Small Business "Backbone" Podcast

Jay Doyle tells podcast host Frank Knapp why he recently ran for the Mayor of the City of Georgetown as the Forward Party candidate and how he successfully defeated the GOP incumbent. Doyle, a retired small business owner, says that did not have a lifelong goal to be a politician but somebody needed to stand up to challenge his city’s direction.The City of Georgetown has experienced a massive economic hit from the closure of the local paper mill and its nearly 700 employees. Additionally, the city-owned electric utility had just shut off power to over 3,000 residents due to non-payments. These and other issues convinced Doyle that the city needed new leadership.Doyle shares his specific goal of developing new manufacturing that would also use the state’s timber resources that had been instrumental to the local and state’s economy.

The rule of law is the bedrock of a strong economy is a top concern of a relatively new national small business coalition, Integrity Matters. Audrey Roofeh, who founded the organization this past April, told podcast host Frank Knapp that when she heard many complaints from some of her consulting clients about how their federal contracts had been cancelled, and they would not receive payment for services already provided.Roofeh talked about the two main goals of Integrity Matters: 1) Protecting the Rule of Law and 2) Defend Independent Institutions.Roofeh argues that small business owners have an important role to play in educating the public about the need to defend democratic norms and economic stability.

Christopher Purdy, founder and CEO of The Chamberlain Network, talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about the National Guard being inappropriately used by the Trump Administration. Knapp, CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, is also the managing director of the Secure Growth Initiative, a national small business coalition focusing on the need for positive immigration reform.Purdy gives the background of the National Guard: history, purpose, chain of command and authority of Governors and the President. He says that when the members of the Guard are federalized, they become part of the active military, which has legal limits on law enforcement activities within the country.Purdy is concerned about how misuse of the National Guard will negatively impact the Guard in moral, community trust, and readiness. He worries that members of the National Guard will start not renewing their contracts with the Guard and employers will start being uncomfortable in hiring a Guardsman if the National Guard becomes politicized.

Pamela Evette, candidate for Governor, tells podcast host Frank Knapp about her surprise when Governor Henry McMaster called her to his office and asked her to be his running mate as Lt. Governor—something they had not previously discussed.The Lt. Governor position has enabled her to promote technical training as well as hard and soft skills for the state’s youth. She has used her office to start a statewide initiative to promote youth employment, which she says teaches personal fiscal responsibility and character development. As Governor, Evette sees as her priority to create the best opportunities for our youth.Lt. Governor Evette also believes South Carolina should work toward the elimination of the state income tax. Replacing the $14.5 billion the state gets from the income tax would require a comprehensive look at how to do that.When pointed out that she has not generated a lot of publicity from attacking her opponents, she says that she never though being nice was bad. The Lt. Governor has said that to voters that “you can choose from a menu of career politicians who say pretty things, but cant and will never deliver.” That line, she says, was aimed at all her opponents.

First elected in 2024, Representative Hamilton Grant of Richland County went into his first year as a legislature with no expectations. He cites his leadership experience, including being a drum major at South Carolina State University, as his preparation for serving as a legislator. His business experience working with small business lending needs has given him an understanding that entrepreneurs are having more difficulty in obtaining loans. This is particularly true in rural and underserved communities. He particularly points out the difficulties black churches experience. Rep. Grant has sponsored legislation to help small businesses survive when the businesses are harmed by road construction projects that go beyond the initial completion date. His bill would establish a loan program for these businesses that would be administered by the SC Department of Commerce.

Representative Heather Bauer shares her story about how a high school guidance counselor/ volleyball coach turned her life around by opening the door for her going to college. Now in her third year in the SC House where she is in the minority party, she believes that bipartisanship is important for being successful on legislation. However, Rep. Bauer also believes that the House Democratic Caucus should be doing a better job standing up for a legislative agenda that the public agrees with. “There is no fight…we’re not focused on the right issues”, she says and suggests that this issue could be discussed by the House democrats come January. Rep. Bauer also has a strong opinion of the House not taking action on the State Treasurer who the Senate voted to remove. She also talks about her marial arts background and desire for a black belt.

Senator Rex Rice of Pickens County believes that this past legislative session was one of the best. He gives credit to the leadership of Senators Thomas Alexander, Harvey Peeler and Shane Massey. Senator Rice discusses ear marks in the budget that were not allowed this year. He cites the quality of the many new Senators and working across party lines for the Senate having a great year. Senator Rice talks about the critical legislation passed to protect children; tort reform and its impact on insurance premiums; and the energy bill that had consumer protections stripped out by the House.

As a new Senator, Allen Blackmon talks about lessons learned in his first year. He discusses with the host, Frank Knapp, his assessment of the major energy bill passed without some important consumer protections. Specifically he raises concern that data centers were not held responsible for paying their own way for the new electrical generation they need and that they will not have to report annually on their water consumption, which is enormous. He regrets that the Senate was not given much time to debate the final bill, which he feels was a strategy of the House, He also talks about the process on passing tort reform, in which he was a co-sponsor of the Senate bill. He encourages people to watch the Senate's hearing that resulted in that body voting to remove the State Treasurer from office, He believes that it did not have to come to that if more congenial conversations between the Treasurer and Senate leaders had taken place earlier in the session.