BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – A lifelong Berkeley County resident, Army veteran and community advocate, Wendell Padgett says his decision to run for the South Carolina House of Representatives District 103 seat came from frustration over what he describes as years of inadequate representation for residents across portions of Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties.
He will appear on the ballot during South Carolina’s June 9 primary, facing longtime Democratic incumbent Rep. Carl Anderson.
In a wide-ranging Q&A, Padgett discusses his campaign priorities, concerns over rapid growth and infrastructure challenges in Berkeley County, public safety, education funding and why he believes voters are ready for new leadership in District 103. He also addresses political division, accessibility to constituents and his plans if elected to office.
READ MORE l What to Know About the 2026 SC Carolina Primary Elections in Berkeley County
1. What specifically motivated you to run for South Carolina House District 103 at this time?
Dr. Maya Angelou told us, “What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.” I became tired of complaining about the lack of representation that my community was experiencing and one day I felt the Lord speak this same sentiment to me. We’ve pressed our representative, we’ve nearly begged him to take up the issues that we brought to his attention, we’ve prayed, all to no avail. So, I decided that I needed to be the change that I wanted to see.
2. For those who don’t know you, explain your background – both professional, educational and personal.
I am a lifelong resident of Berkeley County, born and raised in Shulerville. I am a husband of 20+ years, a father, “pop-pop” to my grandchildren and dedicated son, family and community member. I am an Army veteran and active member of my local NAACP and VFW. I love my family; love serving my community and enjoy a good fish fry and oyster roast every now and then! Go Cowboys!
3. What are the top three issues facing District 103 right now, and how would you address them if elected?
The issues are many, but my key priorities are support for seniors and veterans, improving our educational system for both K-12 and higher education, and improving our infrastructure, including making our roads and bridges safer and ensuring services like high-speed internet are available to everyone. Of course, there are many fallouts that come from each of these, for instance, job creation is a fallout of infrastructure because we secure contracts that bring more opportunities for local businesses to be awarded and supported through that work. Our seniors and veterans are the backbone of our community – supporting them and making certain they have the resources they need help to create other opportunities for their families and neighbors to benefit from their knowledge and wisdom and frees caregivers up to be able to live with less stress and without the additional burdens of costs and care for themselves and their loved ones. The issues are all interconnected.
4. What areas does your district represent – and how do you hope to appeal to/reach voters in those areas?
District 103 includes portions of Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties which, as readers may know, is a very diverse expanse of people. My experience in the military, having traveled all over, has given me the perspective and desire to interact with all kinds of people. One of the fascinating aspects of being on the campaign trail has been meeting and relating to so many different people, and the realization that our differences make us special and should be celebrated, but at the core we all are much more alike than we are different. We all want to live a healthy and fulfilling life; we all want to be safe and secure in our homes and communities; we want our families to thrive and we all want to know that our government and elected officials care about us and want to support us however they can in achieving our individual and shared life goals.
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5. What sets you apart from your opponent(s), and why should voters choose you?
I think our records speak for themselves. I encourage readers of this article to inquire about me. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who knows me who wouldn’t say that I am caring, supportive, dependable and not afraid to champion issues in our communities that people care about. On the other hand, the opposite is true about what you will find in my opponent. He has served in the House for more than 20 years and has minimal legislative accomplishments under his belt – minimal in terms of sponsoring and even co-sponsoring. It’s all available online and is easily accessible. My team has attended community meetings where he has publicly been accused of not showing up when requested and not being visible in the community. Many with whom we’ve spoken can’t tell you who their representative is nor can they tell you what he has done for the district. Voters should choose me because, just as my representation affirms, I will be the representation that District 103 needs. This work will be a natural progression of the work that I have already put in in my community and surrounding communities. We have been committed to refraining from mudslinging because that is not my personality nor do I feel that that kind of politics is necessary. I’m merely stating facts. District 103 has not had good representation in many years and it’s long past time for that to change. My opponent has stated in public before the Georgetown County Democratic Party Executive Committee and other members of the public that, “…this is a Georgetown seat.” Our campaign understands that the seat belongs to the people, and the people will ultimately decide who it wants to represent it.
6. What has running for office taught you so far?
The biggest lesson for me thus far is that politics is much more than the headlines and horrific examples that we often see in the media. Politics is about the people. As we’ve traveled around and listened and chatted, it has reaffirmed my belief that politics can work if you have the right people sitting in those seats of power and influence. It’s all about relationships and people. We’ve met a very small few who have represented the negative stereotype but overwhelmingly have interacted with people of all different backgrounds who have been wonderful and have deepened my desire to ensure they have the best life experience that I can help to make possible. The same experience that I want for myself and my loved ones.
7. Growth and development continue to impact Berkeley County. How do you balance economic growth with infrastructure and quality of life concerns?
It is indeed all about balance. We’ve attended council meetings across the district where communities of people have rallied to protect their way of life. What I’ve heard is that the people are not against development, they all seem to understand and accept the fact that development can and must happen and that growth is a good thing. What we’ve heard is that with that development maintaining their quality of life must be a top priority. No one wants to wake up and find a highway in their backyard. People choose to stay and come to Berkeley because of the peace, tranquility and sense of community that it brings. When development interrupts that it causes significant angst. I’ve lived in Shulerville for most of my life and I understand this first-hand. There is a way that our communities can grow while maintaining the sanctity of our quality of life at the same time. What it takes is leadership that is willing to have tough conversations and not take the lazy, easy or personally financially profitable way out.
8. Residents often raise concerns about traffic and road capacity. What concrete steps would you support to improve infrastructure in this district?
With an ever-expanding population, infrastructure – one of my campaign platform issues – must be commensurate with that growth. For instance, for years and long before I ever considered running for office, I have participated in petitioning to have a traffic light installed at a major intersection in Jamestown that has been the location for many accidents and near accidents, the most recent that occurred just two weeks ago. That intersection is the throughway for all kinds of traffic, both local and not, traveling and carrying large cargo to places like Myrtle Beach and other locations. Years ago, this was not the case, but today the need is clear. This experience has demonstrated to us the process needed which ultimately includes the position that I seek to encumber, beginning locally and progressing as necessary. We start with the concerns of the people, do the necessary research, make the necessary calls, letters, petitions, etc, and escalate. I don’t have an issue with making noise when and as needed to get issues resolved. Last week, because of the relationships that I have established and the trust I have gained, we were able to organize a rally and news conference at that intersection with very short notice. This is what democracy looks like. This is the same caring and careful approach I will take to make any needed infrastructure needs met when I am elected to serve.
9. Where do you stand on property taxes, and what changes-if any-would you advocate for at the state level?
Taxes are needed and necessary, but they can’t be so exorbitant that people can’t afford to pay them, particularly in times like these. Increasing taxes is a very last resort. There are too many untapped financial resources available to put that heavy burden on the people. Being at the state level I will work with my colleagues to do the work and seek out and acquire those untapped resources and bring those supports to the district.
10. Public safety is a key concern locally. What policies would you support to strengthen law enforcement and reduce crime?
As a military veteran, I both understand and support law and order and the rule of law. I believe that law enforcement must have whatever supports and resources that are needed to make our communities safe and secure. What we know is that there is a direct relationship between crime and earning a livable wage. When we support individuals earning a livable wage, they won’t have the need to engage in illegal activity. Most people want to live a life free of bad business and in peace and calm, but those who choose differently must and will be dealt with legally and lawfully. When elected I will introduce, co-sponsor and in other ways support polices that both support law enforcement and protect communities from any unlawful activity. As one community member told our campaign, he wants to live in a place where when he has to go out of town and leave his wife and children at home, he wants to be at peace that they will be safe when he is not there. I will fight to ensure that this is the case for all families.
11. Education funding and school capacity are ongoing issues. How would you ensure schools in District 103 are adequately supported as the population grows?
As stated previously, education is also one of my core campaign platform issues. When we support education and teachers and staff – including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, etc. – we support our entire community and by extension, the nation. All children are entitled to a free and appropriate public education and I will work with communities, local and state superintendents and other lawmakers to ensure that schools have the funding they need to prepare our children for college, career and life.
12. If elected, how will you remain accessible and accountable to the people of District 103?
When elected, I will use many of the same avenues that I currently use to remain accessible to the district, i.e., phone, email, social media, etc. But what I will add is that, unlike current representation, in many instances, the community will not have to call me because I plan to already be there. I will attend listening sessions, community meetings, and please remember to invite me to fish frys and oyster roasts! But in all seriousness, I cannot fully represent the district if I am not constantly among the people. You won’t have to look too far for me, or ask someone who I am. I will be there, and not only when bad things occur. I will visit your churches, attend graduation ceremonies, family day events, etc. I am fortunate in that I am retired and do not have a long list of other pressing obligations as my opponent does. I am available and have no issues traveling throughout the district.
13. Anything else worth mentioning?
I understand wholeheartedly the notion of loyalty. I believe in the importance of being loyal to your people, however, loyalty cannot be one-sided. Being loyal to someone who is not loyal to you is not loyalty at all, it is manipulation. In this election each of us needs to consider whether it is more important to be loyal to an individual or is it better to follow your moral compass and do that thing that you know in your heart is right. Supporting a candidate who you know in your heart is not good for the people just because this is the person you’ve always supported, or is in your family, or who may have supported you in the past but has not done so in recent years, is not only morally inept, but it is also participating in the harm of other people, including your family and even yourself. Follow your moral compass, pray on it if that is your process, and make the right choice. In times like these we must prioritize and elect people who will fight injustice and do what’s right for the people. The candidate for District 103 is Wendell Padgett.
14. Any website/social media pages you’d like to mention or upcoming events?
FB: @padgettforthepeople
May 16 – Community Conversation with Candidate Padgett. St. Andrews AME Church. 102 N Beech Ave, Andrews, SC. 4 p.m.
June 5 – Candidate Meet and Greet and Fish Fry. Huger Community Recreation and Park. 2084 Cainhoy Road. Huger, SC. 5 p.m.
June 7 –“Souls to the Polls” campaign event. Welsey AME Church. 2883 French Santee Rd. Shulerville, SC. 10:30 a.m.
15. Who are you running against for the District 103, and if you win the primary who will you face in November?
In the primary, we are facing the incumbent, Representative Carl Anderson. There is no opponent in the primary election for this district.
16. When did you file to run for office and when did you formally announce you were running?
I contemplated running and consulted with God, my trusted advisors, wife and other family and friends for weeks prior to filing on March 30. I announced that same day.
17. There is such political division in the country. How do you intend to bridge the gap and reach out to both sides?
Thus far reaching across political positions has not been something that I have had to work to do. My reputation among the people who know me, my relationships that I have established throughout the years, and the message have made those connections for me. These and other factors have led to a cross pollination of support by word of mouth, financial gifts to the campaign and requests for yard signs from people of all political, ethnic and other socioeconomic backgrounds, and I am very proud of this! It is a forecasting of what is to come.
Editor’s Note: The Berkeley Observer is committed to providing fair, accurate and comprehensive coverage of local elections and the candidates seeking to represent our community. We do not endorse specific candidates. Instead, we believe in equipping voters with clear, accessible information so they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. Other candidates interested in a Q&A may reach out to us at: [email protected].
