One GOP gubernatorial hopeful says comprehensive tax reform and a restructuring of the Department of Commerce are needed to create jobs in the state.

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett spoke to the Orangeburg County Republican Party Thursday night about his plan to put approximately 270,000 unemployed South Carolinians back to work.

“We have about 40,000 jobs that are currently unfilled because we don’t have qualified employees,” Barrett said. “If elected, I would ask for temporary powers for the governor to match up workers with employers so they can hire them on the spot. We can use workforce training and development dollars to train these folks.”

On the issue of taxes, he said, “I don’t have a lot of confidence in the TRAC. Whether it’s some form of flat tax, consumption tax, I don’t really care. But we have to take a holistic approach to taxes so we can be fair and encourage businesses to come here.”

The push to attract new business includes building up the state’s infrastructure, such as the Port of Charleston, he said.

And Barrett wants to hire a proven business recruitment professional to head up the Department of Commerce and update financial incentives.

Barrett claimed the state package used to entice Boeing was similar to that used with BMW almost 20 years ago.

“We need to give some of the same incentives usually reserved for businesses coming into the state in the past to existing businesses,” he said. “This will help them buy a new truck, add a new warehouse or hire 20-30 more employees.”

Barrett called Gov. Carroll Campbell his political mentor, saying Campbell showed how to work across party lines for the citizens’ benefit.

He says his experience will allow him to build a synergistic relationship with the General Assembly that Gov. Mark Sanford never had.

“I ran a small mom ‘n pop furniture store. I know how to work with people,” Barrett said. “You can have the most innovative ideas and best solutions out there, but if you can’t work with people, it’s all for naught.

“Having done that as a state legislator, as a congressman and as a small businessman, I think I can do it as governor, too.”

Questions from local Republicans covered topics ranging from the state lottery to education.

Calling K-12 “the heart of education,” Barrett said South Carolina currently sends 44 cents of every dollar to the classroom, 21 cents below the national average.

“I would like to see a minimum of 70 cents,” Barrett said. “We ought to give every child every possible opportunity. It’s time we put all options on the table here, too. One size does not fit all.”

Barrett is one of four announced Republican candidates for governor. State Attorney General Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and state Rep. Nikki Haley round out the field.

Primary elections will take place June 8 with a runoff, if necessary, to be held two weeks later on June 22.