SC Legislative District 3 - Republican Primary Choose 1
SC State House of Representatives -- The legislative power of the State of South Carolina is vested in a general assembly comprised of two chambers - the senate and the house of representatives. The SC House of Representatives consists of 124 part-time members elected every two years to represent the state's 124 single member districts. As part of the general assembly, the House of Representatives creates and amends laws that govern our state and must create and pass the state budget annually. The general assembly draws district lines for the SC House, SC Senate and US House every 10 years after each census. Representatives must be citizens of the United States and the state of South Carolina, at least twenty-one years old at the time of their election, and residents of the district in which they are elected. All representatives are up for election during the same even year election cycle.NOTE: If a candidate's answers are not visible, the candidate may not have completed the survey prior to our publication date. Updated response will be posted as they are received. Voters are welcome to encourage the candidate to share their views.
Biographical Information
To what extent should the state regulate the standards for the use of water and electricity and extent of environmental impact by data centers?
Limited regulations, but, generally, cooling system requirements should specify air cooled with noise attenuation, or closed loop fluid with cooling towers before discharge back to the heat sink. Centers should generally provide their own (nuclear, simple/combined cycle gas) power source, or at least guarantee their load won’t affect grid stability/cost for the region.
What strategies would you support for developing affordable/workforce housing?
Continue to decrease the size of government by lowering income and property tax so workers keep more of their earnings. I’m generally not in favor of government intervention in the matter except in the case of temporary emergency situations, severe handicap, etc.
What, if anything, should the state legislature do to ensure access to quality healthcare in SC at an affordable cost for all?
Discourage consolidation of practices and the monopolies they produced. Address compulsory noncompete contracts to foster expansion of individual practices and increase competition.
What is your position on the use of tax revenue to fund public versus private education?
I’m not too concerned with specific sources of education dollars whether public or private. I’m more concerned with the educational value received from the dollars spent. We should focus on what’s best for the students, using verifiable metrics for outcomes, and less on funding sources.
Use this space, if you wish, to discuss your views on any other issues.
If elected, I will continue to focus on roads, bridges, and other infrastructure improvements, as well as growth management strategies to improve the quality of life in South Carolina and keep up with a growing population while protecting our environment. Additionally, I will continue a focus on lowering income and property taxes, improving educational opportunities for all students by increasing teacher pay and their work-life balance, expand and monitor school choice options, and protect our children from evil.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
864-508-7153
Website
http://www.joeburgett.com
Qualifications for Office
I’m a Clemson University professor and licensed general contractor with experience in the public and private sectors. My work has focused on applying technology and data to improve government operations, including projects with the South Carolina Department of Transportation. I have hands-on experience in construction, infrastructure, and project management, as well as teaching and workforce development. I’ve lived in Clemson since 2013 with my wife and three daughters. We have been very involved in foster care, welcoming 10 children into our home over the past 9 years.
To what extent should the state regulate the standards for the use of water and electricity and extent of environmental impact by data centers?
I believe decisions about data centers should be made at the local level, not dictated from Columbia. Counties and municipalities understand their infrastructure, water capacity, and economic goals better than anyone. South Carolina already has standards in place for the environmental impact from development. Our focus should be on enforcing those standards and not adding unnecessary new regulations. With that said, we also need to be smart about growth. Data centers require significant energy and water, and it’s reasonable to expect them to pay for any additional capacity so local residents aren’t left with higher utility bills. When done right, data centers can be a real opportunity, especially in rural areas, to bring revenue to support
What strategies would you support for developing affordable/workforce housing?
In general, I favor market-driven, local solutions over heavy federal or state programs. Some of the strategies I would support are reducing regulations and zoning barriers to increase supply, empowering public-private partnerships, and streamlining permitting to cut costs. However, the best way to address affordable housing is through economic growth. Instead of artificially lowering housing costs through taxpayer-funded subsidies, I would like to develop policies that create better-paying jobs so everyone can afford housing at market rates.
What, if anything, should the state legislature do to ensure access to quality healthcare in SC at an affordable cost for all?
The state should focus on practical, cost-lowering solutions and avoid one-size-fits-all mandates. Examples of that are increasing telehealth and more competition to drive down prices. I would support investing in workforce development to increase the number of nurses and mental health professionals. Price transparency and smarter use of technology can also reduce costs as well as help families make more informed decisions. Additionally, I would support policies that strengthen preventive care, so we treat problems early rather than later, when treatment is more difficult for the patient and more costly for the system.
What is your position on the use of tax revenue to fund public versus private education?
I’m open to school choice options, including vouchers, but only if they don’t come at the expense of our public schools. We cannot improve outcomes by weakening the system that serves the vast majority of families. If public funds are used outside the public system, there must be clear accountability and quality standards. Taxpayers deserve to know that every dollar, whether spent in a public or private setting, is delivering real educational value. I would support modifying voucher programs so that local school districts continue to receive state funding tied to those students, helping ensure that declining enrollment does not result in reduced resources for public schools.
Use this space, if you wish, to discuss your views on any other issues.
I’m running because I believe it’s time to return to problem-solving leadership. I’m a Reagan Republican who believes in free markets, limited government, and personal freedom. But more than anything, I’m a problem solver. If elected, I’ll be focused on real issues, like fixing our roads and expanding vocational training in our high schools and technical colleges. We don’t need more political noise—we need real work, practical solutions, and a government that delivers for the people it serves.