House #1 candidates differ on climate change

Considering South Carolina’s lengthy coastline and the fact that South Carolina is a warm state, do the men running for the State House believe there are actions that can be taken to reduce climate change.  This was at the heart of the question posed last night to District One incumbent Bill Whitmire and his challenger, Wally Sparks.  Whitmire has heard an earful from those persons who’ve invested money near the shore who are concerned about erosion, and the long-time state representative promised the audience at last night’s forum that he and the rest of the legislature are going to address the issue when they return to session.  But his opponent, Sparks, questions whether climate change is simply a cyclical change in weather patterns and calls attention to climate change “more political than really caring about the environment.”  Their entire responses on this are being carried today on 101.7/WGOG NEWS.  Whether it was the Braves game and the start of the NBA finals on TV…or whether people simply stayed inside with their air conditioning, most of the public stayed away from last night’s forum.  Only a few of the 800 or so seats in the spacious Walhalla High auditorium were occupied during the League of Women Voters’ forum.