LANCASTER, S.C. — Nicole Ventour has filed to run as Democrat in the S.C. House District 45 race.
Republican incumbent Brandon Newton has held that seat since 2016.
As a child, Ventour recalls visiting Lancaster during summers to visit with family, including her grandfather, who were all born and raised in Lancaster.
“My grandfather was Jackie Boy Barnes,” Ventour said. “I’m probably related to anyone who is a Barnes or Shannon.”
Ventour shared that she has always known Lancaster would one day be her home. She and her son, Martin Ventour Jr., a senior at Lancaster High School, moved here from Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2012.
Ventour is a psychotherapist and opened a mental health agency, The Right Direction, after moving here. This is when she realized a greater need and began advocating for children with IEPs not receiving needed services.
“The Right Direction became my ministry,” Ventour said. She began offering free transportation and after-school care for children in treatment, free treatment for parents with no insurance, and a free summer program. This was all done without grant money or financial support from any organization and while experiencing her own financial hardship, but refusing to limit the free services provided.
“This is how I served God and continue to serve him,” she said.
Ventour believes that through her advocacy she is being guided to now serve as the S.C. House representative for District 45. She took a leave from pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology to focus on the district.
Ventour feels Indian Land has been put first, while District 45 is being left behind.
“I’ve been here since 2012 and see so much growth in Indian Land, but nothing in District 45,” she said. “We can’t get upset with Indian Land’s growth when they have the right representation advocating for them, while District 45 doesn’t appear to have any.”
Ventour wants to take on that role of representing District 45 as she has done for the past 12 years. She wants to focus on the recent school bond, which she opposes due to most of the monies addressing Indian Land’s academic needs, while limiting District 45’s.
She feels that school taxes can be better used by increasing salaries and incentives for teachers in District 45, providing appropriate student support, so teachers can focus on teaching, and renovating current schools while building another.
Ventour also wants to focus on women’s reproductive right to choose, building affordable housing, changing eviction laws, limiting how much a landlords can increase rent, allowing the community to pay water, gas bills and property taxes in installments without the fear of disconnection or losing homes, having a choice of telephone and internet providers and public transportation.
She’s also passionate about regulating the cost of prescription drugs, ensuring law enforcement has the resources needed to address crime and bringing attention to Medicare expansion to allow Medicare recipients the ability to use unused nursing home benefits for home care services.
Ventour said she feels that District 45 is being left behind because “there isn’t anyone fighting for us.”
She feels that as the next House of Representative for District 45, she can better fight to make sure District 45 isn’t left behind.
Ventour doesn't face any opposition in the June 11 primary, but Newton faces Republican challenger Vic Dabney of Camden, and she will face the winner of that race in the Nov. 5 general election.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include Republican Vic Dabney of Camden, who has also filed for the House District 45 seat, but whose name was left out of the initial posting of this story.
