Headlines Around the Low Country
Ten Questions for Bill Connor, candidate for Lt. Gov.
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Bill Connor is running a mad dash – literally, if you follow him on Facebook and twitter and see where he travels daily from the lowcountry to the upstate and back to the Midlands – to become S.C.'s next lieutenant governor.
A tough schedule to be sure, but for this Republican candidate and Army Ranger officer – the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Gov. – it's a race that has him leading in the polls, "each of those polls taken in the last six weeks," says campaign manager Joshua Gross. And endorsements for the 42–year-old married father of three include multiple general-officers – including Maj. Gen. Stanhope S. Spears, S.C.'s adjutant general, and Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely, former FOX News military analyst – as well as scores of other veterans, both in-and-out of SC.
Connor – a political unknown when he began running a year ago – recently returned from a stint in Afghanistan where he served as senior U.S. advisor in the rugged Helmand Province. In that capacity, he was responsible for the full advisory effort of thousands of Afghan National Security forces. He commanded all American advisors in the province. And he was senior American liaison to British forces.
A graduate of The Citadel and the USC School of Law, Connor has been described by his military superiors as "a fearless, consummate combat leader" and an American soldier who "performed well under intense enemy fire and always led his men from the front."
Retired U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston – one of four living Medal of Honor recipients accredited to S.C. who have endorsed Connor, said Connor's "proven combat leadership, his legal education, and his experience helping his wife Susan start her small business uniquely qualifies him [for the role of Lt. Gov]."
We recently discussed with Connor why he wants to be Lt. Gov. and where he stands on the salient issues like healthcare, the economy, and homeland defense.
MidlandsBiz:
How might your experience as a military leader shape your
leadership as Lt. Governor?
Bill Connor:
Gen. Eisenhower used to say that despite all the hardships of his
presidency, especially the tensions of the Cold War, the hardest moments
of leadership for him came on the battlefield. Those decisions were
life and death and needed to be made in the blink of an eye.
I've been battle tested. I understand leadership in the most difficult crucible imaginable. And I've come through those tests unscathed. I've had to deal with competing interests, especially in Afghanistan, where in addition to being the senior U.S. advisor to a province, I was the senior liaison to the Brits. If you can reach consensus in that sort of arena under that kind of pressure, the legislature can only be easier.
MidlandsBiz:
You often say "leaders eat last" and "mission first, men always." How
would this military leadership approach be reflected in the lt.
Governor's office under Bill Connor, specifically?
Bill Connor:
"Leaders Eat Last" will be especially helpful when dealing with budget
situations in a time of recession. This means that the Lt. Governor's
office is the last thing that should get additional funding – that
funding needs to go to the seniors programs at Aging first. "Mission
First, Men Always" is how leaders treat the unit – it's about the unit,
not the leader. The same is true of our state – it's about our people,
not the politicians or elected leaders. I want to see us caring about
the liberty and freedom of our citizens first, not what government
program can fritter away more of their money.
MidlandsBiz:
Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano has referred to returning war
veterans as potential threats to national security. What is your
response to that?
Bill Connor:
Returning war veterans are the heart of our national security, not a
threat to it. That comment was simply maddening, especially coming from
a lifetime politician like Napolitano. She calls veterans a threat – I
call them "my base of support," in addition to calling them friends and
brothers in arms.
MidlandsBiz:
You have been described by your superiors as "a fearless, consummate
combat leader" who, while serving in Afghanistan, "performed well under
intense enemy fire and always led his men from the front." Literally
from the front? Explain?
Bill Connor:
Literally from the front. I spent a year in Afghanistan, the second half
as senior advisor in Helmand. During that time, I was involved in
twenty combat actions, and had to fire my weapon more than once. Because
of the surge in Iraq, the unit was at 50 percent strength, so we had to
make do with what we had. We had to clear one town house-to-house, and I
was in a convoy of vehicles that ran into a Taliban ambush – those were
the two most intense fights. But, by the grace of God we came through
without losing a single U.S. soldier under my command for the entire
year.
MidlandsBiz:
In a single soundbite explanation each, tell me where you stand on:
Abortion -
I am pro-life, from natural conception to natural death.
State Income Tax -
We could end state income tax tomorrow if we ended sales tax exemptions.
That would do more to fix unemployment in our state than any government
program ever could.
Economy -
I will offer my services to the governor to be the economic ambassador
to S.C., and having lived and worked in other communities, states, and
nations throughout the world, this is a role I feel I am uniquely
qualified for.
Health Care -
Every American should have good health care, but the government
shouldn't have anything to do with it. I completely oppose "ObamaCare."
School Choice -
As the Board Chairman for a low-tuition Christian school in Orangeburg, I
support tax credits for parents who want to send their kids to the
school of their choosing – public, private, parochial or charter.
Energy Independence -
Green technologies are great, but in the meantime, I'd like to see us do
more in the way of exploration for oil and natural gas here at home,
especially offshore and in Alaska. We also need to do more in the way of
nuclear power.
Homeland Defense -
The next attack is coming. We haven't secured our southern border, we
haven't taken the enemy seriously (or even named it properly). Instead,
we've clamped down on the rights of law abiding citizens – ineffective
to say the least.
Political Partnership -
If I can work with the Afghans, the Dutch and the Brits (as I had to do
in Afghanistan), I can handle discussing issues with folks from another
political party.
MidlandsBiz:
Why - on a personal level - do you want to be Lt. Governor?
Bill Connor:
After returning from Afghanistan, I felt the call to serve our state at
the state level of leadership. God has put a vision on my heart of
helping to make South Carolina a "Bright Shining City on a Hill." I
feel passionate about helping ensure out state stands true to the
Judeo-Christian values our founders intended. I have three children and
I want to do all I can to leave them the state and nation I remember
growing up. Most importantly, that freedom is the answer to moving our
state forward.
MidlandsBiz:
What do you say to those who want to support you, but fear your pockets
may not be as deep as your opponents?
Bill Connor:
I'd rather have the support of the people than deep pockets. Deep pockets are nice, but as it is I've got support from more donors
than any other candidate running for this office. If I stand up for
what's right, and do it more effectively than any other candidate,
victory will follow. With the support I have, I am able to get our
message out.
MidlandsBiz:
What would voters be surprised to learn about Bill Connor:?
Bill Connor:
Probably that I'm that rare person who came to a saving faith in Jesus
Christ as an adult – during my first year in law school at USC. I had
been a [U.S. Army] Ranger, in charge of Rangers or a light infantry
company, and I had a real ego problem. God used that time to bring me
to my knees and let me see my own need for a savior and I was brought to
a saving faith in Christ.
MidlandsBiz:
You spend quite a bit of time on the campaign trail here in SC
and you've spent much time overseas. But I understand you are also very
involved in the lives of your family. How do you budget your time such
that you also spend time with your wife and three children?
Bill Connor:
I'll be frank, this has been the hardest part of the campaign. After 15
months of wartime separation, to jump in only six months later to
another 15 month campaign has been very difficult. My staff makes a
point of getting me home every night rather than spend time and money on
hotels, but I'm still too late to tuck the kids in about four nights a
week. We try to be very intentional about scheduling time for family
because otherwise the campaign will take every last second.
MidlandsBiz:
What is the media not asking or reporting that you believe must
be addressed?
Bill Connor:
The culture war is in full force. Extreme liberal groups like Planned
Parenthood and SIECUS are attempting to undermine American values in our
schools. Using "comprehensive sexual education" and revisionist history
as two examples, these groups are trying to turn our children away from
traditional American values and towards more big government socialism
at every level. This is something that must be addressed openly if we
are going to end the cycle of government dependency in our state and
nation.
– Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at www.uswriter.com.
