Mar 20 2008
Lex Co GOP Chair to Primary Knotts
The chairwoman of Lexington County’s Republican Party said Wednesday she will oppose one of the S.C. Senate’s toughest members, Jake Knotts, in the June GOP primary.
The tone of the challenge by Katrina Shealy was set immediately when the candidates traded pointed criticism.
Shealy, 53, said Knotts is not a loyal Republican and votes against GOP principles. He is the legislator her backers most want out of the General Assembly.
She said Knotts has supported Democrats in gubernatorial primaries over Republicans he does not like.
“You shouldn’t run someone you want in the primary then when you lose you switch to the other team,” the longtime political activist said.
Knotts is one of those faux Republicans who have stood in the way of a reform agenda time and time again. The Republicans need to clean these people out of their ranks or they will eventually befall the same fate in South Carolina that the national party did in D.C. in 2006.
“She’s one of the governor’s candidates,” Knotts said. “I’m not up here to represent the governor. I represent my people. I don’t fold.”
You’re not representing the people, Jake. That’s the problem.
