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 United States Congress
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 Mallory Dittmer
I’m the proud mother of two sweet, energetic kids, the wife of a high school history teacher, a former corporate retail executive, and, for the past thirteen months, a candidate for Congress.
I was raised in a town very similar to Fort Mill and when my family first visited several years ago, it instantly felt like home. The rest is history – during that first trip my husband, Drew, applied for the teaching position he now holds and we’ve been blessed to call Fort Mill home ever since.
I’m not a politician and in fact running for Congress wasn’t part of the plan. Drew and I made the decision to run because we don’t recognize the country we’re raising our kids in. As parents we worry about our children growing up in such uncertain and challenging times. As a small business owner and public school teacher we worry about getting the bills paid and saving for their future and ours. As Americans who love this country we worry about how divided, corrupt and chaotic our politics have become.
Our country is desperate for change and I’m running to be a part of it!
None of the challenges we face will be solved by business as usual – certainly not by career politicians with the same old party bosses, partisan arguments, and special interests telling them how to vote.
It will take a new generation of leaders dedicated to common sense problem-solving and collaboration across party lines. I am uniquely suited to meet that challenge! I built a successful career in the retail industry as a skilled negotiator with a talent for creating win-win solutions that led to fruitful partnerships. I’m no stranger to volatile markets, complicated budgets or managing big egos – and I have the professionalism and even-keeled temperament to lead with confidence in uncertain times.
As a moderate who doesn’t think either party has a monopoly on good ideas, I’m eager to reach across the aisle and find common ground among my fellow legislators – Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike.
The first order of business will be addressing the cost-of-living crisis affecting families across District 5. I’ll focus on economic and trade policies that help bring inflation under control and make everyday essentials more affordable. I’ll support ending the war in Iran and bringing down the price of gas and diesel. I’ll fight to reverse the adverse effects of the tariff wars to bring down the cost of groceries, as well as necessities for South Carolina’s family farms. And, I’ll fight to make healthcare, childcare, and elder care available to every South Carolinian at a price they can afford.
For every one young person that moves to South Carolina, we have three retirees moving in who will need quality healthcare and qualified professionals to serve them. I’ll work to bring funding to our fast-growing district to ensure we’re addressing the needs of our community, and will work to lower prescription drug costs and insurance premiums, and protect our rural hospitals.
Health care should never be a partisan issue. I’m committed to working with anyone, regardless of party, to deliver practical solutions that make health care more affordable, accessible, and effective for the people we serve.
There are a lot of practical solutions out there but there’s a fundamental problem that prevents Congress from acting on them, and that’s the influence of money, especially from big corporate donors, over legislative decision-making. For that reason, I’ll focus on government reform. Unless we resolve the underlying dysfunction that plagues Congress today, it will never be able to fairly and objectively represent our interests.
I support common-sense reforms that include congressional term limits, overturning Citizens United, banning members of Congress from trading stocks while in office, and ending partisan gerrymandering.
That starts with me! As an independent thinker who isn’t beholden to party bosses and has never taken corporate PAC money, I will be accountable only to you. Imagine what would happen if all our legislators could make that claim.
Yes, change is possible and this year-long campaign has made clear the majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents are ready to start a new chapter.
We need Congress to get back to work — and I cannot wait to get to work for the people of District 5! I’d be honored to have your vote on November 3.
Sign up here to receive the Tega Cay Sun "day" Spectator every Sunday morning with all the news from the week directly to your inbox
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.
