Carolina Politics Online

Those of the words of State Representative Greg Delleney (R-Chester) regarding the defeated State House bill that would have banned the funding of abortions in the state health insurance plan for women who became pregnant through rape or incest.  While I’m sure Mr. Delleney has good intentions, he’s out of touch with the mainstream.

I am pro-life.  I am opposed to abortion and I think the vast majority of them can be avoided by simple responsibility.  However, as a libertarian I do not support government intervention into what is a very personal and difficult issue.  In the same respect I do not believe public tax dollars should be used to fund them either, which I imagine most people would agree with.  That said, that issue at hand is regarding women who pregnant through no fault of their own, either through rape or incest.  I think the majority would also agree that a reasonable exception can be made in those cases and we’re talking very few cases anyhow.  A pregnancy resulting from rape is fairly rare.

This vote only failed by three votes indicating that culture conservatives still wield a great deal of influence throughout South Carolina.

Like I said last year and the year before they are never going to let this go.  From yesterday’s Post and Courier article, let’s start with the logical fallacies of one Dr. Charles Darby.

“The higher the taxes, the more lives that we can save. It’s time for South Carolina to do what is right for our state,” said Dr. Charles P. Darby Jr., Medical University of South Carolina professor emeritus of pediatrics and executive director of the Children’s Hospital Center for Child Advocacy.

“Those of us who do not smoke pay higher health insurance premiums and taxes to subsidize the habit of smoking,” he said. “It is time the smoker pays for some of the cost.”

The Post and Courier

So according to the good doctor the only way to possibly solve this problem is to hand over more money to the government.  There would seem to me to be a much more logical solution.  Why don’t the insurance companies simply raise their premiums on people who smoke?  What, is that just too easy?  Or is the problem if we go that route our elected officials can’t get their grubby little paws on the money and then redirect it to all of their own little pet projects so they can buy votes at election time?

“Every delay just allows more children to get hooked on cigarettes,” Darby said.

According to what data, Doc?  You think a thirty cent price increase on a pack of cigarettes is going to stop kids from smoking?  It’s a negligible amount.  I am a former smoker myself.  I started smoking in high school back in the early 1990s when Marlboros were a buck a pack.  When I eventually quite smoking in my 20s the price of Marlboros was approaching $5 a pack.  It wasn’t the price that got me to quit.  I just decided to start being more cautious of my health.

Now I am going to shock you.  Unlike in years past, I am not as vehemently opposed to this tax hike this time.  Here is why.

Rep. Chip Limehouse, a Charleston Republican and a ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, made the proposal to get the 30-cent increase in the budget. He said a cigarette tax increase is about the only tax increase he could support and that it’s more important than ever to pass it now. New cash for Medicaid will free up money for schools, law enforcement and other priorities.

If they give so much as a dime of this increase to the schools I am going to be thoroughly pissed.  They don’t need any more money, but other state departments do.  As one example, our jails in particular have been the recipients of excessively painful budget cuts and that effects the safety of every resident in South Carolina.  The state budget has been stripped by more than $2 billion over what it was two years ago, so the efforts have definitely been made to try and reel in spending.

There is also this.

The governor said again in his State of the State address in January that he wants a cigarette tax increase to be used to cut corporate income taxes to make the state more competitive.

“We’re very much of the same mind as we’ve been in years past — that being that we’d definitely be open to an increase in the cigarette tax if it was accompanied by a corresponding tax cut in some other area. In fact, we’ve proposed just such an action in years past,” Ben Fox, communications director for Sanford, said in an e-mail Monday.

The House on Thursday gave key approval to a plan that eliminates the corporate income tax, as a way to make the state more attractive to business, making a cigarette tax increase this year even more likely.

That is a plan I can support.  If the state were to inversely eliminate the corporate income tax in exchange for an increase in the cigarette tax then that is something I can probably roll with.  Unemployment in South Carolina just hit 12.6% and we need a more competitive business environment.  Eliminating the corporate income tax would definitely put us on that path.

A lot of economists and other financial minded folks around the country, including myself, have spoken out against the monetary policy of Congress and the current and past administrations.  The alarming rate of spending and currency printing is quickly reaching a catastrophic level that will eventually collapse like a house of cards if not reined in very soon.  South Carolina State Representative Mike Pitts (R-Laurens) has come up with his own eccentric solution.  Outlaw the American dollar in South Carolina and switch to a state gold and silver currency.

Pitts, a fourth-term Republican from Laurens, introduced legislation earlier this month that would ban what he calls “the unconstitutional substitution of Federal Reserve Notes for silver and gold coin” in South Carolina.

If the bill were to become law, South Carolina would no longer accept or use anything other than silver and gold coins as a form of payment for any debt, meaning paper money would be out in the Palmetto State.

Pitts said the intent of the bill is to give South Carolina the ability to “function through gold and silver coinage” and give the state a “base of currency” in the event of a complete implosion of the U.S. economic system.

The Palmetto Scoop

I don’t know if Pitts is serious or simply trying to make a statement.  His concerns are certainly real, but his solution is not practical nor legal.  A state government does not have the legal authority to determine Federal monetary policy or ban the U.S. dollar within the state lines.  Even if it could, it’s not a practical thing to do.  Everyone in the state would have to be in possession of two different currencies, the state currency for use in the state and the Federal currency for use when leaving the state.  Plus anybody passing through the state would not be able to spend their money here, which is not good tourism promotion.

Oddly enough, it is actually not illegal to create an alternative currency, however.  There are actually a few neighborhoods around the nation that trade a home grown currency that some businesses in the area will accept in lieu of the U.S. dollar and even some  local banks will accept.  This is probably as close as Representative Pitts is going to get with his vision for South Carolina money.

And the results, surprise, surprise, are absolutely pitiful, though somewhat better than years past.

In the State Senate, 13 members achieved a grade of a C- or better.  That’s one more than the 12 from the 2008 session. I guess some improvement is better than none.  In the State House 24 members achieved a passing grade, including gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley who received an A grade.

These grades are calculated based on specific key votes in the state legislature that promote responsible economic growth throughout the State of South Carolina.  Certain votes are weighed more than others based on their impact.  All of the 13 Senate and 24 House members who scored a C- or better were Republicans.  I have them listed below:

Senate

• Lee Bright (R-Roebuck) A+
• Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson) A+
• Mick Mulvaney (R-Indian Land) A+
• Greg Ryberg (R-Aiken) A+
• Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) A
• Mike Rose (R-Summerville) B+
• Phil Shoopman (R-Greer) B+
• Shane Martin (R-Spartanburg) C+
• Ray Cleary (R-Murrells Inlet) C-

House

• Eric Bedingfield (R-Mauldin) A
• Joey Milwood (R-Landrum) A
• Rex Rice (R-Easley) A
• Jeff Duncan (R-Clinton) A
• Nikki Haley (R-Lexington) A
• Tommy Stringer (R-Landrum) A
• Tim Scott (R-North Charleston) A-
• Nathan Ballentine (R-Irmo) A-
• Wendy Nanney (R-Greenville) A-
• Thad Viers (R-Myrtle Beach) A-
• Ted Pitts (R-Lexington) B+
• Michael Thompson (R-Anderson) B
• Dan Hamilton (R-Taylors) B
• Garry Smith (R-Simpsonville) B
• Tom Young (R-Aiken) C+
• Chip Huggins (R-Columbia) C+
• Jim Stewart (R-Aiken) C
• Mark Willis (R-Fountain Inn) C
• Mac Toole (R-West Columbia) C
• Kris Crawford (R-Florence) C
• Deborah Long (R-Indian Land) C-
• Murrell Smith (R-Sumter) C-

Let’s take a look at the leadership of the general assembly, shall we?

• House Speaker Bobby Harrell (R) – A big fat F!
• Speaker Pro Tempore Harry Cato (R) – A big fat F!
• House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham (R) – A big fat F!
• Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (R) – A big fat F!
• Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R) – A big fat F!

Well, it’s really no wonder why South Carolina’s economy is one of the worst in the nation when our state’s leadership is steering us right over a cliff, is it?  South Carolina may be a reliably Republican state, but if I were a member of the state Republican leadership be it in the general assembly or the state party, I’d take a warning from what is happening in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts right now.  In one of the most Democrat states in the nation, a Republican is on course to win the U.S. Senate seat that was just vacated by the death of Massachusetts icon Democrat Ted Kennedy.  This is a state with only 15% of its state legislature comprised of Republicans and the last time that state elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate was in 1972 and he was incredibly liberal for a Republican.  My point is that the folks up there are sick and tired of the corruption and incompetence of the Democrat Party that dominates their state and has for decades.  Don’t think the same thing can’t and won’t happen here with the GOP in South Carolina if they don’t start delivering what the people of this state are expecting from them.

As for the 37 members of the Republican caucus above who are at least partially working to improve the economic prowess of our state in these difficult times, they need to go a step further.  Their efforts are fruitless if they allow our state government to continue to be ran by the likes of the self-serving Bobby Harrell and Glenn McConnell.  These two and the other noted above need to be voted out of the leadership.  They are ineffective and not willing to do what is necessary to move this state forward.

Because I live in York County the notorious shenanigans of York County Councilman Paul Lindemann (R) have always been a favorite topic of disgust here at CPO.  Like many small men inflicted with delusions of grandeur, he never disappoints the media’s craving for that next raw, juicy story.  Yes, he’s about to do it again.  Paul Lindemann is diving head first into……


are you ready for this……


wait for it……


The man is going to run for the South Carolina State House.  Yes, it’s true.  His arrogance knows no boundaries.  It’s so thick it’s become a veil over his eyes cloaking reality. 

Who does he think is going to fund his campaign?  No donor with an ounce of integrity in just their pinky finger is going to allow themselves to come within a visible radius of this guy.  Who is going to put their money and reputation behind a candidate who will be annihilated with the resurgence of news stories covering his multiple DUIs, infractions of the law, thousand of dollars in bad checks, and lawsuits for not paying his employees?  Only someone lost in a Quixotic fog of pure fantasy would think they stand even the smallest morsel of a chance.  Why am I not surprised that Mr. Lindemann fits that bill?

Oh, what a year this will be.

While Republican and Democrat fortunes varied around the country, Democrats made out fairly well in Charlotte last night.  Anthony Foxx was the first Democrat to be elected mayor of Charlotte since 1985, breaking a Republican hold on the office.  Democrats also increased their majority on city council to eight, with Susan Burgess, Patrick Cannon, and David Howard claiming three of the four At-Large seats.

In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board races two seats changed parties and that was the predictable District 3 and District 5.  James Ross, a Republican, was appointed to this very heavily Democrat seat when former board member George Dunlap won a seat on the Mecklenburg County Commission last year.  The odds were against Ross winning his own term, but it didn’t stop him from trying.  Rhonda Lennon (R) won the District 1 seat being vacated by Larry Gauvreau.  Richard McElrath (D) defeated appointed board member Kimberly Mitchell-Walker, which was the result I wanted to see.  Districts 5 went to Independent candidate Eric Davis and District 6 remained in Republican hands with political newcomer Tim Morgan winning that seat.

In Chapel Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt narrowly defeated Matt Czajkowski in the mayoral race.

There were no surprises in York County last night as former State Representative Ralph Norman (R) reclaimed his old House seat in District 48, easily defeating Democrat Kathy Cantrell by a huge margin.

In the school board run off race in Wake County, Republican John Tedesco trounced his opponent by 50 points to solidify the Republican majority on the Wake County School Board.

In Asheville, Democrats swept the City Council races there as well with Esther Manheimer, Gordon Smith, and Cecil Bothwell winning all three At-Large seats.  Incumbent Republican Carl Mumpower came in fourth with 14% of the vote.

That’s all the big news for tonight.  I’ll write a recap tomorrow.

9:57PM Mecklenburg County – Burgess, Cannon, Howard, and Peacock have won the At-Large seats giving the Democrats a veto proof majority on the Charlotte City Council, although it’s unlikely they’ll need with Mayor-Elect Anthony Foxx.

9:41PM Mecklenburg County – Anthony Foxx (D) has won the Charlotte mayoral race.

9:36PM Orange County – Mark Kleinschmidt has won the Chapel Hill mayoral race.

9:32PM Wake County – In the run off for the Wake County School Board District 2, John Tedesco has trounced Cathy Truitt 75% to 25% making the Republicans’ majority on the school board now official.

9:28PM Mecklenburg County – With 142 of 169 precincts reporting, Anthony Foxx (D) is leading John Lassiter (R) 51% to 49%.  It’s looking like Foxx is going to be the winner.  It also appears that Susan Burgess (D), Patrick Cannon (D), Edwin Peacock (R), and David Howard (D) will win the four City Council At-Large seats, increasing the Democrats’ majority to 8 of the 11 seats.

9:18PM Mecklenburg County – Foxx (D) has retaken the lead with 124 of 169 precincts reporting.  It is also starting to look like the Democrats are going to take three of the four At-Large seats on Charlotte City Council.  McElrath has a three point lead over Mitchell-Walker in CMS District 2.

8:58PM Mecklenburg County – In the At-Large Charlotte City Council races the top four are as follows: Susan Burgess (D) 15%, Edwin Peacock (R) 14%, Patrick Cannon (D) 13%, and David Howard (D) 12%.

8:56PM York County – Ralph Norman (R) has defeated Kathy Cantrell (D) in the South Carolina House District 48 race.

8:51PM Mecklenburg County – John Lassiter (R) now has a half percent lead over Anthony Foxx (D).

8:45PM Mecklenburg County – In the CMS school board races Rhonda Lennon (R) is leading in District 1.  In District 2 Mitchell-Walker (D) is barely ahead of McElrath (D) one and a half percent.  In District 5 Eric Davis (I) has a 30 point lead over Susan Walker (R).  Tim Morgan (R) is leading in District 6.

8:39PM Orange County – Mark Chilton has won the Carrboro mayoral race. It also looks like in Chapel Hill that Kleinschmidt will be the winner in that mayoral race.

8:34PM Mecklenburg County – With 23 of 169 precincts reporting, Anthony Foxx is at 51% and John Lassiter at 48%.  In the Mecklenburg County Council At-Large race, Susan Burgess (D) is at 15%, Patrick Cannon (D) is at 14%, Edwin Peacock (R) is at 14%, and David Howard (D) is at 12%.

8:24PM – In South Carolina House District 48 Republican Ralph Norman is decisively stomping Democrat Kathy Cantrell, as expected.

8:18PM – With 18 of 21 precincts reporting in Chapel Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt is leading Matt Czajkowski 51-45

8:05PM – With early voting ballots counted in Charlotte, Anthony Foxx (D) has a ten point lead over John Lassiter (R) in the mayoral race.  In CMS District 3 Joyce Waddell (D) has a huge lead of 39% with early voters so despite today’s voters I am thinking appointed school board member James Ross (R) will not be able to overcome that, which was expected.  The district is just too Democratic.

State Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, says lawmakers would have explored impeachment immediately, had they been around. He says the results of that investigation aren’t needed for the House to begin work on impeachment and he plans to introduce a resolution Tuesday that accuses Sanford of dereliction of duty for abandoning his post without telling anyone in the chain of command where he was going.

“This is just getting the ball rolling,” Delleney said last week.

The Post and Courier

This was inevitable.  If it actually make it to the House floor for a vote it will easily pass.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the House leadership tries to stall it at first, but ultimately the pressure will be there to vote on it.  Sanford’s goose is cooked.

State Representative Ted Pitts (R-Lexington) has announced that he will be dropping out of the race for Lieutenant Governor next year due to his National Guard unit being called to service in Afghanistan.  According to The State, Pitts will be deployed in January and will finish out his House term, but not seek reelection.  I find it rather commendable that he is putting his duty for his country ahead of his personal ambitions.

Republican Sheri Few has announced her intentions to again seek the seat in South Carolina State House District 79. Few is the founder of South Carolina Parents Involved in Education, a group big on abstinence education and she is affiliated with a curriculum called “Healthy Image of Sex.”  She also participates in the Palmetto Marriage Project, a “cultural movement to promote healthy marriage.”  It is the brainchild of the Palmetto Family Council.  Clearly she is quite a staunch social conservative.

This is her third bid for the seat and she will be running against Anton Gunn (D-Columbia) who just won the seat last year with 54% of the vote after narrowly losing a previous attempt in 2006. Gunn became a key figure in President Obama’s campaign last year as his leadership, profiled by Time magazine, helped Obama yield 80% of the black vote in South Carolina.  He is the author of The Audacity of Leadership and the CEO of Top Gunn Associates, LLC.

This was a Republican held seat prior to this year, but it has been trending Democrat.

Reidville businessman Bill Chumley officially will kick off his campaign for the state House District 35 seat this evening in Duncan.

The event is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at 1550 Highway 290, an open field about a half-mile south of I-85 at Exit 63. A tent will be set up in case the weather decides not to cooperate.

“I’m not real happy with a lot of things,” Chumley said. “State government is long overdue for reform, and there’s a lot of things I’d like to see changed — everything from less taxes to more freedom, tax reform, government reform. I’ve got some real issues with the budget, with the way it’s written, enforced and the way it’s carried out.”

The Herald-Journal

Less taxes?  More freedom?  Sounds like a winning combination for me.  I await to see his proposals.

This is overdue.  What the hell took so long?

State Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, released a letter Friday calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to remove Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce from office.

The letter comes after Pierce was charged with a misdemeanor DUI after being stopped by police Wednesday on U.S. 501 in Marion County. She was released Thursday.

“When she took office, it was a great opportunity for Atlantic Beach, and it was the time they were going to turn the corner,” Edge said. “The problems have continued, largely with the troubles that she’s had. Would the town of Atlantic Beach be better off with a different mayor?… I think the answer is yes, without a doubt.”

The Sun News

A turning point?  Pierce?  Let’s not over indulge in pleasantries here.  That woman was having issues right up to the election.  The warning signs were there.  Those imbeciles in Atlantic Beach traded one corrupt mayor for this psycho they’ve got in there now.  I can’t believe there isn’t something in the town charter allowing for her removal.

Final Results

Charlotte City Council – Republican Primary At-Large

• Edwin Peacock
• Matthew Ridenhour
• Tariq Bokhari
• Jaye Rowe

Charlotte City Council – Democrat Primary At-Large

• Susan Burgess
• Patrick Cannon
• David Howard
• Darrin Rankin

Charlotte Mayor – Republican Primary

• John Lassiter

Charlotte City Council District 1 – Democrat Primary

• Patsy Kinsey

Charlotte City Council District 2 – Democrat Primary

• James “Smuggie” Mitchell

Charlotte City Council District 5 – Democrat Primary

• Nancy Carter

South Carolina House District 48 – Republican Primary

• Ralph Norman

South Carolina House District 48 – Democrat Primary

• Kathy Cantrell

9:26pm

In the House District 48 former State Rep Ralph Norman appears to have decisively defeated Roger Costner in the Republican Primary.  It looks like Kathy Cantrell has won the Democratic Primary.

9:08pm

John Lassiter has declared victory in the Republican primary for Charlotte mayor.  No shock here.

8:54pm

Nothing has really changed, but there is one race that has suddenly gotten interesting.  In Charlotte’s 5th City Council district incumbent Nancy Carter has been losing ground as the night goes on to Darrell Bonapart.  Now she only leads him 57 to 43.

8:36pm

In House District 48 Ralph Norman predictably has a handy lead over Roger Costner.

8:27pm

Charlotte precinct results are coming in and so far there aren’t many surprises.  Susan Burgess, Patrick Cannon, David Howard and Darrin Rankin are the top four Democrats for the City Council At-Large seats.  Edwin Peacock, Matthew Ridenhour, Tariq Bokhari, and Jaye Rao are the top four Republicans.  John Lassiter, as expected, is destroying his opponents in the mayoral primary.

If you’re in Charlotte or York County, SC you have a primary election tomorrow.  Not all contests are competitive, however.  In Charlotte, there are three vying for the Republican nomination for mayor.  Only one Democrat is running unopposed.  For the At-Large City Council seats, eight Democrats and seven Republicans are running.  Voters will pick four.  In three City Council districts two Democrats are competing for their nomination in each.

In York County, voters will be choosing the Republican and Democrat candidate for the special election for State House District 48.  Three Republicans and two Democrats are competing for those nominations.

Candidates:

Charlotte Mayor (Republican Ballot)

• Martin Davis
• John Lassiter
• Jack Stratton

Charlotte City Council At-Large (Democrat Ballot)

• Raphael Basisa
• Susan Burgess (incumbent)
• Patrick Cannon
• Anthony Castrillon
• David Howard
• Darrin Rankin
• Bob Williams

City Council At-Large (Republican Ballot)

• Georgia Belk
• Tariq Bokhari
• Jerry Drye
• Craig Nannini
• Edwin Peacock (incumbent)
• Jaye Rao
• Matthew Ridenhour

City Council District 1 (Democrat Ballot)

• Patsy Kinsey (incumbent)
• Owen Sutkowski

City Council District 2 (Democrat Ballot)

• James Mitchell (incumbent)
• Aaron Sanders

City Council District 5 (Democrat Ballot)

• Darrell Bonapart
• Nancy Carter (incumbent)

South Carolina State House District 48 (Democrat Ballot)

• Kathy Cantrell
• Pansy King-Reid

South Carolina State House District 48 (Republican Ballot)

• Roger Costner
• Ralph Norman
• Sammy Rhodes

I wrote about this last week.  The House Republican Caucus had a taxpayer funded junket in Myrtle Beach over this weekend and the skinny was that they would consider a possible impeachment of Sanford.  I said then and I obviously still think that if Sanford doesn’t resign they will follow through on the threat.  Sanford has no happy alternative, but it would behoove him to resign and bow out gracefully rather than his legacy forever being the governor who got impeached.  At least if he leaves by his own accord he’ll save that little teensy bit of dignity he has left.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sixty-one South Carolina House Republicans asked Gov. Mark Sanford to resign Wednesday, questioning his ability to lead the state since his unannounced summertime trip to see a mistress in Argentina and investigations of his state and private travel that followed.

“Your decision to abandon our state for five days, with no defined order of succession and with no known way to contact you, is inexcusable,” said a letter from the lawmakers signed by House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham.

The letter, which listed the names of 59 other lawmakers, came a day after the House speaker issued a similar call. Any move to impeach the GOP governor would begin in the House, which has 72 Republicans, 51 Democrats and one empty seat. Bingham’s office said an additional member joined the effort after the letter landed on Sanford’s desk.

The chamber’s Democratic leader, Rep. Harry Ott, D-St. Matthews, has said his caucus will discuss the governor next month.

The AP

There are more than enough votes to impeach.  They need 83.  60 Republicans appear to have committed.  You can guarantee that all the Democrats will vote for it so Sanford will lose this battle in a landslide and hence the war will be over.  Sanford’s last stand.

The State House Republican Caucus, wining and dining themselves on our dime this weekend in Myrtle Beach, have shown no love for Governor Sanford.  According to The State many state reps are pushing for impeachment, but House Speaker Bobby Harrell is insisting on waiting for the results of a pending ethics report.  Two things are certain .  They want Sanford gone and Sanford isn’t leaving unless forced to.

Apparently the House Republicans will discuss it this weekend while they, ironically, are lounging around in Myrtle Beach on our dime.  I assume their legal reasons for impeachment would have to be the non-disclosure of “gift” flights as well as the first class flights that they claim violate state law and waste money.  Yes, the House Republicans suddenly care about wasting tax dollars.

The Herald reported that former Republican State Representative for South Carolina House District 48 has decided to run to get it back. Ralph Norman was the predecessor to Carl Gullick and vacated the seat when he chose to mount an unsuccessful bid for Congress against Jack Spratt in 2006. Norman was running for Lieutenant Governor, but getting little traction in that race and with Gullick having resigned from the legislature Norman evidently has decided his old seat would have better odds.

This has definitely mixed things up with the race as Greg Rogers and Tom Nichols have now dropped out. Costner and Rhodes are still in the race, though I fear this will complicate things for Costner.

I am seeing lots of Roger Costner signs all over, especially down Celanese Road in Rock Hill. I go down there every morning and evening to get to I-77 going to and from my office in Charlotte. I have yet to see a single sign anywhere for Greg Rogers. Is this a foreshadowing of things to come?

In a press release sent out on Friday, State House District 48 candidate Roger Costner made the following pledge:

Roger has no intentions of becoming a career politician, he would like to be known as a statesman, who did his level best, and He will listen to the voters who can gauge his performance each and every year. The seat belongs to the people and not an individual. This seat is only a temporary position for Roger.

Costner for SC House

Exactly as it was intended.  Get in, do what you set out to do and then get out and hand over the reins to someone else.  Hardly a politician exists today that understands the value of that and the disservice that career politicians do to our republic.  Political office was never meant to be a career, but unfortunately the American people have allowed it to become one.  All politicians eventually reach the point where they are too bound by special interests and the preservation of power to be effective representatives.  It takes a man of strong character and integrity to realize when he has reached that point and it is time to step aside.  If they don’t then it becomes our job to do it for them.  Unfortunately, we clocked out a long, long time ago.

It’s a no brainer who I am going to support in this primary.  With what I know and have learned about both Costner and Rogers, Costner is the real deal.