School Choice

2006 ELECTION FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT
School choice focus of forum
GOP candidates differ on using tax credits for private schools
By BILL ROBINSON
brobinson@thestate.com
SCETV debate page
Archived stories and debate footage (as available)
ABOUT THE DEBATES
2006 ELECTION FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT

School choice — at least a version that would grant tax credits to some parents who enroll their children in private schools — revealed clear differences for viewers who watched Sunday’s televised debate featuring five Republicans running for state superintendent of education.

Karen Floyd of Spartanburg and Kerry Wood of Batesburg-Leesville said they would have voted for the tax-credit plan the Legislature rejected this year.

Bob Staton of Lexington and Mike Ryan of Surfside Beach side with the legislative majority that opposed it, while Elizabeth Moffly of Mount Pleasant supports tax credits as a concept but opposed the version that failed this year.

The topic animated the hour-long debate on the state’s ETV network and provided viewers with a glimpse of how uneasy discussing the hot-button topic makes some of the candidates.

Floyd initially sidestepped giving an answer, claiming the proposal that has dominated debate within the Legislature for two years “was an evolving piece of legislation” that made taking a stand difficult. When pressed about the version that failed to gain legislative support, Floyd said “I would have supported it.”......