Chamber Currents
Chamber Invites U.S. Senator Jim DeMint To Conway
Did you happen to catch South Carolina’s 55th U.S. Senator walking the streets of downtown last Thursday afternoon? Accompanied by Conway Mayor Greg Martin, officials from the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Main Street USA, as well as a few photographers and television cameras, Senator Jim DeMint visited our town hall, Visitors Center, Pop’s Glass Station and the new Rivertown Marketplace. At the completion of his walk, the Senator was given a golf cart ride along our Riverwalk so that he could see first-hand our plans for expansion, and our vision for something special for Conway’s residents and visitors.
Senator DeMint flew into the Horry County Airport at the North American Institute of Aviation, where he briefly spoke on issues such as insurance, education, immigration and tax reform. Sponsored by NAIA, the meeting was arranged by the Chamber’s Economic Development and Governmental Relations committee. Refreshments were provided by Pespi Cola Bottling Company of Conway. Our Chamber has built wonderful relationships with the DeMint staff, and was able to encourage a visit to Conway during the Senator’s South Carolina On The Move Tour.
During the visit, our Chamber members asked wonderful questions, and I felt it a great opportunity to get to know this politician as a real person. For some background on Senator DeMint, we checked out his website and learned that Jim DeMint was elected on November 2, 2004. He was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and received his Masters in Business Administration from Clemson University.
As the owner of a Greenville based market research firm, DeMint became an expert in positioning products in a crowded marketplace, a skill that has made him an effective legislator and representative. When he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998, his colleagues recognized his unique attributes and skills and elected him president of the Republican freshman class.
In the 108th Congress, DeMint introduced the Social Security Savings Act, a bill that would save Social Security by strengthening it for current and future generations. In order to make health care more affordable and accessible, DeMint supports patient-directed health care. He has authored legislation that he believes allows patients to create tax-free health savings accounts (HSAs) that eliminate antiquated and complex tax code and replace it with a tax code that is more simple and fair.
DeMint has also helped pass legislation to reform welfare, protect a student’s right of religious expression, honor baseball great “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and encourage the adoption of needy children.
DeMint and his wife, members of the Presbyterian Church of America, live in Greenville with their four children. You can learn more about Senator DeMint by visiting online at www.demint.senate.gov.
