ISSUES – Wendell Gilliard

Campaign Principles

Environment Justice (SCSPA) – Near Port communities- Environmental Impact Assessments, and tangible economic development partnerships that result in jobs and business development opportunities for residents in near port communities.
Union Pier (SCSPA) – Affordable housing component- Special Zoning District yielding 20% Workforce Housing and 20% Affordable Housing. MBE Component yielding 15% participation goal.
Local Governments receiving State Funds- i.e. CCSD MBE Update/Disparity Study Update
Naval Base Redevelopment – Affordable housing component- Special Zoning District yielding 20% Workforce Housing and 20% Affordable Housing. MBE Component yielding 15% participation goal.
SCDOT Projects in Region; MBE Participation; Environmental Justice & Mitigation Plans (I-526)
Community Reinvestment Act – SBA Performance with MBEs/

In the year 2023, nobody in the US should be forced to work for starvation wages. It should be a basic truism that in the US, the richest country on earth if you work 40 hours a week you do not live in poverty. Raising the minimum wage is not only the right thing to do morally. It is also good economics. Putting money into the hands of people who will spend it on basic needs is a robust economic stimulant.

As more investments enter historic Black communities, state and local governments need to make sure that residents feel their benefit. Investments can help to lift up historically marginalized communities, but not if they aim to replace those already living there. Local and state policy should aim to strengthen the roots of the community in their neighborhoods while checking dangerous, unrestricted growth.
State and local policy should not only protect these residents but bolster their economic growth and development.
Displacement is one of the major issues threatening our communities. More needs to be done to help control the factors which drive it. It is not unthinkable that we could both benefit from economic development while preventing displacement, and we can create this through a constructive connection between community, local, and state leaders to accomplish this.

South Carolina faces a healthcare crisis, as we are consistently ranked as one of the unhealthiest states in the nation. Hospitals across the state have shuttered in recent years, leaving thousands of South Carolinians stranded from life-saving services. Even for those who still have hospitals operating in their cities and counties, urgent healthcare is out of reach for thousands more as the high cost of healthcare forces people to choose between feeding their families and caring for their well-being. We can help remedy this wrong by expanding Medicare so that seeing a doctor isn’t a luxury few can afford. Community health centers can help deliver medical services to underserved communities across the state. South Carolinians deserve the best healthcare they can get, and no one should be denied the right to good health.

As the technological revolution continues to reshape the American economy, it is the job of leaders in South Carolina to prepare our citizens for the workforce of the future, not the past. Our education system should reflect the importance of computer literacy in today’s economy and ensure our students are not falling behind the rest of the nation. Investment in education should be spread to every school district, not just those in privileged neighborhoods.

Returning citizens in South Carolina face significant challenges that make re-entry after incarceration a daunting and often overwhelming task. Our state’s policy must begin supporting these individuals in facing these challenges, especially when it comes to housing, employment, and finances. By providing a stable home life to returning citizens, we can mitigate the notably higher risk of homelessness among this population and decrease the likelihood of recidivism. Creating employment opportunities will also be integral to aiding returning citizens in re-establishing their lives within society after incarceration. Accordingly, South Carolina policy surrounding the employment of this population must prohibit denial of work opportunities based solely on criminal history. Lastly, we must assist returning citizens in their use of financial tools such as banking accounts and overall budgeting skills so that their income is most effectively utilized toward improving and maintaining their material, physical, and mental well-being.

There have been more mass shootings than there have been days in 2023, with five of them occurring in the state of South Carolina. The damage caused by these shootings radiates far beyond its immediate victims and their families; it strikes at the hearts of our communities. There is no reason for regular citizens to own military-grade assault weapons or acquire guns with such ease as current state laws allow. We should be able to go to the grocery store, send our kids to school, and worship in church without fear for our safety.
Youth programs are integral to developing better social skills, gaining self-knowledge, and preparing kids for the challenges of life. Especially for at-risk youth, such programs can help to keep at-risk youth on a constructive path to success later in life. By creating an environment in which we can raise responsible, confident citizens, we will not only set these youth but our whole communities up for success.