Making a Difference

We are blessed to live in such a thriving time for our community among our State’s smiling faces and beautiful places. We are fortunate to have the industry that fuels South Carolina’s economy and the growth to push that success further. However, all of that booming growth is taking a real toll on our infrastructure and putting an undue burden on our taxpayers.

I am running for State House to represent our East Cooper communities because I feel it’s time to reform our state government by cutting taxes and creating more jobs. We need to demand more fiscal efficiency and make lawmakers more accountable. There is a definite need for more attention to our coastal concerns because our industry supports much of the entire state’s economy.

Demanding attention for our community means stressing those issues important to our region –

• Cutting taxes and creating jobs, stopping illegal immigration in its tracks
• Conserving our resources that are an integral part of our economy and community identity
• Increasing cooperation between local and state governments
• Supporting more state assistance for infrastructure improvement and growth management

Above all else, we must take the steps necessary to cut taxes – because that means more jobs and more money in the pockets of taxpayers. Even though our community is stable, national economic uneasiness and the skyrocketing cost of fuel will undoubtedly have an effect on us. I will be a strong voice in Columbia for preserving our local economy and increasing revenue by cutting taxes and eliminating wasteful government spending.

These are just a few reasons I want to represent East Cooper in the State House. With your help and support, I will ensure the voice of East Cooper is heard at the Statehouse.

Press Release: Campaign Website Launched

State House District 112 candidate Mike Sottile today announced the official launch of his new campaign website, www.mikesottile.com. The website highlights the latest campaign news and issues facing Charleston County and the State.

“District 112 needs a strong voice in Columbia – a voice that represents the both the unique needs of Charleston County and the broader need for reform throughout the State” said Sottile.  “I want to let voters know where I stand on the issues and I also want to hear their opinions.  At www.mikesottile.com, voters can see where I stand on the issues as well as tell me what’s on their mind.”

The website also features 23 year-old daughter, Amy Sottile.  Amy will share news and personal stories from the campaign trail.  “I’m excited to get involved in Dad’s campaign.  I know he will make a great representative because he truly cares about the issues facing our area’s families,” said Amy Sottile.

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Growing up East of the Cooper

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

My family is thrilled to be a part of this dynamic community during an exciting time of growth. I am fortunate to have been born and raised on the Isle of Palms; to have memories of picking blackberries in the sand dunes with my best friend, exploring the salt marshes, crabbing along the shoreline, searching for sand dollars with our toes under the ever protective watch of the Sullivan’s Island Light house, and playing beneath our gorgeous oak trees drizzled in Spanish moss. It is because of these amazing memories that I recognize the importance of protecting our greatest assets, the beaches and wetlands and all of their inhabitants. It is the opportunity to experience the same such memories that bring repeat leisure guests to our community and permanent residents to our beloved East Cooper.

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Running to be your voice

After a lot of prayer and thoughtful discussion, Loraine and I have decided that if we truly want to make a difference to our community, now is the time to serve in a greater capacity. Because I truly love our region and because I want to see our community reach its greatest potentials, I have decided to run for the South Carolina State House of Representatives.

I am running because I want to be a voice for our coastal community. I want to be:

A Voice for Business and Tourism
Our tourism industry fuels the entire state’s economy. We must support tax and regulatory reform, as well as immediate health care and coastal insurance reform to help our area’s employers and working families.

A Voice for Conservation and Growth Management
Our environment is the most valuable asset we have because it fuels every aspect of our community. We must encourage state programs supporting conservation, facilitate more state financial assistance for infrastructure improvements, increase cooperation between local governments, and always protect home rule.

A Voice for Reform
Our state government is antiquated and inefficient. We must demand more accountability by restructuring state government and supporting real education reform. Judicial reform, including abolishing parole, must be a top priority to reduce our community’s crime rate.

But I can’t do any of this without your help. I’m going to do the hard work and even during the dead heat of summer I’m going to knock on doors across the district, but campaigns require more than just hard work on my part. They require teamwork.

On this website you can join Team Sottile, requests signs and bumper stickers, donate, and even volunteer.

Together we can make Columbia begin working for our coastal concerns. I hope I can count on your help to get the job done.

Sincerely,

Mike

WCBD: IOP Mayor runs for Statehouse

Isle of Palms Mayor Mike Sottile today announced his intention to run for the South Carolina State House of Representatives seat being vacated by Ben Hagood.

Sottile says he is running for State House for one simple reason – “I love this community.” He promises to continue his hard work as a voice for coastal community concerns.

“I’ve worked hard as Mayor of Isle of Palms to be a strong voice for issues unique to coastal South Carolina. We’ve got a lot done and our area is booming, but we’ve run into a lot of roadblocks that must be addressed from the state level,” Sottile said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work to keep things moving forward, but I’ve got the energy, experience, and desire to get the job done. I’ve proven I can do the hard work it takes to get real results.”

Mayor Sottile points out that while coastal communities provide the tourism industry that fuels the entire state’s economy, success in that industry is not without consequences that need attention. “Despite our hard work to keep South Carolina’s economy going, we are faced with growth and infrastructure problems, increased taxes, high insurance rates, and conservation issues. It’s time for state government to step up to the plate and give our coastal communities the resources and tools we need to succeed.”

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P&C: IOP mayor to run for House seat

Isle of Palms Mayor Mike Sottile plans to run for the District 112 state House seat being vacated by Rep. Ben Hagood, R-Sullivan’s Island.”I’ve worked hard as mayor of Isle of Palms to be a strong voice for issues unique to coastal South Carolina. We’ve got a lot done and our area is booming, but we’ve run into a lot of roadblocks that must be addressed from the state level,” Sottile said.

An Air Force veteran and employee of C.T. Lowndes Insurance Agency, Sottile was elected to the Isle of Palms City Council in 1990 and was elected mayor in 2001.

If he wins the House race in November, Isle of Palms voters would hold a special election to fill the mayor’s seat.

Sottile said voters should be “very happy” that so many people want to live in Mount Pleasant and on the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, but he added, “All that growth is taking a real toll on our infrastructure. Our taxpayers cannot shoulder this burden alone.”

He said he would push to give coastal communities more help with beach renourishment.

Sottile said Hagood has done “an excellent job,” adding, “As far as cooperation between local governments, I want to carry on what he’s been doing.”

Sottile will run as a Republican and will face at least one opponent in the June 10 primary: Mount Pleasant Town Councilman Joe Bustos. “Mike has been a very good mayor. It certainly will be a good race,” Bustos said Monday.

Former Charleston County School Board member and lawyer Larry Kobrovsky also may run. Filing for state House seats runs March 16-30.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or rbehre@postand courier.com.

The Post and Courier

Tuesday, March 4, 2008