Author: Paul Gable

Tom Rice and Jobs, A Lotta Talk With Few Results

Tom Rice and the Failed Campaign Ploy

Obvious campaigning with the Horry County budget didn’t work for county council chairman and 7th Congressional District candidate Tom Rice Wednesday as his fellow council members saw through the attempt.

During a council Committee of the Whole meeting, Rice suggested a series of proposed budget changes that appeared to be designed more for their voter appeal than county fiscal stability.

The county budget for FY2013 has passed two readings and will be up for third reading at the regular council meeting scheduled for June 19, 2012.

During budget discussions, workshops and readings since January, Rice has opposed proposed pay raises for county workers while he advocated building a reserve fund for projected budget deficits beginning with FY2014.

A Supreme Smack Down – Update

Republican Party attorney Kevin Hall led with his chin at the Supreme Court Monday and the justices quickly took advantage of the opening.

Grand Strand Daily has just learned that the S.C. Supreme Court has ruled for the plaintiffs in yesterday’s hearing finding the Republican Party’s interpretation of the filing law totally incorrect.

As a result, the candidates incorrectly certified by the Florence County Republican Party and Blake Hewitt from House District 105 in Horry County will not be recognized in next week’s Republican Party voting. All of these candidates will be eligible to attempt to become petition or write-in candidates on the November ballot.

From information we have learned during the course of covering this candidate filing controversy the above mentioned candidates will not be the only ones affected statewide. The ruling, far from finishing challenges to candidate eligibility instead could open many more challenges after the elections, but before election results are certified both in the June primaries and in November.

Candidate Differences Highlighted in Burgess Forum

We are now down to the final week in the primary campaigns with the candidates attempting to separate themselves from their competition.

Recently, the Burgess Community hosted a candidate forum for Republican primary candidates for House District 106 and Horry County School Board District 5. The differences in the candidates were apparent.

The House District 106 race pits incumbent Rep. Nelson Hardwick against Surfside Beach city council member Rod Smith.

In his opening remarks, Smith said Hardwick was not “conservative enough” in his approach to government. Yet, it was Smith who voted for a government monopoly that has caused the loss of jobs in the private sector of the economy in Horry County.

Tankersley: It’s Bauer vs. Brittain

Charlotte Observer CHARLESTON, S.C. In a primary season without statewide races, most of the attention is focused on South Carolina’s new 7th Congressional District, with 13 candidates vying for major party nominations in the district in the northeastern corner of the state. “From what I’m seeing in the polls and […]

Republican Party’s Day in Court

The Republican Party will have the opportunity Monday to convince the justices of the S.C. Supreme Court that it did follow state law and the May 2, 2012 ruling of the court in certifying candidates for the June 12, 2012 primary ballot.

The task will not be easy for party officials because documents released in the past month point to the fact that the party did not follow the law. In fact, charges of favoritism and cherry picking candidates for certification have been levied by unsuccessful candidates.

Two cases will be heard Monday. The first has the Florence County Democratic Party suing the Florence County Republican Party for certifying candidates who did not file in accordance with the law. The second has House District 105 candidate Bert von Hermann suing to have candidate Blake Hewitt removed from the ballot for not filing properly. Von Hermann is already off the ballot for the same reason.

Legends in Concert Announces Limited Engagement

Legends in Concert Myrtle Beach Announces Special, Limited Engagement Performances for Elvis Tribute Artist Grahame Patrick

Legends in Concert Myrtle Beach is proud to welcome revered Elvis Tribute Artist, Grahame Patrick, to the Myrtle Beach stage for a limited engagement appearance.

Grahame is scheduled to appear at Legends’ new Broadway at The Beach venue from June 4th through July 15th, 2012. Grahame has been an Elvis tribute artist with Legends In Concert for many incredible years and for a limited time only he will be donning the jumpsuit for Myrtle Beach fans.

Grahame is also scheduled to make a special appearance during the June 30th Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.

Haley’s Ethics Defense

Gov. Nikki Haley’s defense for alleged ethics violations during her time as a House member became obvious this week when the House Ethics Committee voted to hold a full scale investigation.

Haley’s lawyer has said she did nothing more than other lawmakers do and to investigate Haley’s actions would bring those lawmakers’ actions into question. He said he would provide the committee with a list of lawmakers who work for lobbyists’ principals.

That’s the old ‘everybody’s doing it so it’s okay’ defense.

Haley claimed the original investigation (of which there was none) was dismissed based on fact, but the investigation has now been reopened for political reasons. Haley asked that she be left alone to “do her job”, whereupon she almost immediately left for Wisconsin to campaign for Gov. Scott Walker in his recall election.

Huckabee Endorses Bauer for 7th District

Huckabee backs Bauer in new television ad beginning today

( Myrtle Beach , SC )…Saying “He’s just the kind of true conservative leader we need in Washington “, Governor Mike Huckabee today endorsed former Republican Lt. Governor Andre Bauer in South Carolina ‘s 7th district congressional race.

In his endorsement, Huckabee goes on to say, “Andre Bauer protects the right to life of the unborn, honors our Christian heritage and defends our God-given liberty.”

“I am proud and honored to have the support of one of our nations leading conservative leaders,” said Bauer. “There is no questioning Mike Huckabee’s credentials and his commitment to strong moral leadership in our country.”

Ballot Controversy in Georgetown County

We continue to receive evidence of the Republican Party picking and choosing which candidates were to be left off the June 12, 2012 primary ballots, despite a very clear decision by the S.C. Supreme Court on May 2, 2012.

The latest information we have received comes from Georgetown County where auditor candidate Rod Stalvey was left off the ballot while others who followed the same instructions he did are included on the ballot.

Stalvey sent a letter to the South Carolina Republican Party questioning his exclusion from the ballot, but did not receive an answer to his questions.

Brittain Gains Important Endorsements

Seventh Congressional District Democratic candidate Preston Brittain gained five major endorsements yesterday, pushing him to the front of the field of four contesting the upcoming June 12th primary for the new U.S. House seat.

Congressman Jim Clyburn, former Congressman John Spratt, former Governor Jim Hodges, and state Senators John Land and Vincent Sheheen announced their support for Brittain’s candidacy through a conference call Tuesday.

Each candidate praised Brittain’s understanding of the needs of the entire district as well as his desire to bring the Interstate 73 project to fruition.

The endorsements by five of the most important and recognizable Democrats in the state appear to make Brittain the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.