Our veterans aren’t just heroes—they’re our neighbors, friends, and family.

In District 10, from Powdersville to Piedmont, I’ve seen firsthand how service members come home and keep giving: coaching Little League, volunteering at church, or quietly helping a buddy through tough times. I grew up here, and I’ve watched the toll—PTSD, injuries, lost jobs—and the strength it takes to push through.

That’s why I’ll be a fierce advocate in Columbia. We’ll protect and expand what works: full property tax exemptions for 100% disabled vets on homes and vehicles, free hunting/fishing licenses, tuition waivers for their kids at state schools, and income-tax-free military retirement. I’ll push for more funding to our local VA Clinic on Highway 81—better mental health access, faster claims, and no waitlists.

Right here in Anderson County, our Veterans Affairs office already helps with free claims filing, bus tickets for those in need, and even a Powdersville branch—I’ll fight to keep it strong, add more transportation aid, and support groups like Vets Helping Vets and Upstate Warrior Solution. No veteran left behind: housing grants for the homeless, job training through SC Works, and real suicide prevention—because 988 isn’t enough; we need local resources.

They served us. Now we serve them. As your representative, I’ll stand up for every Purple Heart, every DD-214, every quiet sacrifice. Pro-veterans. Pro-District 10. Pro-gratitude—every single day.

Veterans are our heroes! Everyone with a story to tell. It is past time we treat them as heroes.
Stewart Watson