Republican Tommy Paradise faces Democrat Malcolm Green for the open House District 86 seat covering parts of Aiken and Lexington counties. 

REPUBLICAN — Tommy Paradise

• Experience: Nearly five decades of public service, beginning with Aiken Public Safety and followed by senior local-government, planning and development positions.
• Taxes and Spending: Supports cutting taxes, reducing wasteful spending and stronger taxpayer accountability.
• Economic Development: Supports local businesses, job creation and responsible economic growth.
• Growth and Infrastructure: Emphasizes responsible growth and requiring new development to contribute fairly toward roads, water, sewer and other infrastructure.
• Public Safety: Supports law enforcement, fire and EMS and emphasizes combating dangerous drugs including fentanyl. 

DEMOCRAT — Malcolm Green

• Background: Project-management professional.
• Economic Development: Emphasizes workforce growth, good-paying jobs and support for local businesses.
• Growth and Infrastructure: Supports responsible growth and improvements to roads and utilities.
• Community Investment: Places greater emphasis on community investment and public programs.

The Choice

Both candidates talk about growth, infrastructure and economic development. Paradise approaches those issues from a conservative, lower-tax and taxpayer-accountability perspective; Green places greater emphasis on community investment and public programs.

This comparison is based on candidate campaign materials, public records and other publicly available information. Positions are summarized for voter information; readers are encouraged to review each candidate's own statements and campaign materials for additional detail.