Hayes gets backing from state superintendent, school board chairs

Wes Hayes has received the backing of the state’s top educator, along with three local school board chairs.

State Education Superintendent Molly Spearman, a fellow Republican, is backing Hayes for a seventh term representing the Rock Hill area in the state Senate.

“Sen. Hayes is a tireless supporter of public education in our state,” Spearman said in a news release announcing she would head Hayes’ “advisory committee on education” during the campaign.

The committee also includes the chairs of three school boards in York County: Mack McCarter of the Clover school board, Jim Vining of the Rock Hill school board, and Patrick White of the Fort Mill school board.

Other members of the committee include Bob Norwood, the former chairman of the Rock Hill school board, York school board member Chris Stephenson, and several retired educators.

Hayes currently co-chairs a committee working on a legislative response to the Supreme Court’s Abbeville decision, requiring the state to do more to address inequities between wealthier and poorer school districts. Hayes has touted his support for rural teacher recruitment measures and state bonding that could help poor districts pay for facilities.

Hayes faces a challenge in the June 14 Republican primary from Wes Climer, a former York County GOP chairman.

“I am incredibly proud of our efforts to strengthen the educational system in our state and am honored to have the support of Superintendent Spearman and such a distinguished group of passionate educators,” Hayes said. “I look forward to continuing our fight for issues like the fair and equitable funding of our public schools funding and increased availability of early childhood education programs.”

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Hayes gets backing from state superintendent, school board chairs."