He endorses public safety measures focused on violent criminals, repeat offenders, supporting victims and backing law enforcement.

As the father of three wonderful girls, I’ve been surrounded by strong women my entire life, and they mean the world to me. That’s why I’ve fought for HPV vaccinations, expanding birth control access on State Health Plans, and strengthening domestic violence laws. While I am pro-life, I believe it’s important that we love and protect both women and babies, which is why I will never support a total abortion ban.

As a father of three girls, nothing matters more to me than their safety and well-being. That’s why I supported putting a resource officer in every school and keeping boys out of girls’ sports. The opioid epidemic is taking too many of our young people—I’ll fight harmful drugs being given to children, whether from the street corner or the prescription pad, to protect our kids from every threat.  

Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and they need support to thrive. By cutting red tape and creating a business-friendly environment, we can attract new jobs and investment, helping Columbia grow into a hub of opportunity for everyone.

A strong economy depends on reliable infrastructure. We must prioritize modernizing Columbia’s roads, bridges, and public transportation systems to keep our city moving forward and ensure we remain competitive with the rest of the state. Additionally, we need an energy policy that recognizes the critical role of affordable and reliable energy in supporting our growing state and driving economic success.

The government plays a vital role in creating the conditions for businesses to thrive and the economy to grow, but it shouldn’t be picking winners and losers or playing favorites. Worse yet is when millions are given to huge corporations and billionaires for risky ventures, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill if they fail. Working families deserve more jobs and opportunities, not wasted taxes to line the pockets of the rich and powerful.  

Columbia needs solutions, not partisan bickering or extreme agendas. Let’s focus on what really matters—getting our economy moving, improving government efficiency, and bringing people together to create a stronger community. It’s time to move beyond division and work for the good of all.

Kirkman Finlay is the only candidate who will truly empower parents to make the best education choices for their children. He supports full transparency in school curriculums and believes parents—not politicians—should decide which public school their child attends. Finlay also advocates for holding school boards accountable with stronger standards of ethics, ensuring they serve families with integrity.

Government should be transparent and accountable to the people it serves. By increasing oversight and cutting down on bureaucratic inefficiency, we can restore trust in our institutions and ensure that public officials are working in the best interest of the community.