Carnes to support tax reform ( FairTax)

Brian Carnes, candidate for South Carolina Senate District 16 said "If elected I will support the South Carolina fair tax bill".

Brian Carnes is one of the first candidates to pledge his support for tax reform in South Carolina. He will be supportive of many of Governor- Elect Nikki Haley's initiatives to eliminate the Corporate income taxes in the next legislative session.

Brian will be a strong advocate for the Fair Tax if elected! The Fair Tax would eliminate the corporate income, personal income, sales taxes, and tax exemptions. This new single tax would be targeted to new goods and services at six percent. While it would eliminate the afore mentioned taxes, the Fair Tax would NOT affect property taxes. We should all agree if this bill was to move forward we would immediately take a look at Act 388, which has been a stickler to many in the state since it was introduced, because this in theory would be a double tax.

This is a win – win for Senate District 16 and the state of South Carolina. The Fair Tax would be revenue neutral and provide a steady flow of income for South Carolina, not to mention that it would allow District 16 to be able to compete with the bigger marketing areas in order to encourage businesses and new residents to move to District 16 from surrounding areas.

Brian on Fiscal responsibility

Brian believes in limited, effective, and responsible government that requires all elected officials to be accountable for our tax dollars so that every penny is spent wisely. We must ease the tax burdens on local businesses as well as individuals. We have to take a common sense approach when we are spending your money. State legislators must work together and always demand balanced budgets with a percentage of the budget going to a contingency fund at all times.

Brian continues to talk jobs and accountability

Jobs are the key to our survival in South Carolina and District 16. We must be aggressive in recruiting businesses to our District with responsible economic incentives. This will translate into the creation of many more jobs and will lower the 11- 14 % unemployment rate we face in our District.

Brian believes you deserve a representative with the initiative to work diligently for a future that benefits all of District 16. Brian will concentrate his efforts on developing and integrating changes to the present Senate to streamline and bring more efficiency to its government.

"Accountability "In leadership roles, accountability is the acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies including the administration, governance, and implementation within the scope of the role or employment position and encompassing the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences.

Taxes and South Carolina, Brian Carnes says we need an overhaul!

South Carolina already pays more than enough in taxes. Many families in our state are struggling and need some relief. As your next Senator Brian will work to bring reform in our states tax code. We must do a total over haul from top to bottom. Brian, will look at the flat-tax, Fairtax or any other reform opportunity that will not be overbearing to taxpayers in South Carolina. We need to implement better management of our states finances in order to maximize dollars spent and keep taxes low. We must as an elected body govern for the people, Brian will prioritize programs, scrutinize spending, and ensure that we only spend on needs versus wants!

Please join us in this fight for reform please VOTE February 22ND in the Republican Primary!

Merry Christmas from Brian Carnes and Family

On this Christmas Eve of 2010, my Family and me would like to take the time to wish you and your family the gifts of Peace, Health and Happiness throughout the holiday season.

As we go into the night and spend time with families and friends tomorrow, I would like eveyone to remember what the true meaning of Christmas is. It is the day of birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It also a day to reflect and give to those in need, I ask you to pray for our men and woman who serve in the military who are not with their families during Christmas. I would like to personally thank you for your service in defense of our country and keeping all those here at home safe from tyranny at our shores. We are truly blessed in this country for the sacrifices you have made.

So with said, I would to leave you with a quote from Norman W. Brooks “Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself”.

May God be with each and every one of you during this Holiday Season”.

Merry Christmas,
Brian and The Carnes Family

Brian on Civil service and protection

Brian believes South Carolina must provide strong and prepared law enforcement to the citizens of our state to ensure we are safe in our homes and neighborhoods. We must provide the proper resources to the Sheriffs, City, County, and State Police Departments. These men and woman are performing a selfless act.

Our Firefighters, EMT’s and Teachers should be paid a fair sum for the duty they perform. Most of these services, have \tough jobs and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Without all of these services our citizens would not not wake up every morning feeling safe and secure in most of their homes. They put it on the line everyday.

Lastly, we need to provide our District Attorneys the proper tools to keep our streets safe and give them the necessary funds to prosecute those who commit crimes and then make sure we provide adequate space to incarcerate criminals. We owe it to the people of this great state to protect them, especially when they are paying for these services with their hard earned tax dollars.

Brian on bailouts and stimulus packages

Brian is against bailouts and stimulus packages.He believes that bailouts are government power strongholds that invade the private sector and a slide toward socialism. Most of these stimulus packages are pet projects for elected officials and/or lobbyist. I am totally against this. Our federal government is forcing and pressuring states to destroy our future generations under mountains of debt by jumping in and forcing us into taking money we do not want. All this does is build DEBT!

With this intereference from Washington, South Carolina cannot govern correctly, they have put us on a fast track spiral to economic collapse, if this continues South Carolinians will have a "bailout mentality" . We already have enough problems without federal government coming in and dictating how we run our state. We can no longer look upon government for all the answers, rather we must find our own solutions.

South Carolina at this time must focus on needs versus wants; we owe it to the people of this great state to be fiscally responsible with their money and both sides have been guilty of spending, as your next state Senator I will fight to stop bailouts and wasteful spending in South Carolina.

Please remember to vote FEBRUARY 22nd in the REPUBLICAN PRIMARY


A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.
Thomas Jefferson

Brian on Healthcare Reform- Keep it in the people's hands!

Brian believes that the government should stay out of Health care. Let the private sector sort out Health care and cut costs. First, you must cut out the fraud and corruption within the Health care system. To not do this would only be transferring the cancer to another system. The government in control of Health care scares me and it should scare you, because power like that can make the people bow down to the government and loose out on another personal freedom and that is the right to choose.

President Obama and Nancy Pelosi pushed this legislation through, they said they wanted to revamp our national healthcare and they sure did. We the people have a choice, it can be reversed and stopped. We must say NO to any government-run health care and NO to mandatory coverage for abortions. As your next Senator, I will join the fight to stop Obamacare here in South Carolina, It is simply bad policy.

We need to unite and continue the lawsuits against Obamacare. We do not have room for government run healthcare whether it be run by the the state or federal government.

Healthcare needs to be affordable and an option for all people. Did you know South Carolina already has one of the highest premiums in the country? When Washington rammed the national healthcare bill through the house it sent shock waves through our state and changed leadership in congress for the first time in nearly 30 years here in South Carolina with John Spratt loosing. The people are angry and legislators need to start listening to their constituents.

With this bill passing in Washington, South Carolinians will see approximately a 15% increase in our states’ premiums. We do not need this increase,it is a travesty. Our friends and family cannot afford healthcare as it is.

As your Representative, I will do what I can to make it affordable for you and your families and I will have an open door to discuss any issue my constituents may have.

Brian on Government and the Constitution

Brian believes in a more reliable & smaller government

This issue comes down to accountability. Brian believes that we need to reduce the size of State Government. We need to make sure that every dollar is spent wisely by eliminating wasteful and unnecessary spending, entitlements and by combining & streamlining departments. Brian believes that every level of government (State or Federal) needs to abide by the rules & laws that they enact. We owe it to the people we serve to make our State Government as lean, efficient and accountable as possible.

I believe we need government to get back to the basics again. They have forgotten how to provide basic quality services like economic development, infrastructure, education and public safety. As your next Senator, I will push for a more efficient and leaner government. One that will offer a high-quality service.

Brian is a a firm believer in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.



Brian is also a strong proponent of the 1st Amendment, 2nd Amendment and 10th Amendment.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms : A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.


Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People : The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Brian on Tort Reform

Brian believes South Carolina needs a lesson on tort reform. Every small business in South Carolina can be ruined by just one lawsuit and may end up bankrupt from over zealous attorneys out to make a quick buck. Over the past few years, the high cost of medical malpractice insurance has put a major strain into the medical field in South Carolina. Brian would support caps for pain, suffering and punitive damages, Now there may be some cases we may need to look at the true nature of permanency or injury but we must leave this option open. Tort Reform should be used to keep costs low and the Free Market to weed out the expensive products.

Brian on Spending and Welfare Reform

Brian believes South Carolina needs to reform their welfare program into job fare. We must help those able body recipients in South Carolina get trained to become a productive part of our state’s workforce. These people are given self worth, which will make them proud and strive for a better life. They also become a taxpayer, which will go back into our economy. The government and the private sector should work as one and get these people back to work.

“Despite a voluminous and often fervent literature on "income distribution," the cold fact is that most income is not distributed: It is earned.” Thomas Sowell




Spending:

The question always arises do we have a budget problem or a spending problem? The answer is simple; Columbia has had a spending problem. Our top Democrat legislative office holders in Columbia and some Republicans are holding us back from true reform and transparency; instead they are wasting countless hours bickering over meaningless legislation that is divided amongst party lines. Brian believes we need to get tough in Columbia and get working for the people of this state, we need to make tough decisions on how to cut wasteful spending and eliminate pork projects that benefit no one but those who push those projects through.

Brian on Faith, Marriage and Abortion

South Carolinians and Americans have the right that many others do not have. We are blessed to be able to vote for our leaders. It’s for the people by the people, but we have got to participate in the process to produce change and retain the values that our Country was founded on.

Faith does influence on how some vote, Many believe that our votes are influenced by our beliefs. As a Candidate I can say “ I would not use it to Govern, but I will rely on it for guidance”. One of our greatest declines in this Country is that lack of moral standards and people are afraid to stand up for what is essential to keep America & South Carolina a free society.

We are under attack in many arenas and there is no more room for any mistakes. In South Carolina I believe we need to have a voice and responsibility to get out and make a decision on who you want to serve you in each elected position, that includes people of faith. We can only change the political process if we vote and defend what is right.

Traditional Marriage: Brian support’s the traditional definition of marriage (between one man, one woman). This position is shared by over 78% of South Carolina voters who supported the Marriage Amendment.

Brian is Pro-Life, I believe in the sanctity of life of the unborn, because I believe life begins at conception. There is no other way to explain this.

Brian on Education Reform

Brian believes that education is the key to our states success. South Carolina for too long has been clawing its way from the bottom of the barrel and he believes the time for a change is now. He supports education reform that puts our children first. He also believes we need to find a way to fund a statewide 4K Kindergarten program to give children an early start. Our parents and their children should be offered choices in their education, because our common goal is to provide the best solution so our children can graduate and continue on to college or a tech school.



Our Senate district has been very fortunate to have some of the best schools in the state. They have great parental involvement and educators who are dedicated to the cause, but at the same time our state is failing as a whole. As your next Representative, I promise to fight and keep our schools the best in the state, but I also feel that we need to find a way to improve the failing schools we have statewide. As you next Representative, I will pursue excellence in our schools by recruiting the best qualified teachers available, I would encourage looking into a variety of educational programs, and finally we must demand accountability. If we do these things South Carolina schools can get out of the cellar
and into the national spotlight, Something we can all be proud of.

South Carolina does have a budget problem when it comes to education, we have a spending problem. The fact Is we do not need more money, we need more education for our money. As your next Senator I promise I will work to reform the education budget and still find a way to improve our education here in South Carolina. We must break our budget into two categories, an administrative budget and a teaching budget. Since the classrooms are only seeing 43% of the total monies allocated to them with the rest being spent on administration and capital projects ,I suggest we cut the administrative budget by 10 to 12% and add that to our teaching budget.

This will improve the way of life for our students in the classroom. This has already been tested in some states and it can work here in South Carolina.

We must Cut cost, Give the school districts more control and follow all the money that is allocated to school districts leaving Columbia. We must allow parents to have a choice when it comes to their children’s educational needs but we must find the proper way of funding this!

Brian on Economic Growth and Infrastructure

As a businessman Brian believes District 16 has a true need for economic development and job creation . As we all know growth is necessary and inevitable, but we must do it the right way to ensure that our communities remain enjoyable places for our families to enjoy. We must lower taxes and stop government growth. We need to to find ways to encourage long term economic growth with heavy recruitment of new businesses.

Brian believes we can do this. We must first eliminate regulations that hurt small business owners and offer true
incentives to any new business that comes in and protect those small businesses that are here. We must create jobs, as you next Senator I promise to make this one of my first priorities, because everyone here in South Carolina deserves to make an honest living.

Brian believes that to keep South Carolina moving in an upward swing we must have an infrastructure plan for the future, He believes that we must check and test many of our roads , bridges and sewage systems. We must make sure that with the rapid growth in our state that our infrastructure is safe, updated and secure in the event of any natural disaster. As a Representative of this state, he would be committed in making sure that we have the proper infrastructure to allow all this growth.

As many of you know, District 16 is one of the quickest growing districts in the state and as your next legislator I would like to put a plan in place to assure that we are prepared for all of our economic opportunities. I believe, that we should support legislation that will encourage an economic boom to our District. Brian also believes that we need to bring in new companies that would provide a greater opportunity for you and your family, We need companies that offer skilled positions who can offer greater pay to improve the lives of many in our district.

South Carolinas Economic recovery depends on a thriving business community. Economic growth does not thrive by a growing government. We must eliminate excessive regulations on businesses.

Brian stands firm on illegal immigration

“We are a nation of immigrants and we are a nation of laws. I support legal immigration and I support enforcing our current laws.” South Carolina has the strongest immigration bill in the United States but we can always make it stronger. It is almost nearly impossible to get a real strong national immigration reform bill in place right now with a divided country, but South Carolina can be a leader in immigration reform. Brian will support legislation that increases penalties for falsifying citizenship documentation and identity theft. I also oppose granting driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants and I believe we should be aggressive with employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Brian believes immigration is an issue that matters to the people of South Carolina and wants to work with members in the house and senate to even strengthen our state laws even more. Illegal immigration is now more then just an economic issue it is a security issue within our own state. As your Representative do everything in his power to find the right solutions and curb illegal immigration.

Brian on Transparency

Transparency" is a catchphrase. Transparency needs to be about making our elected officials accountable for their votes. The public needs to know where they stand on issues and how they voted. Brian will fight for roll call voting, so that voting public knows how their representatives voted. We need to make our government more accountable and user friendly for constituents. We need to make on-line bills and campaign finance reporting easier to find so that everyone can access that information easily. Brian believes that we need to be able to track where every dollar in our state budgets goes in order to insure that we don't grow our bureaucracy at the expense of our programs.

Brian speaks on job creation

Brian believes that job creation is one of the leading issues for the people in District 16. As a small business owner, Brian knows that we need to find the right solutions to provide people with meaningful employment. People in our District are hurting and many of them are struggling to get by. Short-term solutions are just that, short term. We need to find long-term solutions that enhance and expand our small business base, which drives the employment in our state. We need to find ways to keep our small businesses from failing in South Carolina and make them more competitive. We need to make it easier for them to expand by eliminating the governmental barriers that impede their growth. If we can get people back to work, then we can eventually turn our economy around.

This should be the number one job of the legislature going into 2011 (job creation). We cannot afford any more quick - fix government run programs. We need to provide oppurtunities for both blue and white-collar workers. Jobs that utilize the talents that exist within our current work force pool. We need a pro-business legislature. Our citizens deserve it!

Why Brian Carnes is running and S. C. Senate District 16

My name is Brian Carnes, candidate for State Senate District 16. I am running for the Senate because I believe that I'm the right person to represent you and our neighbors in Columbia.

With Mr. Mulvaney going to Washington, I believe it is more important than ever to elect a true conservative to the S.C. Senate to replace him. With the issues we face as a country and a state it is very important to know where a candidate stands on the issues and more importantly where I stand on the issues. I want to reform state government, to eliminate wasteful spending, streamline departments, reform education, reform our tax structure by making it flatter, fairer and more flexible for everyone. I will oppose unnecessary tax increases and work to make our government smaller and more responsive to the needs of all South Carolinians.


The economic storm that we have encountered has presented our state with challenges that call for new vision and new ideas. We clearly cannot continue the current tax and spend policies of our federal and state legislatures. Our state cannot afford to do this with so many people struggling to hold on to jobs, losing their homes and with businesses collapsing because of a broken economy. We cannot continue to waste our hard earned money on government programs that are pet projects for our elected officials.



District 16 needs a Pro-Business Senator, who will work to create new job opportunities and to attract new industry. We need to put people back to work, rather than fund government projects that are quick fixes that put us further in debt. I believe a strong private sector that creates jobs, rather than government handouts that do not address our unemployment problems, is what South Carolina needs.
As your next State Senator finding ways to create jobs and putting people back to work will be one of my first priorities. We must resist the anti-business philosophy of President Obama and his administration along with Nationalized Healthcare that has already raised our health insurance rates 15% in South Carolina. We need a government that will work with the private sector to create opportunities for meaningful employment for everyone in South Carolina rather than regulations and obstacles that prevent growth and expansion.


I'm running for State Senate to speak out and act on behalf of taxpayers who deserve the best possible representation. My main goal as a candidate is to reform the way government is run in South Carolina because you and your family deserve a chance for a brighter future. My hope is that we can re-boot our economy and keep the small businesses alive and vibrant here in South Carolina.

Brian Carnes on State Spending

The question always arises do we have a budget problem or a spending problem? The answer is simple; Columbia has a spending problem.Our top Democratic legislative office holders in Columbia and some Republicans are holding us back from true reform and transparency; instead they are wasting countless hours bickering over meaningless legislation that is divided amongst party lines. We need to get tough in Columbia and get working for the people of this state, we need to make tough decisions on how to cut wasteful spending and eliminate pork projects that benefit no one but those who push those projects through.

As you next State Senator, I will fight and say NO to these useless projects and keep money in your families pocketbook. The times of irresponsible government have to end.

Brian on Veterans Affairs

We must protect and defend our Veterans, these men and woman gave it all to defend us against tyranny on our shores and we have a growing number of war time vets who will need our help to make sure they receive the best care we can possibly give them in South Carolina. They deserve the best health care that we can provide them for their immediate and long term needs. This is one thing I know we can do.




For many of us we do not understand the true sacrifice these men and woman made for us in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention our Vietnam vets. If we do not protect them in their time of needs who will? We must make sure as a state legislator that our facilities; clinics and hospitals in our state are up to par when it comes to their needs.

"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you".Former Vice PResident Dick Cheney

Governor-elect Nikki Haley announces a strong , experienced senior staff

Governor elect Nikki Haley announces a strong and experienced senior staff. One that will make a great impact for the people of South Carolina. Read the article here.

Her Chief of staff will be Tim Pearson who was also Haley's Gubernatorial transition Executive Director. Pearson served as Haley's campaign manager and served as Senior Communications Advisor to Governor Mark Sanford.

Katherine Haltwanger is one of the Deputy Chiefs of Staff and will manage operations. She was a member of the Republican Governors Association fundraising team during the 2010 election cycle and also worked for Governor Sanford and First lady Jenny Sanford. She also served as state finance director for Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign.

Ted Pitts is another Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Cabinet affairs and was a state House of Representative from Lexington. He serves with the SC National Guard as a captain and just returned from Afghanistan. He is a bronze star recipient.

Trey Walker is the final Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs and Communications and has served as Attorney General Henry McMaster's top staff member since 2003.

Swati Patel will keep her position as Chief Legal Counsel which she has held for seven years during Governor Sanford’s administration. Before that she was Assistant Legal Counsel and Deputy Counsel to the State House Judiciary Committee, State House Ethics Committee and staff to the SC Legislative Council.

Rob Godfrey will continue on as Press Secretary and is currently spokesman for Nikki Haley’s transition team. He has served as communications director for Haley for Governor, Attorney General Henry McMaster, SCGOP and also was the the press secretary for Rep. Ralph Norman during his run for U.S. Congress in 2006.

Governor-elect Haley meets with the S.C. federal delegation

COLUMBIA, S.C. South Carolina Gov.-elect Nikki Haley met Monday with the state's freshman-packed U.S. House delegation and its two veteran U.S. senators as they agreed to work on key issues such as deepening Charleston's port and bailing out the state's schools.

Haley met with freshman Reps. Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Mick Mulvaney and Tim Scott, along with veteran Reps. Jim Clyburn and Joe Wilson and U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint

Federal Judge says Mandatory Insurance Clause Unconstitutional

Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled Monday for the state's claim that the requirement for people to purchase health care exceeds the power of Congress under the Constitution's Commerce Clause or under the General Welfare Clause.

The Obama administration’s requirement that most citizens maintain minimum health coverage as part of a broad overhaul of the industry is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled, striking down the linchpin of the plan.

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson in Richmond, Virginia, said today that the requirement in President Barack Obama’s health-care legislation goes beyond Congress’s powers to regulate interstate commerce. While severing the coverage mandate, which was to become effective in 2014, Hudson didn’t address other provisions such as expanding Medicaid.

Hudson, appointed by President George W. Bush, found the minimum essential coverage provision of the act “exceeds the constitutional boundaries of congressional power.”

"Bloomberg"



This is good news for Americans who feel that they are being forced into something that is Unconstitutional. This will be a long drawn out battle that will probably be decided by the Supreme Court. The federal Government better wake up quickly because the American people are truly frustrated with Government interfering with personal choices. I cannot believe they have already forgot what happened in November.

No ONE should be forced into purchasing anything they do not want. This ruling was the first of many milestones in our fight for individual and personal freedoms.

President Obama and the Democrats have awoken the true sleeping giant and that is American people. This battle has just begun!

Government should stay out of Health care. Let the private sector sort out Health care and cut costs. First, you must cut out the fraud and corruption within the Health care system. If we did not do this then we are only adding to the problem, we can cannot continue to transfer our health care issues over to another system. The government in control of Health care is a really frightening thought, because power like that can enslave the people to the government.

Lancaster Christmas Parade, Great time and many thanks!

Just like to take a minute to thank the organizers of the Lancaster County Christmas Parade of lights. As we drove up the parade route you knew it was a great success and we were very fortunate to have the great weather we did on Saturday night.

It was truly amazing to see how organized Lancaster County, was for this extremely large parade. I would like to take a minute to thank all of the parade organizers, Lancaster County Police, Lancaster Sheriffs and the Local Fire Departments whose hard work made this a truly safe & successful event.

Thanks also has to go out to all the volunteers, businesses, vendors and County employees who work these events, Without your help and support the City could never be truly as successful as they are.

This festival of lights parade brought many smiles and cheers from children young and old. Parades like the one we have here bring a community together and allows them to spend time with one another. They get a chance to put things aside for an evening and come out as a family and understand what being part of a community really means. Not to mention they get to spread some holiday cheer.

Lastly, we would like to thank the parade participants who recognized the volunteers and thanked them for their help. Our experience of being in a small town parade and seeing all of the community coming together as one makes this occasion very important for its future success.

We Wish You And Your Family The Gifts Of Peace, Health & Happiness Throughout This Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas to all!

Filing Dates set to fill District 16 State Senate seat.

According to the Lancaster News filing dates have been set to fill the state Senate seat that newly Congressman elect Mick Mulvaney has vacated. These dates are very important because we are now on a time frame and have our work cut out for us over the next 11 weeks.

Filing for the state Senate seat will begin at noon Dec. 31 and close at noon Jan. 10, said Garry Baum, a spokesman for the S.C. Election Commission. If two or more people file in one party, a primary will be held Feb. 22. As many of us already know there are expected to be four or five candidates vying to fill this seat.



District 16 is uniquely designed and has it breaks between Republican and Democratic voters. It recent years it has been trending Republican with former State Senator Mick Mulvaney and House Representative Deborah Long leading the way. District 16 covers most of Lancaster County and a portion of eastern York County. District 16 also covers a small part of York County down SC 5 in the Catawba, Leslie area.

This race is crucial for Republicans to retain as it will be a special election to fulfill Mr. Mulvaney's final 2 years.
.

Brian Carnes a true conservative for the people

With a proven record of being a true conservative Brian Carnes is the right person to send to Columbia and replace another staunch conservative Mick Mulvaney.

Brian truly understands the needs of District 16. Being a small business owner, his dedication, hard work and a his desire to serve.

Brian will fight to get rid of big government, wasteful spending and the bureaucratic red tape that has overrun our state. If we truly want change then we need a real reformer.

We ask that you consider Brian Carnes as your next State Senator.




Here are three issues that Brian wants to tackle as your next Senator:


Job Creation: Brian believes that job creation is one of the leading issues for the people in District 16. As a small business owner, Brian knows that we need to find the right solutions to provide people with meaningful employment. People in our District are hurting and many of them are struggling to get by. Short term solutions are just that, short term. We need to find long term solutions that enhance and expand our small business base, which drives the employment in our state. We need to find ways to keep our small businesses from failing in South Carolina and make them more competitive. We need to make it easier for them to expand by eliminating the governmental barriers that impede their growth. If we can get people back to work, then we can eventually turn our economy around.

Transparency: Transparency" is a catchphrase. Transparency needs to be about making our elected officials accountable for their votes. The public needs to know where they stand on issues and how they voted. Brian will fight for roll call voting, so that voting public knows how their representatives voted. We need to make our government more accountable and user friendly for constituents. We need to make on-line bills and campaign finance reporting easier to find so that everyone can access that information easily. Brian believes that we need to be able to track where every dollar in our state budgets goes in order to insure that we don't grow our bureaucracy at the expense of our programs.
 
A More Reliable & Smaller Government: This issue comes down to accountability. Brian believes that we need to reduce the size of State Government. We need to make sure that every dollar is spent wisely by eliminating wasteful and unnecessary spending, entitlements and by combining & streamlining departments. Brian believes that every level of government (State or Federal) needs to abide by the rules & laws that they enact. We owe it to the people we serve to make our State Government as lean, efficient and accountable as possible

Lancaster Christmas Parade

Please join Brian tonight as he follows the parade route and Grand Marshal Larry Sprinkle, WCNC's Weather Anchor as he leads the Lancaster Christmas Wonderland Parade through beautiful historic downtown Lancaster. Step-off is at 6 PM on Main Street. This is one of the best parades in the area as the Holiday season closes in. We hope to see many familiar faces in the crowd!

Introduction of Brian Carnes

A lifelong resident of Indian Land, SC in Lancaster County; Brian Carnes grew up in a close knit family and community. Fourth of five sons born to Wade & Rosemary Carnes, he knows first hand about the importance of family and community. He has seen many changes in the area that the State Senate District #16 encompasses. Living in Indian Land in Lancaster County and having a business in York County gives him a unique perspective on the district.

Growing up with an extended family, Brian values and appreciates the lessons he learned from his parents, grandparents and uncles & aunts. Conservative and family values were not buzz words in his family, it was how they lived. To respect your elders, to give back to your community, to believe in the sanctity of life and to live your faith everyday are the cornerstones that he has built his life on.

A graduate of Indian Land Schools, he is partners in two businesses - Carolina Innovations, LLC, which provides fan and lighting displays to the two largest home center chains in the US and in C & C Senior Care Consulting, Inc., which sells franchises for Seniors Helping Seniors of Reading, PA as well as operates a local Seniors Helping Seniors franchise that provides in-home non-medical care to seniors living in Lancaster and York Counties. As a small business owner he knows the need for operating within your means, about budgeting, the high cost of insurance and the reality of a bad economy. Though a successful business man now, he has not forgotten the lessons of being part of a working class family.

Brian is married to the former Pamela "Pam" Sellers and they will celebrate their 29th anniversary in April. Brian & Pam have three sons, two wonderful daughter in-laws, a grandson & a granddaughter (not many girls in this family) and will welcome a new grandson in March of next year. Brian & Pam attend Pleasant Hill UMC in Indian Land where he has been a lifetime member (he was the first baby baptized in their current sanctuary). Brian currently serves as Chairman of the Finance Commitee, Pam on the Preschool Board, both on the Administrative Board, volunteers for Family Promise, ushers, childrens church, nursery workers and actively supporting the other ministries of Pleasant Hill.

Brian currently serves as Chairman of the fee board for the Pleasant Valley Fire Protection District. He is a former member of the Lancaster County School Board, serving two terms from 1998 to 2006. He was regarded by his fellow school board members as one who listened to the varying opinions and was often able to present workable solutions that everyone could agree upon.

Brian has decided to seek the 16th District Senate seat because he feels that state government needs to be transparent & more responsible to the electorate, that reform is needed in the current structure of our government and that we need a common sense approach to running our state