Email: greg.hambrick@patch.com
Phone: 843-283-7889 Hometown: Salem, Va. Birthday: March 22 I'm a graduate of the University of South Carolina in Columbia. I have nearly 10 years experience covering Lowcountry communities, including nearly five years in Beaufort. For the past five years, I worked at the Charleston City Paper before becoming editor of Goose Creek Patch. My reporting has won awards from the South Carolina Press Association for beat reporting, feature and profile writing, and enterprise stories. At Patch, we strive for objectivity in every news story. This is a diverse community, and we want to include as many people as possible in the conversation. I want to let you know a little about my background and beliefs. This will put me on the record and help you learn a little more about me. Politics How would you describe your political beliefs? I’ve never been a party-line voter and I never will be. My voter registration card has crossed party primary lines for a candidate I believe in. I support local public programs that can build or improve our community, offering resources that a nonprofit or business can’t or won’t. I also believe in individual freedom and personal responsibility. We express that personal responsibility routinely at the polls — I won’t tell you how to vote, but I will tell you to vote. Religion How religious would you consider yourself? I was raised in a home where we did not go to church often when I was a child. My parents were very hands-off and not pushy about religion. They let us find our own way and chart our own faith. I began going to church regularly in middle school when I was old enough to enjoy the experience and take something away from the worship. I was baptised in a Baptist church as a teenager. We’ve explored several churches in the past few years. looking for the right fit, but it has been a challenge. Local Hot-Button Issues What do you think is the most important issue facing the community?   The dreaded bedroom community label. Goose Creek has built a large group of neighborhoods, but the commercial corridors have been just that: corridors. The city’s effort to build a downtown district is important in unifying this community, but its going to require a lot of work and a lot of different tools. Where do you stand on this issue? The city is on the right track. Infrastructure is improving and Goose Creek should be very proud of the recreational opportunities at its fingertips. But there are going to be some ideas that taxpayers won’t support. An important role for Goose Creek Patch will be making sure residents know what the city wants to do and to make sure the City Council and city staff get a clear picture of what the voters see as priorities.