Bustos challenges Sottile for House District 112
Special to The Island Eye
Promising to bring an end to “politics as usual in Columbia”, former Town Councilman Joe Bustos this week announced his candidacy for S.C. House of Representatives District 112, which encompasses Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and portions of Mount Pleasant.
“The people are tired of politics as usual in Columbia, just as they are tired of it in Washington,” Bustos said. “Growth of government is out of control, and we must elect new leaders to rein it in.”
Bustos, a retired Lt. Colonel in the United States Army, served nine years on Mount Pleasant Town Council, where he was regarded as an advocate for the taxpayers and a staunch, fiscally conservative voice. He regularly spoke out against projects which were wasteful and unnecessary, and became known as an “independent voice” who represented the people instead of the special interest groups or political power-brokers.
“I believe we must limit the size of government at all levels,” Bustos said, “and we must totally revamp the burdensome tax code to bring fairness and equity back to our system. I will fight to lower the overall tax burden by lowering the size and cost of government. I will be a solid, fiscally conservative vote, just as I was on Town Council for nine years.”
According to Bustos, the incumbent has scored poorly on scorecards of current House members prepared by fiscal conservative groups such as the Club for Growth.
“We need to make sure our representative to the State House is part of the solution, not part of the problem,” Bustos said.
As a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, Bustos spent a career as a highly-trained leader of our fighting men and women in the military.
“I want to put those leadership skills to work in the State House to help bring about the needed reforms out state badly needs,” said Bustos. “Until we fundamentally change the system of government, we can never hope to solve the many serious problems facing our state.” He further stated that he will work to protect the quality of life which we currently enjoy in the East Cooper community, noting that “One of my top priorities will be preserving our neighborhood-atmosphere for future generations.”
Because he and his wife Kathy operate two small businesses in Mount Pleasant, Bustos said that he understands the perspective of both residents and businessmen. As a Mount Pleasant native, Joe is able to relate to both “old-timers” and newcomers.
Bustos graduated from Gen. William Moultrie High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1970, graduated from Officer Candidate School and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry in 1995. He received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College, a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and is a resident graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Joe has served for nine years on the Mount Pleasant Town Council and serves as chair of the Planning, Water Supply, Bids and Purchases, Personnel and Fire Committees. He served four years with Mount Pleasant Water Works as an ex-Officio Commissioner, and for the last three years has represented Mount Pleasant on the Charleston Area Regional Transit Authority. Joe is married to the former Kathy Comar of Mount Pleasant and together they own Bustos Travel Service, where he works as a flight instructor. They have two children and one grandchild. Joe and Kathy attend Stella Maris Catholic Church on Sullivan’s Island.
In response to Bustos’ bid for S.C. House of Representatives District 112, incumbent Mike Sottile stated that he will also be running for reelection this year.
“I’ve served in Columbia just over one year and in that extremely short time, I’ve backed plans to stop extreme spending, reform our government restructuring, give more choices in education, and have helped to bring tens of thousands of jobs to the Charleston area,” said Sottile.
“Taxpayers are tired of politicians who run for something every year just because they want to be somebody important. We need leaders who are more concerned with growing our economy and creating jobs than their own political careers. I’m running for reelection so that I can continue my work to bring much needed jobs to District 112 and the region.”
