Getting the Job Done
I believe that Spartanburg County needs a proven leader dedicated to producing jobs and a better future for our community. As a businessman, in service to my country in the military, and in public service, I have worked tirelessly to produce consistent results. I live by getting the job done and getting it done right. Spartanburg County needs a strong leader that will work for real reform to get the job done right. That means top-down education reform and a comprehensive economic stimulus plan for job creation in the Upstate.
Our community has the potential to reach new economic horizons with real education reform. As your representative, I will work for reform of our State Department of Education. We must insist that our tax dollars are not caught up in bureaucratic red tape, but rather make it into the classrooms. Our students deserve teachers with the best training and new technology to prepare them for the future. Also, our education reform needs to reach all students, from our early learning programs to graduation.
We also need a workforce for the 21st century. This means technology and new methods of business and industry training, not only for our kids but to retrain our current workforce. We must make sure that Spartanburg County has trade skills on par with the rest of our Nation and the world so we are able to compete in the global marketplace.
Private business and government must work together to invest in our schools, our economy and our infrastructure. In order to make South Carolina competitive on all levels, we need to provide businesses with a well-trained workforce. It benefits both our students and the private sector to have businesses involved in real world training in our schools. We need to bring business to our State by decreasing their tax burden and cutting regulation. Lastly, we need to make sure that our State provides infrastructure that meets the needs of the businesses looking to invest in our economy.
Let’s work together for real reform that produces a stronger economy and a brighter future for the Upstate. I am dedicated to move Spartanburg County forward, and to be the proud voice of our community in Columbia.
SHJ | Forrester lines up support, war chest
Local money seems to be lining up behind Republican Mike Forrester in the race for state House District 34.
The seat is up for grabs, as Rep. Scott Talley has left it vacant to pursue a state Senate bid.
Forrester has about four times as much in his campaign war chest as rival Republican Ken Roach, whom he will face in the June primary.
Fighting for SC Taxpayers
Today we experience another April 15th, and as yet another Tax Day passes us by, I am reminded of the increasing wasteful government spending and inefficiency we are paying for this year. We are paying for more pork barrel projects, more legislative pay increases, and more bureaucratic waste in our State Department of Education. It’s time to take a stand and have a voice in Columbia that’s there to protect your wallets.
While our economy is in neutral, our government is growing faster than our rate of inflation and our legislators and state bureaucrats are lining their wallets with the hard-earned income of our taxpayers. Our current State Representative Scott Talley recognized this problem and introduced a plan to constitutionally cap state spending. However Representative Talley is in the true conservative minority and his plan is likely to be killed by big spending politicians. I promise to continue Representative Talley’s work and be a strong voice in our Statehouse that will
• Build Our Local Economy
• Increase Efficiency in Government
• Create New Jobs
• Cut Wasteful Spending
Columbia politicians have been giving us empty rhetoric for years about these issues but haven’t given us the results. I can honestly tell you the best way to know what a person will do, is to look at what they’ve done. I have dedicated my whole life to serving my Country, State, and community, but don’t take my word for it – just look at my resume. You can find my resume posted at www.forresterforhouse.com along with the latest news, issues, and blog postings from the campaign trail.
But, folks this is only the beginning. Spartanburg also needs someone to take a stand for family issues, education reform, and high ethical standards in government. You can also look at my Solutions Center on my website and see the real answers I have for the problems facing Spartanburg.
Kicking off the campaign
Friends - last Friday we officially kicked off our campaign at Spartanburg Community College’s Accelerated Business Center - where education meets job creation. Here’s the video:
Press Release: MIKE FORRESTER OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN
Republican Mike Forrester today officially launched his
campaign for South Carolina State House among family, friends, and local
area business leaders. Forrester also delivered a speech focusing on
education reform with an emphasis on economic revitalization and decreased
government spending and bureaucracy.
“Today we turn on the television and we see politicians from both parties
griping and complaining about all the problems facing our state and nation,”
said Forrester. “However, we see very few stepping up and doing the hard
work it takes to find the solutions. That’s why I’m running for State House.
I’m running because I have the experience, knowledge, and desire to do the
heavy lifting.”
Forrester also outlined a four-part plan to reform education. The plan
includes accountability and efficiency at the state department of education,
reducing the high school dropout rate, increasing of funding and emphasis
for 3-4 year old kindergarten, and involving local business more in the
educational system.
Forrester spoke on the marriage of technological education and business
recruitment, saying, “Many from the public and private sector realized that
until we recruit new high paying, high tech jobs, we will not be able to
compete in the global marketplace…So we have developed public school
technical training, created state-of-the-art research centers, and begun
truly linking education and economic development.”
The event was held at Spartanburg Community College’s Accelerated Business
Center which recently announced a new manufacturing partnership that will
bring $7.25 million and 120 new jobs to Spartanburg County. Forrester, who
is Director of Economic Development for the school stated, “It is because we
identified a problem and worked hard for a solution that those 120 jobs are
coming to our region. It is those same solutions that can create jobs
across our state during a time that the nation faces an economic crunch,”
Forrester also noted his experience with the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce
and Upstate Alliance, his time in the Army, and as former Chairman of the SC
State Board of Education. “As Chairman of the State Board of Education I
learned that our education system has all the potential in the world to meet
the demands of our economy, if we don’t give up or fall to political
pressures. All it takes is innovation, creativity, and hard work.”