51 www. ReadMPM. com | www.MountPl easantMagaz i ne. com | www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com BY MARY COY It’s not news that North Mount Pleasant is growing by leaps and bounds. That reality was recognized by the South Carolina state legislature when its members added a new seat, District 80, to represent that part of town. The older section of Mount Pleasant, south of the IOP Connector, remains in District 110, which also includes parts of downtown Charleston, James Island and West Ashley. Despite how it’s configured, the reality is that all residents of Mount Pleasant will soon have a new face representing them in Columbia. One of those faces could be Republican Tom Hartnett, a real estate agent and appraiser who ran for Charleston County Register of Deeds in 2018. This year, Hartnett defeated the incumbent in his party for the district 110 congressional seat. He considers himself a Christian conservative and supports the Republican Party’s goals of protecting the lives of the unborn, defending legal gun ownership, abolishing medical mandates, strengthening election laws and limiting regulations on business. Additionally, he has signed a pledge to support term limits for members of the U.S. Congress. The candidate’s father served three terms in Washington, and Hartnett expressed that as a child, he learned a lot about the political arena firsthand. He believes that elected representatives must be accessible to their constituents and that those citizens must be heard. He believes in being a representative for all people, not only those who vote for him. Hartnett commented, “[The rapid growth in our area] is good and brings different opinions and backgrounds, giving us a more blended society. We all have different values. We all love family and God but have a different way of raising our families and believing in God.” Hartnett also plans to champion the Lowcountry’s share of the state budget’s infrastructure dollars to handle the growth. “From tourism to industries, Charleston sends billions in tax revenues to Columbia, only for those dollars to be directed across the state,” Harnett said. “I will advocate for Charleston’s fair share of tax dollars to come back home so that we can address our infrastructure and flooding needs, support and protect our first responders and ensure we have a plan to manage growth responsibly.” Hartnett’s Democratic opponent is attorney Ellis Roberts, who is throwing his hat into the political ring for the first time in 2022. “Every day, I hear from voters who are tired of politicians who cater to the extremes of their political parties,” he explained, promising to reach across the legislature’s political divide to achieve compromise. “I believe we should put people before party. I am tired of divisive issues and unsubstantiated rhetoric stalling productivity and having a negative impact on the taxpayers right here. I know how to bridge gaps with opposing parties to get things done. I have a proven track record and have worked with everyone— democrats, republicans, independents, landowners, small business owners and corporate interests— my entire professional career. I know when to listen and when to fight Meet Your District Candidates Local PoliticiansVie for Chance to Represent Mount Pleasant at State Level Tom Har tnet t . E l l i s Rober t s .
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