The following is a transcript of Rep. Gresham Barrett's speech delivered at the state Republican Party convention this weekend:

Katon, thank you for that introduction and thank you for all you have done for the Republican Party in South Carolina. Delegates, thank you for having me here today. You are the heart and soul of our party and I appreciate everything you do for the conservative cause.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me be clear. I’m running to be the next Governor of South Carolina because I’m a proud conservative and I believe together we can create a better tomorrow for our state.

Today the recession that grips our economy is creating challenges for South Carolina jobs, businesses, and families pushing devastating consequences on every community. Many of our fellow citizens are struggling to pay the bills, meet payroll and pay the mortgage. In response, Democrats in Washington have replaced free market principles with trickle down government.

We know better. And in South Carolina, we can do better. We know the way forward is to embrace the principles of freedom that have made this party great and been the foundation of economic growth.

My views on government were formed in the family business; where I ran it, met payroll, paid my taxes, played by the rules and followed the law. I learned firsthand that government and stimulus should never be used in the same sentence.

Being the Chief Executive Officer of even the smallest company gives you an understanding of the impact government has on the private sector. Something you can’t get from running a government agency or even a political party.

I am proud to be a conservative and in fact, some people say I am too conservative. But, let me tell you this; I’m not going to back down. We need a strong conservative leading South Carolina. And with your help, that’s exactly what we’ll have next November.

In the face of the worst economic downturn in generations, some want to spend money we don’t have to increase the size of government, even some Republicans in D.C. and here at home.

But growing government isn’t the answer. It doesn’t create jobs or wealth; never has, never will.

In six years of the Bush Administration, I voted against 9.3 trillion dollars in spending. In six weeks of the Obama Administration, I’ve voted against nearly 5 trillion dollars in spending.

If maxing out credit cards doesn’t work in our businesses or in our homes, why would it work in government? We have to stop spending money we don’t have.

You can sum up all of my plans for South Carolina in one word; jobs.

We have to start focusing on what makes South Carolina work; high quality jobs, world class education and a quality of life that respects and reflects our values.

Over the coming months you will hear my detailed vision for South Carolina, built on what I call the three E’s – Economic Development, Education and Energy.

First we must make our state a hotbed of job creation and innovation. I will be a tireless salesman for South Carolina. But it’s not a one man job. On my first day as Governor, I will go to the General Assembly to make it clear that we have to work together. We all have a responsibility to be Ambassadors for our port, for our manufacturers and for our small businesses that create 60% of our jobs.

We will compete with our neighbors so our brightest no longer graduate to jobs in Atlanta or Charlotte but to Greenville and Charleston. Businesses will look to Beaufort rather than Birmingham because we have established a regulatory, legal and tax framework that encourages and rewards innovation and risk.

But, the reality is simple. We can’t do anything without an educated workforce. We have too many children failing and dropping out of school. And we cannot tolerate it. The global marketplace is more competitive than ever and the high-tech jobs of the future require better schools, teachers, students, and workers. We can improve our schools by empowering parents with educational choices and by rewarding teachers for innovation and excellence in the classroom.

In the coming months, I am going to travel to each of our 46 counties and meet with small business owners, teachers, doctors, Moms and Dads, because they are what makes South Carolina work. Not government.

Our challenge may be tough, but it’s also simple. We have to hold onto our values, and change the things that hold us back.

It won’t be easy. Democrats are going to try and spend our way into prosperity. Nationalize everything they can get their hands on. From immigration to health care to tax reform. I bet they’d even nationalize McDonalds, NASCAR, and even sweet tea if they thought they could get away with it.

So we need a strong conservative leading South Carolina; a conservative that works for you and with you for our future.

Thank you for your time today. Thank you for all that you do. And may God Bless South Carolina and the United States of America.