Election 2020 -- Candidate Q&A: Lee County School Board District 7

This year's race for Lee County School Board District 7 features two Democratic candidates: challengers Marcia Henry and Lucretia Mack.

The incumbent is not running. There is no opposition in November.

District 7 represents the western portion of Lee to include the Spring Hill community and near the Kershaw County line. Anyone who lives in the district can vote.

Statewide partisan primaries will be held June 9. Gov. Henry McMaster has signed a law that allows any registered voter statewide to request an absentee ballot. Traditionally, voters must fit into one of 18 eligibility categories, but now anyone can request "State Of Emergency" to vote absentee by mail or in-person before Election Day.

Any registered voter can vote in the primaries. South Carolina does not require voters to declare a party, so voters can choose any party's primary to vote in, but you can only vote in one. The party ballot you request in the primary does not affect your November ballot, as there will be one overall general election ballot.

Absentee voting is open now in Lee at the county voter registration office in Bishopville, 101 Gregg St. Voting can be done Monday through Friday.

Keep following The Sumter Item in print and online at www.TheItem.com/election2020 for all our coverage of local candidates.

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MARCIA HENRY

Why are you running? I believe that our kids are truly our future and, to me, education is everything.

Have you run for political office before? No.

How long have you lived in Lee? Since birth.

Current job/profession: Wireless multimedia specialist/business owner.

What experience do you have that makes you best fit for the seat? As a parent, I see first-hand what is going on in the district with education. I am willing to speak for what is right for my kids and all the other kids in the community. Being someone with a lot of knowledge and understanding of how things work, I am willing to stand up and speak when things are not as they should be - instead of being another person unwilling to speak out alone, since the majority is silent.

What challenges/concerns do you see in your district/community, and how do you intend to improve them? Getting funding on track so that our kids get the best education possible and getting the current superintendent out of the district or making her accountable for her actions. Getting students and parents involved. Starting at the problem and investigating where the issues stem from and developing plans to solve them with the help of the community because without the students and parents, there would be no district.

If changes necessitate funding, how would you want to move funding around or make it possible? Funding is being misused greatly in the district, so the first thing I would want to do is work closely with Finance to ensure the school funds are being properly used and that each student gets the benefits of the funding they bring to the district. As we all know, there are things that need to be taken care of in any business - like the normal bills - but, aside from that, our kids and their education should be first priority.

What success have you seen that you want to continue/build on? The biggest success I see in the district is currently with the senior-class parents coming together in the hopes of getting a graduation for the seniors. I have a son who graduates this year, and being a parent in this district, I don't know that I can speak for a lot of success. The success I see comes from the kids doing what they need to be successful in a district that does not take their education seriously. Don't get me wrong, there are some teachers who care, and they show it, but there is only so much they can do.

What is your vision for Lee? To create a better Lee County School District. One that we all can be proud of, where the education of our kids comes first in the school system.

Are you actively involved in the community? How so? My involvement is more so in the school. I, along with Sammie Myers, Glenn Atkinson and a few other parents (parents, please forgive me as I don't know the names of everyone) get together at football and baseball games to make sure that the kids have food and drinks after the games.

Why should people vote for you? I firmly believe that knowledge is immeasurable. The better the education, and the more knowledge one has, the greater the ability of one to see a more beautiful world compared to others.

Being a parent with a graduating senior and also two kids in elementary school in the district, who better to advocate for the kids in the community? Education is everything to me. These kids, including mine, are our future. I want to ensure they all have the best possibility to be whatever they want in this world.

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LUCRETIA MACK

Why are you running? I chose to run for school board in District 7 to make a difference in the lives of our children and community. The educational system plays a vital role in the community. I want to ensure that the gains our students have made continue and that opportunities for improvement are propelled forward. I do not claim to have all the answers, but I am committed to doing what is right for children, parents, staff, teachers and community.

Have you run for political office before? No.

How long have you lived in Lee? I have lived in Lee County my entire life.

Current job/profession: Corrections officer at the Lee Correctional Institution.

What experience do you have that makes you best fit for the seat? My professional experience in the banking industry and within the prison system provides me with a unique perspective. The primary role of a school board is to provide fiscal accountability. My banking experience has provided me with in-depth knowledge of funding streams and budgets, which are beneficial skills to serving as a trustee. In addition, my most recent experience working within the prison system has allowed me to see what happens to our young men when they are not provided a solid foundation, which includes an education.

What challenges/concerns do you see in your district/community, and how do you intend to improve them? I am concerned about the lack of togetherness and overall community support toward public education in Lee County. Like any school district, there are further opportunities that exist within Lee County schools; however, there are a lot of good things that are happening. Our children have made many accomplishments, but their achievements are often in the background and shadowed by negativity. I plan to work with all parties involved to increase unity within the community.

If changes necessitate funding, how would you want to move funding around or make it possible? I am not a current member of the board, so I am not in a position to list what changes are needed to necessitate funding. However, I am familiar with the overall struggles rural school districts such as Lee County face.

What success have you seen that you want to continue/build on? I would like to see the high school graduation rate in Lee County continue. Along with the innovation of the current leadership that has brought the STEM program, the media literacy team, the Drone Program initiative and many other programs for children should continue.

What is your vision for Lee? My vision is to help build a successful educational system with parents, teachers/staff and community - faith-based and business - working together for the good of our children.

Are you actively involved in the community? How so? I am very active in my local church, Jamestown Road Church of God, where I serve as a minister.

Why should people vote for you? I am looking to make a positive difference on behalf of the students, parents, teachers, staff and community. I am not only a difference-maker but a difference-seeker. As the familiar African proverb goes, "It takes a village to raise a child."