MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Former educator, factory worker and Pee Dee native Mal Hyman He is making his third attempt to win the Congressional District 7 seat currently held by Congressman Russell Fry.

In a one-on-one interview, Hyman acknowledged he’s in a tough campaign but said now is the right time to run.

“I listen to people all over the region and see that some needs are not being met. As a teacher, I hope I can make everything clear. People want the minimum wage to be a living wage. They want healthcare to be more affordable and accessible,” Hyman said.

When asked what an appropriate minimum wage would be and how it would be financed, Hyman said the rich should be taxed.

“I think Martin Luther King said it best in 1968; It is a crime in this rich country for people to work for starving wages. I have seen teaching in prisons how this will destroy families. We need to reach a big compromise. I think $15 would be acceptable,” Hyman said.

Horry County is a key part of Region 7 and its population continues to grow. Growth in Horry County will be about 4% in 2023, according to a U.S. census report released in May of this year.

With infrastructure struggling to keep up, Hyman said that while these are local issues, he believes there are steps the federal government can take to help.

“Funding for education in the United States is different than it is elsewhere. “About 10 percent of the money comes from the federal government and about 40 percent comes from the state, and about half of that is local, which provides more local control, but there’s a larger role for the federal government because of resource inequality.”

He added that state, local and federal agencies need to work together to solve the problems the county is dealing with.

Another hot topic in Horry County is overcrowding at some of the 56 campuses across the county. He believes more funding could solve this problem.

“Some of these can be asked of those running for public office, when they have a billion-dollar surplus here. Instead of investing in schools or infrastructure, they gave it back as a tax break this year. I think the federal government should be making these investments not only in education but also in stabilizing families,” Hyman said.

As for his message to voters, Hyman said Democrats can do more for families in South Carolina.

“Democrats support working families much better than Republicans. The economy was in better shape under the Biden-Harris administration. Unemployment is at almost record levels. “With 60 percent of the population still living paycheck to paycheck, the stock market has skyrocketed and inflation has plummeted,” Hyman said.

Latest statistics US Department of Commerce As an indicator of inflation, the consumer price index (CPI) in September was 2.4% higher than the previous year, which is the lowest inflation rate since February 2021. This is due to the sharp decline in energy prices and the slow growth in food prices. .

Unemployment figures have been rising since May 2024 but are still considered low.

“We must do much more by not taking any corporate or bank money or money from the Democratic Party. I’m not afraid to speak truth to power. I will tell them what I think they need to hear to protect working people,” Hyman said.

WMBF News will conduct a one-on-one interview with incumbent Congressman Russell Fry on Wednesday.

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