Rep. Neal Collins

We won!

Thank you.

Thank you, Amanda & Olivia, for not only allowing me to serve, but supporting me in my desire to serve my hometown & state.

Thank you, mom, and second mom. I know y’all were more stressed than I was.

Thank you to my business partners for providing a work life that allows me to serve.

Thank you core supporters for my daily texts. You know who you are.

Thank you confirmed supporters. You know who you are. You are why we have won 9 contested elections in 12 years.

For the 3rd election in a row, we were outspent by national money. Three disgusting mailers. Illegal robocalls. Countless texts. Paid Facebook advertisements. Paid door knockers. Paid door hangers. And we had an even better result than last time. The people of District 5 once again rejected negativity and out of state money.

Thank you for your trust & support.

I now look towards my first-ever general election in November. If you would like to help, please let me know.

On your way home from work ... Vote! .... Then come celebrate with us at Merrell's from 7p-10p. Free pizza while it lasts & caricature artist until he cramps!

In many ways, I’ve already won.

Thank you all. They can have their robocalls. I’ll take actual people.

Polls are open until 7pm. I would be honored if you voted for me.

I would be honored to have your vote today.

Please note that Sitton & Flat Rock precincts have a new voting location. Sitton is at Crosswell First Baptist Church. Flat Rock is at Grace Baptist Church.

It's always a good idea to check your location & ballot here: https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Voter/Login?PageMode=Sampleballot

Tomorrow is the day! Please remember to vote. Then, you're invited to join us for an Election Night Watch Party at Merrell's Pizza from 7-10pm. Free pizza while it lasts & an artist will be doing free caricatures!

Thank you for voting!

Closing Statement:

I believe I should earn your vote every day, not just every election. This is my 9th contested election in 12 years with a 10th looming in November. While I'm always uncomfortable telling constituents what I've accomplished, it's a requirement during campaigns to highlight what I have achieved with the help of friends. 

So why should you vote for me? I took some time & listed 28 reasons:

1. I've served with integrity in one of the toughest areas in our state to serve. In fact, my colleagues have elected me to the Ethics Committee the past 6 years.

2. I am one of, if not the most transparent elected officials in the state. I have posted near daily for 12 years straight.

3. I am one of, if not the hardest working elected officials in the state. On average, I would estimate I work 40 hours a week for 52 weeks in this "part-time" job that we net around $15,000 a year. This is not a complaint, it is a my level of commitment to my community.

4. SC183 was the #1 complex infrastructure problem in the county when I entered office. We brought in $95 million into the county for the ongoing project.

5. Roads: I have helped deliver $233 million in 40 road projects over the past 9 years for the taxpayer price of $27 million. That's a return of 8x the taxes sent to Columbia. See the list here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PfVNAefe/

6. During COVID, I, an attorney, set up a saliva testing program in Easley which allowed local businesses like Joe's, Earthworks, & Under the Carolina Moon to stay open. Our samples were used by Clemson University & USC for protocol approval, which led to 70,000+ students being able to return to class.

7. During Hurricane Helene, I used my platform to create a bank of generators for people in need, communicated with utility companies to help direct work, & updated the community.

8. Teacher pay has increased substantially in my tenure. I have been one of the biggest supporters for this increase being 1 of 4 members of 124 on the K12 subcommittee. When I entered office, minimum starting teacher pay was $29,523 when I entered office. This year, minimum starting teacher pay will be $50,000 - nearly a 70% increase. When I started, the highest minimum salary was $62,834 for teachers with a doctorate and 22 years of experience. This year, the highest minimum is $80,500 for teachers with a doctorate and 28+ years of experience.

9. I created Pickens United - meetings of all elected officials in the county are invited. It is in its 10th year. We are the only county to do so.

10. I have supported income tax decreases. When I entered office, the state income tax was 7%. We have lowered the income tax to 5.21%. This will continue to decrease as long as the state economy continues to grow.

11. We are required to balance our budgets unlike the federal government. But we're not required to have the largest reserves in state history & the lowest debt in state history. I've supported these efforts.

12. I helped the funding of Operation Dragonfly - the Capt. Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park.

13. I helped with legislation for dyslexic students & for Lakes & Bridges in Easley to become a charter school for dyslexic students.

14. We, the state delegation, protected the county from coal ash with legislation.

15. I am responsible for renaming the street in front of police station to Matthew Logan Hare Memorial Ave.

16. I was the first of my 2014 class to be appointed to Ways & Means, which is the House budget committee.

17. I secured a $2.2 million earmark for Easley Combined to protect our city's water supply with preservation efforts at Saluda Lake.

18. I secured a $300k earmark for the Foothills Trail.

19. I secured extra funding for Camp iRock, United Way's & SDPC's summer reading program.

20. I have had 11 bills in which I was the primary sponsor pass: paid parental leave for teachers, stronger penalties for injuring or killing a police animal, SC250 license plate, SC250 special license plate, walking trail monuments on statehouse grounds, competency-based education, allowed SDPC the authority to determine their own pay, employment first initiative for government to hire people with disabilities first & eliminated subminimum wages for people with disabilities, employment first study committee, expanded school board from six to seven, and the Adult Students with Disabilities Education Rights Consent Act.

21. I amended another bill to mandate the sanctioning of girls' wrestling in high school so that girls do not have to wrestle boys.

22. I ensured women suffering from stillbirth will receive paid parental leave benefit.

23. With chairmanship & seniority, I've helped on countless other issues including: reducing boating taxes, Heirs' Property Tax relief, foster care, moped reform, allowing cities to raise revenue by referendum, va**ng, educational policy, reforming the high school league (athletics).

24. I fought & will continue to fight against the unconstitutional & unsuccessful voucher program, which has already proven scarred with fraud & corruption.

25. I currently serve on Ways & Means, K-12 subcommittee, Property Tax subcommittee chairman, Ethics, SC250, Education Oversight Committee, the Committee to Investigate Candidates for the SC Department of Employment and Workforce Authority, Appalachian Council of Governments (former chairman), Greenville-Pickens Area Transportation Study, Ten at the Top, Family Court Bench Bar Committee, & GOPAC.

26. I previously served on the Special Joint Committee to Study Childcare, Education & Public Works, Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs, Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, the Council of State Governments Legal Task Force, a Healthier State House.

27. I participated in trips to Finland & Estonia to study their educational systems.

28. In my tenure, I've been endorsed by the past two governors, the NRA (gun rights), SC Citizens for Life (pro-life), Chamber of Commerce (business), Conservation Voters (environment), Association for Justice (attorneys), Manufacturers Alliance (manufacturing), Auto-Dealers, Realtors, Carolinas AGC (construction), SCEA (teachers) & Boating & Fishing Alliance.

Few people care more about the success of my community than I do. I'm always one call or text away. My personal cell is 864-350-4175.

Please vote Neal Collins on Tuesday.

I can see the finish line to the campaign. I don’t know how to adequately thank y’all for the overwhelming support.

One thing I can do is celebrate with you.

We will be at Merrell’s Pizza Tuesday 7p-10p for our Election Night Watch Party!

Free pizza while it lasts.

I humbly ask for your vote.

After polls close, come celebrate with us!

This morning in Pickens, we dedicated the Gen. Andrew Pickens & Revolutionary War Patriots Monument.

It’s worth a stop & reflection. Legacy Park on Main Street in Pickens.

Also worth a purchase is Clemson Professor Dr. Rod Andrew’s book on Gen. Pickens: https://uncpress.org/9781469672151/the-life-and-times-of-general-andrew-pickens/

South Carolina 250

It was my pleasure tonight to represent the state delegation in recognizing Foothills Playhouse for its 45th year!

Foothills Playhouse started in Easley High School in the fall of 1981, moved to the Easley Mall, then in 1991 found its permanent home at West End Hall. Foothills Playhouse has entertained the community with over 300 shows & 3,000 performers in its 45 years.

The Wizard of Oz is currently playing if you want to see a show.

Last chance to vote early. 8:30-5p today at the Easley library or JB Red gym.

I would be honored to have your vote.

(Picture is of bill signing of paid parental leave for teachers in 2023. I was the primary sponsor of the bill. Text was AI generated onto photo.)