CVSC Releases 2022 Early Endorsements
The Board of Directors of Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC) announced its early endorsement of 18 State Representatives in the 2022 election.
“South Carolina needs champions in the House who will fight for clean air and water, stand up for the rights of citizens to a clean environment, and lead bipartisan coalitions to advance clean energy,” said John Tynan, CVSC’s Executive Director. “We are proud to endorse each of these candidates because they are those champions. They’ve shown that they’ll stand up for conservation time and time again in Columbia, and we wanted to show that they have our support at the ballot box.”
Tynan noted that the strong conservation record of these champions stood out among their peers, earning an endorsement prior to the opening of filing for legislative offices. Each of the House endorsements have worked closely with CVSC on priority legislation in 2021-2022 and/or have a 100% (or higher) score on CVSC’s 2020 conservation scorecard. There are no Senate endorsements as the next regular elections for State Senate are 2024.
CVSC highlighted high scores and consistent leadership for endorsements in the House, including:
Bobby Cox (R) – District 21 – a champion on clean energy, electric vehicles, and wind energy legislation with an 83% score in 2020.
Chandra Dillard (D) – District 23 – a 103% score in 2020 as well as a key ally fighting to stop sham recycling and support solid waste cleanup funds.
John King (D) – District 49 – a 106% score in 2020 as well as a key ally in the fight against rollbacks to solid waste rules, leading to securing strong financial assurances for the melting plastics industry, and elevating discussions of polluter accountability and environmental justice in the House.
Pat Henegan (D) – District 54 – a 78% score in 2020 (and 90% lifetime score) and steadfast work to raise the profile of environmental justice and clean energy.
Murrell Smith (R) – District 67 – a 75% score in 2020 and a critical leadership role in bills advancing major land protection goals as well as securing funding for land protection and PFAS cleanup.
Chris Wooten (R) – District 69 – a 106% score in 2020 and a strong supporter of clean energy and energy reform measures.
Nathan Ballentine (R) – District 71 – an 83% score in 2020 and a leadership role in fighting rollbacks to solid waste, leading to securing strong financial assurances for the melting plastics industry.
Seth Rose (D) – District 72 – a 106% score and steadfast conservation support on nearly every conservation topic.
Beth Bernstein (D) – District 78 – a 109% score in 2020 and steadfast support on offshore drilling, clean energy, plastics, land protection, stopping rollbacks, and more.
Paula Rawl Calhoon (R) – District 87 – a 103% score in 2020 and steadfast conservation support on nearly every conservation topic.
Micah Caskey (R) – District 89 – a 114% lifetime score in 2020 and clear and decisive leadership on clean energy and utility accountability efforts.
Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D) – District 95 (currently Dist. 66) – an 81% score in 2020 (and 90% lifetime) as well as leadership on environmental justice efforts and stopping environmental rollbacks.
William Cogswell (R) – District 110 – a 114% score in 2020 and leadership on land protection, clean energy, plastics, stopping rollbacks, and more.
Marvin Pendarvis (D) – District 113 – a 78% lifetime score as well as a critical leadership role on fighting rollbacks to solid waste, leading to securing strong financial assurances for the melting plastics industry, and elevating discussions of polluter accountability and environmental justice in the House.
Spencer Wetmore (D) – District 115 – steadfast conservation support on nearly every conservation topic and aggressively seeking opportunities to introduce legislation to reduce reliance on dirty and expensive coal plants while also providing low-cost options to clean up storm debris.
Bill Herbkersman (R) – District 118 – a 77% score in 2020 and leadership on efforts to secure millions for drinking water system improvements, primarily focusing on removing toxic PFAS from drinking water.
Weston Newton (R) – District 120 – a 100% score in 2020 and playing critical leadership role on fighting rollbacks to solid waste, leading to securing strong financial assurances for the melting plastics industry.
Shannon Erickson (R) – District 124 – a 84% score in 2020 and took a leadership role to gather support for key financial assurance amendments to the melting plastics bill, providing a critical protection for taxpayers and the environment against an unproven industry.