Cutting wasteful spending top priority for Cannon

Chris Cannon wants voters in Charleston County's House District 119 to know he's an average sort of guy.

And he happens to have one very obvious character trait: persistence.

The Republican, a tour guide, will challenge Democratic Rep. Leon Stavrinakis on Nov. 4 as Cannon undertakes his sixth bid for elected office.

"I am a working person; I worked all my life," the Johns Island resident said.

"My mind-set will be a lot more like the normal average working person. I am not going to throw other people's money around because I don't have my own money to throw around."

Cannon, 55, said his No. 1 priority would be working to eliminate wasteful spending.

He also wants to support Gov. Mark Sanford's agenda.

Cannon took 11 percent of the vote in a four-way Republican primary for the District 119 seat in June 2006.

This time, Cannon said his chances of winning are better because the party is not so divided.

Cannon said serving as chairman of the Johns Island Council has helped prepare him for the Statehouse.

The council is a voluntary citizens' group that serves as a liaison between island residents and local government.

He wants to see Interstate 526 completed and more discipline in schools.

He is open to the possibility of supporting vouchers and views himself as an environmentalist and conservationist who wants to see the state invest more in alternative energy research, including nuclear.

Stavrinakis criticized Cannon for some of his stances on funding and taxation outlined on Project Vote Smart's online "Political Courage Test." Cannon stood by his answers.

Among the answers are Cannon's support for a "slight increase" in the gasoline tax, one of the nation's lowest, when prices fall to help more adequately fund highway improvements.

He also said he would support a "slight increase" in the sales tax in favor of lowering, or eliminating, the income tax.

Cannon said he would also support re-evaluating all of the funding going to education and perhaps decreasing funding going toward higher education.

Cannon has not raised any money to date for this campaign.

Cannon

Chris H. Cannon

Party: Republican

Birthdate: July 4, 1953.

Family: Single.

Education: Bachelor of Science in government and public administration, University of South Carolina.

Occupation: Owner/operator of Mister Charleston Tourist Services.

Previous elected office: Ran unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2006 and Charleston County Council, 2000.

Something most people don't know about me: "I don't have secrets."

Name a specific goal you hope to accomplish if elected: "I hope to help Governor Sanford get some of his reforms pushed through the Legislature. He is trying to do what the voters elected him to do. The Legislature is making it very difficult."

Contact: 559-5113.

Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.