By admin 
Incumbent state Rep. Jay Kilmartin, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Steve Asbill are competing to represent the District 85 in the South Carolina state House.
District 85 .
Kilmartin, 61, lives in Columbia. He is a small business owner and has represented the district since being elected in 2022. Kilmartin is a member of the S.C. House Freedom Caucus.
Asbill, 36, is a pharmacist living near Irmo.
Election Day is Nov. 3. Early voting is open Oct. 19 through Oct. 31, Monday through Saturday.
The State sent questions to Asbill and Kilmartin about their views on topics like artificial intelligence and tax reform. Both candidates responded in emails. Responses were edited for length, clarity and style.
Why should people in your district vote for you?
Asbill: Having been born and raised in neighborhoods across District 85 — including Irmo, Chapin and Lexington — I understand my neighbors’ challenges firsthand. Like you, I have experienced declining healthcare quality and access, deteriorating roads and the devaluation of public education by our current elected leaders.
Our public schools are being underfunded here at home. Our daily commutes have grown longer as our population has outpaced the infrastructure needed to support it and our emergency services need additional resources to keep up.
Your daily life should be the priority of your state representative — not national culture war issues.
What I bring to the table is a focus on practical, tangible issues and accessible leadership. I’ll listen to you, fight for the needs of our community and maintain a consistent presence in the district. You’ll have my ear and regular office hours to ensure your needs are addressed.
Kilmartin: If they agree with my politics, they should vote for me because I believe this is an urgent time for South Carolina. The rapid growth coupled with being years behind on infrastructure has created a crisis situation. We need to concentrate on core government functions and not the special interest requests.
How should the General Assembly approach tax reform in the state?
Asbill: I believe every tax the state government levies should have clear standards for transparency, auditing and fiscal responsibility. Knocking doors across District 85 has taught me that while people certainly want lower taxes, they care just as much about knowing their tax dollars are being spent responsibly.
Every resident should have easy access to a year-end accounting showing how much revenue was collected and exactly how it was spent. Taxpayers deserve to know where their money goes and have it at their fingertips.
I would require meaningful concurrency standards for new development in Lexington County so roads, schools, utilities, and emergency services keep pace with growth. Tax abatements should not come at the expense of our public schools.
Our property and vehicle tax systems also need reform. I hear repeatedly from voters who question paying vehicle taxes every year rather than primarily through a sales tax when a vehicle is purchased. Small-business owners also deserve a fairer system when purchasing or opening businesses.
I support incentivizing small businesses and job creators — but when taxpayers subsidize an industry, there should be a clear public return. Lower waste, greater transparency, fairer taxes and real accountability for your money.
Kilmartin: Tax reform starts with cutting out all the non-government function funding. Should your tax dollars in Irmo and Chapin be paying for an orangutan exhibit at the Greenville Zoo?
How would you want South Carolina to regulate the growth of new data centers?
Asbill: I believe we should pause approval of new data centers until counties and municipalities have enforceable standards in place to protect residents and ensure they receive a meaningful benefit.
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At a minimum, data centers should be required to disclose how much water and electricity they will use and pay for the infrastructure needed to support that demand. They should not be allowed to shift the cost of new power generation or grid upgrades onto residential ratepayers. Developers should also pay their fair share of new roads, utilities and emergency services required by their facilities, while meeting enforceable environmental and noise standards.
Finally, tax incentives should come with a clear return for the community. If taxpayers are subsidizing a data center, residents should see measurable benefits through local jobs, infrastructure investment or dedicated revenue.
Companies can invest in our communities, but they should pay their fair share and leave residents better off instead of forcing the costs onto taxpayers.
Local governments should have the first opportunity to establish these protections. If they fail to act, the state should establish minimum standards.
Economic development should benefit the communities providing the land, water, power and infrastructure.
Kilmartin: First, if they consider coming to South Carolina, they should pay for and create their own electricity. There are also questions on water usage. I think it would be regulated immediately if we did not pay for it like the General Assembly likes to do.
How should population and economic growth be managed in the state and in your district?
Asbill: I believe population growth and economic growth can be mutually beneficial for District 85, but only if we plan for growth instead of reacting to it after the fact.
I would support a statewide concurrency standard requiring major developments to demonstrate adequate infrastructure capacity before receiving final approval. Developers should be required to provide an independent analysis showing that roads, schools, water and sewer systems, utilities and emergency services can accommodate the projected impact of the development. If existing capacity is insufficient, the development should not receive final approval until the necessary improvements are funded, permitted and placed on a binding construction schedule.
Developers should be responsible for their proportionate share of infrastructure costs created by their projects — not existing residents. Local governments should have the authority to deny or delay projects that fail to meet these requirements, with limited exceptions for projects that have secured enforceable funding agreements.
Residents also deserve a meaningful voice. Major developments should require public notice, accessible impact information and a formal public-input process before approval.
Growth should pay for the infrastructure it requires, and residents should have a meaningful say in how their communities grow.
Kilmartin: I think we need a multi-year plan to get caught up on infrastructure first. We have been reactionary for decades.
What guardrails, if any, would you like to place on emerging technologies, like Flock cameras, AI and social media?
Asbill: Technology should make our lives better without taking away our privacy or harming our children. For me, that starts with owning your data. That means you should retain control over personal information that identifies you or can reasonably be linked to you — including your location, personal communications, biometric information and information about your online activity. Companies should clearly disclose what they collect, why they collect it and who they share it with. Using a service should not mean giving up unlimited rights to your personal information, and companies should face significant penalties for collecting, selling or using it without meaningful consent.
I am pro-police and want law enforcement to have the tools they need, but surveillance technologies like Flock cameras must have clear limits. Data should be accessible only to authorized personnel, retained only as long as necessary and never sold to third parties. The public should also be heard when they tell elected leaders they don’t want them.
Kilmartin: I don’t subscribe to any mass surveillance of citizens whatsoever. AI needs a way to turn it off if it has the possibilities of going rogue. We passed a bill last year making Internet porn illegal for minors. But much more can be done.
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Responses are listed alphabetically by candidate last name.