South Carolina Elections - Lets Get Rid of the Nannies -

The South Carolina Legislature, The Senate and The House, currently has a shaky membership - straddling the sway line between respect for individual liberties and inclination against such freedoms, particularly against the freedom of tobacco use that ranges from disrespect to sheer hatred. For most of the two year cycle between elections, the best we can do is call or write them and hope they listen.

We are, however, at the golden time of this two year cycle where we can identify those who hate us and either run against them for office or vote against them, both in the Primaries and the General Election. (In fact, in this year of a four year cycle, both the entire House and Senate are up for re-election.) This page will help us do so.

First Things first:

Dates of Election Action

Filing period for elected office primaries

(Where you declare running for office)

Actual SC Primary Vote

(You decide who, from each party, runs for office)

SC Primary Runoff Vote

(to decide unfinished races from Primary)

General Election

(You decide who fills the office)

March 16, 12 Noon to

March 30, 12 Noon

June 10th,

7 AM to 7 PM

June 24th,

7 AM to 7 PM

November 4th

7 AM to 7 PM

The Primary: This is where incumbents and challengers for the same position in the same political party are held to an election. This is also where you get off your ass and vote - to either vote for the man who will respect your individual liberties or, if a guilty person is running unopposed, write in another candidate - at least let the man or woman know you are displeased with their stance enough to vote for anyone else but them.

The General Election: Where the final vote occurs. Hopefully, enough of us have gotten off of our asses in the previous eight months to have a good choice to select from in this election.

Below -

The South Carolina Races of Interest

The Primary results of June 10th and 24th were a mixed bag. In adding up all of the final races so far (where the party winner has no competition come November), there appears, thus far, a slight advantage toward our freedoms - i.e.; slightly more unknowns replaced known antis in both the House and Senate.

See the score-card for these Primary-Win-All races toward the end of this section.

Who do You Choose, or NOT Choose?

Never an easy question to answer, especially since our highly unbalanced lame-stream media of this state NEVER seems to ask candidates anything regarding their stance on smoking bans or cigarette taxes and they NEVER highlight anything an incumbent has done to force smoking bans or tax increases down our throats.

Below, based on their Bill authorship/sponsorship, voting record and public declarations of the past and present, I can attempt to tell you who is what according to the following color scheme:

RED This is our enemy. They have proven by deed or declaration that they

support smoking bans and/or cigarette tax increases.

ORANGE A dubious candidate. Either by hearsay, implied tendencies, website

hints or their personal attributes (i.e; medical doctor), these people are

suspect, but are preferred over a red name.

BLACK Unknown. Have no idea where they stand, but at least their website or

public declarations have not hinted at all that they are anti.

GREEN This would mean that I know concretely that the candidate is opposed to

anti-tobacco legislation and, thus, truly supports individual and private

property liberties. At the moment, I have very few with the courage to

come out and say so... cowards.

Additional Notes of Choosing:

•The below races are not a total list of races, just the ones where we need to take action. For a complete list of the guilty, visit my comprehensive lists.

•Also, please use the Yellow Box links at the end of each Legislative block to access all races as posted on SCIway and access the candidates websites to try and help you decide.

•I will indicate the party of the individual, R: Republican, D: Democrat.

•I hate to insult any Democrat freedom-lovers out there, but the fact is that the Democrat party, by and large, supports anti-legislation. There might be individual exceptions, but I know of none currently and that party will stick together to push the leader’s agendas - and the leaders of that party in this state ARE antis. Unless faced with a RED versus BLACK choice, it is in our interests, all else undetermined, to vote Republican.

•I also hate to insult any Female freedom-lovers out there, but, historically, woman vote for anti legislation. If a choice is between a man and a woman, and there is no other information, I’d choose the man - it’s a safer bet.

•General axiom of choice (like in roulette): When choosing between red and black (or orange and black), always bet on Black.

House District: 3

Counties: Pickens

Incumbent

Skelton, B. R. - R

Challengers

Gale, Jason - D

House District: 22

Counties: Greenville Score: Win

Incumbent

Defeated

Challengers

Nanney, Wendy - R

House District: 69

Counties: Lexington

Incumbent

Pitts, Edward H. “Ted” - R

These two Legislative Seats

have no one running against the incumbents. Both men are extreme antis. I would humbly suggest, for those in these districts, that you organize a petition for a candidate to run against them.

House District: 74

Counties: Richland

Incumbent

Rutherford, J. Todd - D

House District: 66

Counties: Orangeburg

Incumbent

Cobb-Hunter, Gilda - D

Challengers

Hawkins, Tim - R

House District: 79

Counties: Kershaw and Richland

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Herndon, David - R

Gunn, Anton - D

House District: 99

Counties: Berkeley and Charleston

Incumbent

Merrill, James H. - R

Comment:

I strongly suggest you organize a petition for a challenging candidate, Merrill is a very active anti incumbent.

House District: 112

Counties: Charleston Score: Wash

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Sottille, Mike - R

Senate District: 2

Counties: Pickens Score: Wash

Incumbent

Martin, Larry A. - R

Challengers

Defeated

Senate District: 6

Counties: Greenville

Incumbent

Fair, Michael L. - R

Comment:

Fair is a dangerous anti - I strongly suggest you petition an alternative for the November elections.

Senate District: 16

Counties: Lancaster and York Action: Vote in General Election

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Mulvaney, Mick - R

Powers-Norrell, Mandy - D

House District: 45

Counties: Lancaster and York

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Long, Deborah - R

Thomas, Fred - D

Senate District: 22

Counties: Kershaw and Richland

Incumbent

Lourie, Joel - D

Comments:

Both of these incumbents are steadfast and uncompromising antis. They have repeatedly authored and pushed anti legislation. I strongly suggest you organize a petition to have an alternative come the november elections.

Senate District: 23

Counties: Lexington

Incumbent

Knotts, John M. “Jake” - R

House District: 117

Counties: Charleston Score: Win

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Scott, Tim - R

House District: 16

Counties: Greenville and Laurens

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Willis, Mark - R

Turner Jr., Michael - D

House District: 21

Counties: Greenville and Laurens Score: Loss

Incumbent

Defeated

Challengers

Wylie, Bill - R

House District: 81

Counties: Aiken Score: Loss

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Young, Tom - R

House District: 32

Counties: Spartanburg

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Cole Jr., Durham - R

Rothschild, Will - D

House District: 105

Counties: Horry Score: Wash

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Hearn, George - R

Senate District: 10

Counties: Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Compton, Dee - R

Nicholson, Floyd - D

Senate District: 32

Counties: Florence, Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg

Score: Wash

Incumbent

McGill, Yancey - D

Challengers

Defeated

Senate District: 19

Counties: Richland Score: Loss

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

defeated

Scott, John - D

Senate District: 17

Counties: Chester, Fairfield, Union and York Action: Vote in Runoff Primary

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Bennett, Mark - R

Coleman, Creighton B. - D

Senate District: 12

Counties: Spartanburg Score: Wash

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Bright, Lee - R

defeated

House District: 36

Counties: Spartanburg Score: Win

Incumbent

Open

Challengers

Allison, Rita - R

Senate District: 7

Counties: Greenville

Incumbent

Anderson, Ralph - D

Challengers

Garcia Quintana, Roan - R

Senate District: 13

Counties: Greenville, Spartanburg and Union Score: Wash

Incumbent

Defeated

Challengers

Martin, Shane - R

Updated: 6/29/08

House District: 20

Counties: Greenville Score: Wash

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Hamilton, Dan - R

House District: 108

Counties: Charleston and Georgetown Action: Vote in General Election

Incumbent

Miller, Vida O. - D

Challengers

Kelso, Jill - R

House District: 77

Counties: Richland

Incumbent

Open

Challengers

Koska, Michael - R

McEachern, Joe - D

House District: 25

Counties: Greenville

Incumbent

Allen, Karl - D

Challengers

Freeman, Rick - R

House District: 23

Counties: Greenville

Incumbent

Defeated

Challengers

Dillard, Chandra - D

Alexander, Justin - R

Senate District: 28

Counties: Dillon, Horry, Marion and Marlboro

Incumbent

Elliott, Dick - D

Challengers

McKown, William - R

House District: 34

Counties: Spartanburg

Incumbent

OPEN

Challengers

Forrester, Mike - R

Hart, Ronnie - D

House District: 35

Counties: Spartanburg Score: Wash

Incumbent

Kelly, Keith - R

Challengers

Defeated

House District: 97

Counties: Dorchester

Incumbent

Knight, Patsy - D

Challengers

Bailey, George - R

House District: 119

Counties: Charleston Action: Vote in General Election

Incumbent

Stavrinakis, Leon - D

Challengers

Cannon, Chris - R

Senate District: 11

Counties: Spartanburg Action: Vote in General Election

Incumbent

Reese, Glenn - D

Challengers

Gardner, Mike - R

Senate District: 33

Counties: Horry Score: Wash

Incumbent

Rankin, Luke - D

Challengers

Defeated

Senate District: 35

Counties: Lee and Sumter

Incumbent

Leventis, Phil - D

Challengers

Michalik, Karen - R

Senate District: 38

Counties: Charleston and Dorchester Score: Win

Incumbent

Defeated

Challengers

Rose, Mike - R

Senate District: 42

Counties: Charleston

Incumbent

Ford, Robert - D

Challengers

Sheriff, Scotty - R

Senate District: 46

Counties: Beauford

Incumbent

Defeated

Challengers

Davis, Tom - R

Fletcher, Kit - D

Comment: Trying to confirm Herndon, one way or the other. No info on Gunn yet.

Comment: Young, unfortunately, does support a tax increase. Don’t know his position on a ban - He won’t answer email... coward!

Comment: Skelton is a confirmed anti. Yet to get info on Gale.

Comment: Willis is suspect - I will try and confirm. No info on Turner yet.

Comment: Don’t have any info on Alexander, but Dillard is a confirmed anti from Greenville City Council. Please vote for Alexander.

Comment: Allen has voted with anti in the House. No info on Freeman yet.

Comment: No information yet on anyone here.

Comment: No concrete information yet on anyone here.

Comment: Cobb-Hunter is a confirmed anti incumbent, who has sponsored anti legislation. No info on Hawkins yet.

Comment: No information on either candidate yet.

Comment: Knight has voted with anti. No info on Bailey yet.</