Rex brings Turnaround Tour to Florence

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex is determined to improve South Carolina, whether it gets him elected as Governor or not.

That’s why he started his Turnaround Tour, which stopped in Florence on Wednesday.

Rex, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor, spoke with a group of 11 business, education and community leaders at the Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library. He wanted their input on how to improve the image of South Carolina.

“I’m convinced that the next governor is going to have to have a concerted, professionally-designed marketing plan for South Carolina that shows us as we really are — our attributes and our assets as a state,” Rex said.

And he thinks his tour is the first step toward finding that plan.

Many at the meeting agreed that some of the attributes worth promoting are the natural beauty of the state, tourism opportunities, and the state’s residents.

But they also know, as Rex does, that a negative image must first be overcome, and some in the group said that negative image stems from issues with race relations.

Spencer Scott, Executive Director of First Steps in Florence County, said the Confederate flag issue is holding the state back. But he thinks that open discussion of the negative issues can lead to progress.

“A lot of growth can come from negativity,” he said. “If we actually had South Carolinians look at some of the negative things that are happening ... then a lot of growth can come out of that.”

“I think South Carolina doesn’t have any more racial division than other states,” Rex said. “I think it’s just kind of closer to the surface. And that — in the long run — I think is a good thing because it allows us to talk.”

Scott says he’s a fan of Rex’s idea of using open discussions to solve problems and promote the state’s attributes.

“I’m actually excited that Jim Rex is taking on that initiative to bring it to light and talk about it and address some of the positive things that are happening in South Carolina,” he said.

But Rex says his tour is not designed to help him get elected.

“More importantly, I hope (the tour) will help the next governor — I think that’s going to be me — but it will help the next governor get our state to focus in on our challenges and address them in a new way.”