THIS. WE DO HAVE TO WORK ON TWO JOBS AT ONCE, BUT LET’S NOT KID OURSELVES. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO IMPROVE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AT THIS POINT. WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE JOBS IN THERE, WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE COMMITMENT FROM GOOD COMPANIES THAT THEY WILL HELP WITH THESE PROBLEMS IN OUR SCHOOLS. OTHERWISE, EVERYBODY’S TAXES ARE GOING TO, AND NOBODY WANTS THAT TO HAPPEN. MICHAEL: THANK YOU. DU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP -- DO YOU HAVE FOLLOW-UP? NOBLE: YES. I THINK WE DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN OUR STATE. HALF OF OUR SALES TAX REVENUE WE ARE GIVING AWAY TWO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND LOBBYISTS. WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE STATE. IT IS THE POLITICS, THE CORRUPTION AND THE BROKEN POLITICS DRIVEN BY LOBBYISTS AND SPECIAL INTEREST THAT IS KEEPING US FROM HAVING WHAT WE NEED FOR SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE, AND EVERY THING ELSE. YES, WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. MICHAEL: THANK YOU. WILLIS: MAY I JUST RESPOND TO THAT FOR ONE SECOND. MICHAEL: 30 SECONDS. WILLIS: I DON’T THINK MR. NOBLE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT. I HAVE STUDIED THE STATE BUDGET. YOU CANNOT FIX THE SCHOOLS, FIX THE ROADS, THE NEW INDUSTRY, FIX EDUCATION, FIX HEALTH CARE WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE. WE WILL HAVE TO GET ADDITIONAL REVENUE INTO THE STATE BY BRINGING NEW BUSINESS IN OR RAISING TAXES, AND I AM OPPOSED TO RAISING TAXES. THERE YOU HAVE IT. THAT IS THE TRUTH. NOBLE: ARE GIVING AWAY REVENUE THAN WITH -- WE ARE GIVING AWAY MORE REVENUE THAN WE ARE COLLECTING IN SALES TAX REVENUE IN THIS STATE, BECAUSE IT IS DRIVEN BY SPECIAL LOBBYISTS THAT GET SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS. IF WE CAN CLOSE SOME OF THE LOOPHOLES, THEN WE CAN BEGIN TO MAKE AN HONEST ASSESSMENT. IT IS NOT LESS TAXES OR MORE TAXES. IN HIS FIRST ABOUT BEING SMART ABOUT TAXES, ABOUT SPENDING AND POLICY. WILLIS: I STILL HAVE TO COME BACK ON THAT WOMEN. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY. YOU HAVE TO CLOSE TAX LOOPHOLES. THAT AS A WHOLE ANOTHER ISSUE ABOUT TAX REFORM. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TODAY. I AM TELLING YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE STUDIED THE BUDGET, AND THE GOVERNMENT TO KNOW THIS. NOBLE: BUT ME RESPOND, IF I MAKE. -- IF I MAY. NOBLE: THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE. SHE IS A CORPORATE LABOR LAWYER AND WORKS FOR BIG CORPORATIONS. HER FIRM HAS LOTS OF LOBBYISTS. THEIR JOB IS TO GO TO THE LEGISLATOR, IT GETS SPECIAL INTEREST TAX BREAKS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. THAT IS THE REALITY. IF WE CAN GET RID OF THE POLITICS AND CORRUPTION, WE CAN GET THE MONEY. IT IS NOT ABOUT THAT WE WILL NEVER HAVE YOU RAISE TAXES -- HAVE TO RAISE TAXES. MAYBE WE WILL, BUT LET’S FIRST FIX THE CORRUPTION, AND CLOSE LOOPHOLES. MICHAEL: SOMETHING TELLS ME WE HAVE NOT HEARD THE LAST OF THIS. CAROL: WE NEED TO MOVE ON. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN SPEND THE NEXT YOU MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THIS. WE ARE MOVING ON TO THE OPIOID CRISIS. WE ARE IN A SHIFT IN THE STATES OPIOID CRISIS. WALHALLA’S POLICE CHIEF WAS DISCHARGED WITH OPIOID RELATED CRIMES -- JUST CHARGED WITH OPIOID RELATED CRIMES. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN AS GOVERNOR TO ATTACK THE OPIOID CRISIS? WILLIS: I AM NOT AFRAID TO TACKLE TOUGH ISSUES. THIS IS A TOUGH AND MULTIFACETED ISSUE. YOU HAVE TO CUT OFF THE SUPPLY AND RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARE NOT BAD DRUGS IN THE RIGHT HANDS. THESE ARE FOR CHRONIC AND ACUTE PAIN. THEY NEED TO BE CONTROLLED AND DISTRIBUTED APPROPRIATELY. YOU NEED TO CUT OFF THE ILLEGAL SUPPLY, AND THEN HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME THE IT WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL MENTAL-HEALTH OFFICIALS, ADDITIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT. IT IS GOING TO BE COSTLY, BUT I THINK IT IS WORTH THE FIGHT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS AROUND FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING OPIOIDS, OVER OR ADDICTED -- OR WHO ARE ADDICTED, HAVE THE RIGHT ANTIDOTE AVAILABLE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE RIGHT DRUG IN THE HANDS OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHERS SO THAT FOLKS DO NOT DIE. CAROL: MR. NOBLE, THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN AS GOVERNOR TO ATTACK THE OPIOID CRISIS? NOBLE: THE FIRST THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS START AT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. YOU HAVE UNDER ENORMOUS NUMBER OF DOCTORS IN THE STATE WHO OVERPRESCRIBED OPIOIDS. WE DO NOT HAVE ON AFFECTIVE REGISTER TO KNOW WHO IS PRESCRIBING WHAT AND HOW MUCH TO. THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO. IF YOU DO NOT STEM THE FLOW COME UP AND WANT TO END UP WITH AN INCREASING PROBLEM, BECAUSE PART OF WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THICKLY GOOD WILL WHO HAVE BEEN -- PAIN HAVE DOCTORS WHO PRESCRIBE THEM RECKLESSLY. IF WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRY TO START WITH, WHICH WE DO WITH A LOT OF DRUGS, BUT IT IS NOT EFFECTIVE WITH OPIOIDS. START WITH THE SOURCE AND THEN WE CAN BEGIN TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER ISSUES. TIM: HE IS JUST --WILLIS: JUST WRONG ABOUT THAT. WE KNOW WHO IS PRESCRIBING OPIOIDS AND WHAT DRUGSTORES ARE DESCRIBING. -- PRESCRIBING. NOBLE: IF WE KNEW THEN WE WOULD SHUT THEM DOWN. NOBLE: THEY ARE SHUTTING THEM --WILLIS: THEY ARE SHUTTING THEM DOWN. HERE IS THE TRUTH. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT YEARS AGO ADDED A CRITERIA TO REIMBURSEMENT THAT HAS TO DO WITH PAIN MANAGEMENT. DRUGS BECAUSE OF THE PAIN, AND THAT STARTED IT. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THE BEGINNER OF SOMETHING THAT IN THE STATE. WE DO KNOW WHO IS PRESCRIBING THESE DRUGS. WE DO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE BEING PRESCRIBED. THAT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM. OUR PROBLEM IS THE ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF THESE DRUGS. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO CUT OFF. VIRGINIA WERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PRESCRIPTIONS FOR OPIOIDS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN. THAT IS WRONG, AND WE KNOW IT, AND CAN SHUT IT DOWN. MICHAEL: A FINAL QUESTION. I WANT TO START WITH YOU, PHIL NOBLE. HOW WOULD YOU ENFORCEMENT ENGAGES WITH THIS? NOBLE: LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SIMPLY NOT TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO RECOGNIZE IT, TO TREAT PATIENTS ARE VICTIMS, THEY’RE NOT TRAINED TO REFER THEM TO THE RIGHT PLACE. IT IS SIMPLY A LACK OF TRAINING AND RESOURCES ON THE PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. IF WE CAN’T FIGHT THEM TRAINING, THEY ARE PERFECTLY GOOD AND SMART PEOPLE. THEY ARE PERFECTLY SMART PEOPLE BUT WE'RE NOT PROVIDING TRAINING AND RESOURCES. THAT IS THE FAULT OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT. WILLIS: CAN I HAVE THE QUESTION AGAIN PLEASE? MICHAEL: HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE THE WAY LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERDICKENSHEETS ESPECIALLY WITH FENTANYL COMING FROM ABROAD? WILLIS: WELL, FENTANYL IS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE DRUG AND SOMETHING THAT IS A KILLER AND THAT IS ONE REASON SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM THESE OPIOID, WHAT ARE CALLED OVERDOSES. WE'VE GOT TO BE SMART AT OUR BORDERS. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE FOLKS, AND NOT JUST -- THIS IS NOT SO MUCH A STATE ISSUE AS IT IS A NATIONAL ISSUE. THE D.E.A. SIMPLY HAS TO GET BETTER AT THEIR JOB.PTHAT'S THE MICHAEL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CANDIDATES. ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON THIS? IF NOT WE'LL MOVE ON TO ANOTHER COMMENT. CAROL: THE NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE FAILED NUCLEAR PROJECT IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S MIDLANDS. BILL NOBLE, WE'LL START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE. CAN SOUTH CAROLINIANS WHO HAVE PAID FOR THE SUMMER PROJECT GET THEIR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BACK? HOW WOULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? NOBLE: NOT WITH THE CURRENT POLITICS AS USUAL WE CAN'T. I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN WHO SAID WE NEED TO HAVE A PERMANENT SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO GO AFTER THE UTILITIES AND THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE HAS BECOME A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE UTILITIES BECAUSE THE UTILITIES SPREAD AROUND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE TABLE AND UNDER THE TABLE MONEY AND THEY ARE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. THE REALITY IS WE OUGHT TO BE GUIDED BY TWO PRINCIPLES. NUMBER ONE, WE OUGHT TO GET OUR MONEY BACK. ALL OF IT. AND PEOPLE OUGHT TO GO TO JAIL. EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST POLITICAL POSTURING, AND JUST SIMPLY NOT BEING HONEST WITH PEOPLE. >> YEAH! YEAH! CAROL: MISS WILLIS, THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU. CAN SOUTH CAROLINIANS GET THEIR MONEY BACK FROM THE FAILED NUCLEAR PROJECT AND HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT MAKING SURE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? WILLIS: AS GOVERNOR, I VIEW MY CLIENTS BECAUSE I'M A LAWYER, AS THE VOTERS, AS THE CITIZENS. SO I'M GOING TO REPRESENT MY CLIENTS, THE CITIZENS AS GOVERNOR. AND AS GOVERNOR I'M GOING TO SAY THE RATE PAYORS SHOULD PAY NOTHING HERE. THIS IS NOT THEIR FAULT. IT IS THE LEGISLATURE'S FAULT. THE LEGISLATION IN THIS CASE CONSTITUTIONALLY HAS RATE MAKING AUTHORITY. THEY ARE THE ONES IN CHARGE, THE ONES WHO PASS WHAT IS CALLED THE BASE LOAD REVIEW ACT THAT CAUSED ALL OF THIS PROBLEM TO ESCALATE TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE A $9 BILLION HOLE IN THE GROUND UP IN THE MIDLANDS AREA. AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE HERE THAT THE RATE PAYORS ARE PROTECTED. THAT BEING SAID, GOING FORWARD, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE INFORMED VOTERS. IF YOU THINK OF GOVERNMENT AS A BUSINESS, THEN IF YOU ARE PAYING FOR YOUR GOVERNOR AND YOUR GOVERNOR DOESN'T DO THE JOB, THEN YOU SHOULD VOTE HER OUT. SO IF I DON'T TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM, IF I DON'T HELP WITH THAT PROBLEM, THEN I SHOULD BE VOTED OUT. AS SHOULD THE LEGISLATORS. I THINK HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT. THE LEGISLATORS WHO BROUGHT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE VOTED OUT OF OFFI