As part of our continuing effort to bring local news that’s impactful to our readers, we’ve proactively reached out to the candidates running for the South Carolina House of Representatives.
We will not manipulate their answers in any way, we’ll simply provide to you, our readers. This will allow you to make an informed choice.
This week, we’ll introduce Jenny Desch
Fort Mill First. People First.
For more than 20 years, I have enforced laws written by elected officials. I’ve seen which ones effectively maintain public safety and protect individual rights. I’ve also seen the ones that leave terrible gaps, unintended consequences and inconsistencies that leave victims unprotected.
That experience is critical when I am asking you to put me in the room when those laws get written.
I have built my career around one simple idea: people deserve someone who will listen to them, fight for them and do the right thing, even when doing the right thing is not the easiest thing.
That is why I am running for the South Carolina House of Representatives in District 26.
When someone needs help, what matters is listening, understanding the problem and doing everything possible to find a solution.
That is the kind of representative I intend to be.
I came to South Carolina after law school, spending my formative years as an Air Force brat, growing up on military bases in places like Germany and the Philippines. I came here to build a career, inspired by what Solicitors Pope and Brackett had built in York County, but I found family, friends and a home in Fort Mill. Raising two daughters here cements my motivation to ensure we maintain our top-rated schools and safe neighborhoods. I serve in Church, belong to community and professional organizations, and sit on a Board of a local shelter, to ensure I am seeing all walks of life. I volunteer in our schools, serving on the School Improvement Council at Sugar Creek Elementary and assist with coaching for parks and rec to remind myself what we’re building in this next generation.
Fort Mill has grown exponentially over the last decade – new neighborhoods, new schools and even new coasters at Carowinds! Change certainly brings opportunity but with it, responsibility. In order to continue to flourish, we need leadership that understands the right priorities:
- Protecting the quality of our schools and investing in children from early education through graduation, including reversing the damage done by social media and preparing for what is to come with AI.
- Ensuring our roads and infrastructure keep pace with the population.
- Anticipating major developments and manage their impact on our neighborhoods, schools, water and energy resources.
- Supporting, training and funding for our first responders, combating the EMS crisis, providing crisis intervention team resources for law enforcement officers responding to mental health and domestic violence calls and creating community policing opportunities.
We absolutely need someone in Columbia who understands that what made Fort Mill a draw for so many, requires a bigger vision to maintain. I will advocate to bring benefit to us and highlight what we have to offer – championship school bands and sports teams, diverse industry, successful small businesses and exemplary schools.
Advocating for Fort Mill also requires a strong sense of identity; knowing when to cooperate across the aisle and when to stand up against an unnecessary harm to constituents. Our incumbents were tested this session when the current administration called for mid-decade redistricting and their vote reflected a failure of leadership. I would never make that decision. I am not swayed by political convenience. I am not persuaded by Washington DC or Columbia telling me what is required.
I will put the people of SC District 26 first and while I am running in a party, I am pledging to represent all of the people. I will listen to everyone, regardless of background or point of view and make decisions based on what I believe is right for our community. That is what separates public service from politics.
I will not agree with everyone, and I will not expect everyone to agree with me. But I will always show up, I will always be willing to have the hard conversations, and I will never put a political agenda ahead of the people I serve.
If elected, I will bring decades of experience as a true public servant, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to put people before politics.
Fort Mill first. People first. Always.
Learn more about me, my background and the issues I am focused on at DeschForHouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/DeschForHouse/
https://www.instagram.com/deschforhouse/
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
