2026 SC House District 30 Election
*CANDIDATES' VIEWS IN THE Q&AS LINKED BELOW DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF ONESPARTANBURG, INC. CANDIDATE RESPONSES ARE THE CANDIDATES' OWN WORDS, HAVING COME FROM EMAILED RESPONSES.*
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
BRIAN LAWSON (i)
Website: www.lawsonforschouse30.com
The Office You're Seeking: SC House District 30
Tell us about yourself, your involvement in our community, and why you are running for the SC House.
I was born and raised in Spartanburg, SC and graduated from Paul M. Dorman High School. For the last twenty years, I have resided in the Chesnee area of Cherokee County. My wife Karen and I will be celebrating our twenty second wedding anniversary later this year. We have a daughter and a son. I am a member of Arrowwood Baptist Church in Chesnee, where I serve as a Deacon and previously served as one of the RA leaders. I was employed as the Director of Operations at American TransMed, Inc. for nineteen years where I oversaw approximately one-hundred-fifty employees who worked out of five locations throughout South Carolina and North Carolina. I am currently the Controller for Shiflett Holdings, Inc. I also served as the Vice President of the board for Chesnee Community Youth Athletic Association, where I have coached baseball, softball, football, and basketball for the past several years. I have spent most of my adult life serving others. I served as a volunteer firefighter for over fourteen years, in several positions including Assistant Chief of two different departments. I also worked as a career firefighter for a couple of years, obtaining the rank of Captain. I served for two years as a Reserve Police Officer and have been a National Registered Paramedic for approximately twenty-four years. I previously served several years on the board of Cherokee County First Steps in various roles, including Vice Chairman. I served as President of the South Carolina Ambulance Provider's Association, where I oversaw the merger of that association in with the South Carolina Emergency Medical Services Association. I then served on their board for four years, representing the private ambulance providers in South Carolina. I have represented SC House District 30 in the South Carolina House of Representatives for the past four years and If you choose to re-elect me to represent you in Columbia, I will continue working closely with Senator Peeler and Representative Moss, along with other Representatives and Senators, whom I have formed good working relationships with, to tackle the issues that are important to all the people of South Carolina House District 30, and to the people of the counties I serve.
What is the role of state government, if any, in economic development and corporate recruitment? How can the State help raise per-capita income in Spartanburg and across the state?*
Childcare across South Carolina is often unaffordable and inaccessible, damaging our state’s economy and outcomes for our children. Data shows that a lack of childcare options prohibits some people from participating in the workforce. In South Carolina, the state’s prime-age labor force participation rate of 81.1% falls 2.5% points below the national average. As a state representative, what are some solutions you have for this crisis?
I am in favor for seeking ways to make childcare more affordable and more accessible. This could be achieved many ways. One would to be to encourage our large employers to offer these services for it's workers. Also programs such as SC First Steps have worked well in creating more 4K programs as well as working with child care centers for things such as training. We must find ways to allow abled workers to have the ability to work, which includes having affordable childcare. Currently the high cost of childcare is a barrier for many families. Until recently, the federal government used COVID era funds to assist states with the ABC program which assisted many parents with their childcare expenses. That extra money has been utilized, so we need to look at other ways to assist. If we can keep abled workers working, it helps stimulate the economy.
What are the greatest challenges facing your District and what will you do as the Representative to address them?
Infrastructure and Growth. I have been able to participate in the discussions about the growth our District is facing. We have to make sure we have balanced growth so that the infrastructure is in place to handle the growth. We also have to have a balance with preserving some of our land (especially farm land) and developing some of our land. The condition of our roads continues to be an issue and I look forward to continue looking for ways to make them better. I am looking forward to seeing how our SCDOT reform legislation that was passed this year helps with our roads. Also the current cost of living is too high. We must continue to look for way to make it more affordable.
Do you believe the state should pass legislation related to AI infrastructure? If so, what would ideal legislation look like?
Yes. I believe the state should legislate around AI infrastructure, and the goal should be to manage the physical impacts of AI infrastructure.
I believe the first step is to make the developer pay for infrastructure it causes. This would be one of my most important principles. If a project requires a new substation, transmission upgrades, generation capacity, water infrastructure, or road improvements, those incremental costs should not automatically be spread among residential and small-business customers. These costs must be paid for by the developer. The legislation should require the developer to demonstrate Its expected electrical load and growth schedule as well as the transmission and distribution upgrades it will require. They should be transparent with their contribution toward those incremental costs. There should also be A long-term power contract or other financial commitment sufficient to protect ratepayers if the facility uses less electricity than promised and financial guarantees for major infrastructure commitments. The state should establish a single, predictable framework with different levels of review based on the facility's size. And there should be transparency up front with criteria in place to address any changes.
There should be hard limits on water usage and require reclaimed water in in most circumstances. Again, protecting the rate payer from rising cost has to be paramount. We should require the facility to bring new energy, not simply consume existing capacity. If there are local incentives, I would make them performance-based, not automatic and claw backs must be a part of this. I'd establish statewide minimum standards, then allow local governments to impose reasonable zoning, noise, lighting, traffic, and land-use requirements above those standards. These can not be built in residential areas.
I'd require a public hearing and disclosure of the project's major infrastructure impacts. I believe requiring financial guarantees for abandonment should be included so the public wouldn't be left holding a multi-million dollar empty building if the economics change. In summary, the six major priorities would be as follows: 1. Ratepayer protection so existing customers don't subsidize AI load. 2. Infrastructure adequacy to include power, water, wastewater, roads and telecommunications must be sufficient. 3. Environmental and health protection by measurable water, air, noise and land-use standards. 4. Predictable permitting — clear timelines and requirements based on facility size. 5. If performance-based incentives are given, tax benefits only for demonstrated economic benefits. 6. Accountability by reporting, financial guarantees, penalties and claw backs.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
STEPHANIE HOLSTEIN