PoliTick-Tock

Georgetown Democrats set to meet

The Georgetown County Democratic Party will be meeting on May 24 at 11:00 a.m. at the Andrews Library, 105 N. Morgan Avenue in Andrews.

All candidates have been invited to speak.

Listed on Georgetown County's June 10 Democratic primary ballot are:

U.S. Senate-- Michael Cone and Bob Conley

U.S. House of Rep. District 1-- Ben Frasier and Linda Ketner

S.C. Senate District 32-- Larry Alston, Ted Brown and Yancey McGill

County Council District 3-- Thomas Earl Drayton and Leona Tiger Miller

County Council District 4-- Lillie Jean Johnson and Helen Rudolph

For more information visit http://www.georgetowndemocrats.org

Debates scheduled for Horry Republicans

Republican Candidates for Horry County Council, county coroner, county treasurer and state senator will face off in two debates scheduled in the next 10 days.

On Saturday, Councilman Mike Ryan, the incumbent county council member in District 4, will debate challenger Gary Loftus at 1:30 p.m. at the Socastee Library at 141 707-Connector Road. Roddy Dickinson, the incumbent treasurer, and challenger Benji Allen will also debate. So will Robert Edge, the incumbent coroner, and challenger Dan Bellamy.

The South Strand Republican Club is sponsoring the debate.

On May 23, County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland, who is running for the state senate seat in District 33, will debate incumbent Sen. Luke Rankin at 12:15 p.m. at Shoney's Restaurant on U.S. 501 in Conway.

Howard Bond, a third candidate for the seat, will make a speech after the debate, a press release said. That debate is being sponsored by the Conway Federation of Republican Women.

Democratic Congresswoman to speak at stump

A high-ranking Democratic Congresswoman from Florida will be the keynote speaker honoring South Carolina's two congressmen at Monday's Galivants Ferry Stump Speaking, organizers said.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., is chief deputy whip to U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., whose role in the party is to maintain unity within House Democrats.

This year's stump, which starts at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the general store on U.S. 501, is intended to honor Clyburn and his colleague, U.S. Rep. John Spratt.

Primary voters must register by Saturday

Saturday is the last day that residents can register to vote for the Horry County June primaries, and the county's election office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon for last-minute registrations.

The primaries, for local, state and federal offices, will be held on Tuesday, June 10. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters still waiting in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast ballots, a county press release said.

The county's election office is located in the Horry County Technology Center, 103 Elm St., in Conway. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week.

Galivants Ferry preview

If you just cannot wait until the Galivants Ferry Stump, the Beach Democrats have lined up an early taste of the action for their next breakfast meeting on Friday.

Morgan Martin, the emcee for the following Monday's stump meeting, will be the guest speaker. The Galivants Ferry Stump is a traditional Democratic political event held since the late 1800s, and this year's meeting will honor S.C. Congressmen Jim Clyburn and John Spratt.

The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. at Akels Family Restaurant at 6429 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach. It's open to the public and no reservations are required.

For more infomation, contact Sally P. Howard at 843-449-1936.

Democrats sue to get candidate off ballot

A Republican seeking the state Senate seat representing North Myrtle Beach filed using two bogus addresses, and should be taken off the ballot, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the state Democratic Party.

William McKown previously served on the Surfside Beach Town Council from 2004 until January, when he resigned to take a position on a state aeronautics board. He could not be reached for comment Thursday at the mobile number he filed with elections officials.

According to the complaint, McKown applied for voter registration using an address of 521 48th Ave. S, North Myrtle Beach. On his candidacy form with election officials, McKown listed as his residence 2504 S. Ocean Blvd., North Myrtle Beach.

The 48th Avenue address, Democrats say, is an unoccupied property still under construction where no permits have been filed, and the Ocean Boulevard address is ``apparently vacant and is listed with a rental agency that secures short-term vacation rentals,'' according to their news release.

"If Mr. McKown can't figure out where he lives, he certainly shouldn't be a state Senator," state Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler said in the release. "He apparently lives outside the district, but he thought no one would notice if he made up an address within the district as his legal residence. The voters of Horry County deserve an honest Senator, not someone who is willing to disregard the law in order to get elected."

Senate District 28 is held by state Sen. Dick Elliott, a Democrat. McKown was the only Republican to file.

Initial campaign disclosure forms - coroner

Following are the initial candidate disclosure forms of the two candidates running for the position of Horry County coroner - Robert Edge Jr. and Dan Bellamy.

Robert Edge initial report

Dan Bellamy initial report

Candidate drops out of Horry council race

Nicholas Kenworthy, a Republican who filed to run against Horry County Councilman Bob Grabowski in District 6 for the June 10 primary, has withdrawn from the race, Kenworthy said Monday.

Kenworthy, 28, a graduate of Coastal Carolina University at a mortgage consultant with Wachovia, said he decided to withdraw last week because he felt he would not be able to devote enough time to the race.

Kenworthy, from Arizona, said he might run for the council in the future. Grabowski was the only other Republican to file for the council seat.

Obama 2008 returns to Carolina coast

Months after the debate in Myrtle Beach, the Democratic Presidential Primary is still going on, and about to be right back in our backyards.

On Monday, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama will visit Wilmington as he prepares for the May 6 primary in North Carolina.

He will speak at the Trask Coliseum, 679 Wagoner Drive, Wilmington. Doors open at 11 a.m.

You'll need tickets, as space is limited.

More campaign fun, MB GOP-style

The Myrtle Beach Republican Club is hosting a "Campaign Whistle Stop," inviting all GOP candidates to the Historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot for a night of chicken bog and campaigning.

Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, South Carolina House and Senate, Horry County Council, Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk of Court, Coroner and Sheriff are all invited. 

Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and campaign speeches start an hour later Monday, May 19 at the train depot, 851 Broadway St., Myrtle Beach.

For further information, contact Mary Henry at 444-4364 or myrtlebeachrepublicanclub@gmail.com.

Graham's Republican challenger in MB

The challenger from the right to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has a speaking engagement planned at Broadway at the Beach this week.

Buddy Witherspoon, the only Republican candidate to file against Graham, will speak to the Disabled American Veterans at 7 p.m. Thursday, according to an email from his campaign.

No further details are listed, but they'll be posted here as they become available.

Graham: endorsements and offers of help

Amid two new endorsements from conservative groups, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is sending a representative to Georgetown to meet with constituents.

In his bid for re-election, Graham received endorsements from two key conservative groups this week: the National Rifle Association, which gave his pro-gun voting record an 'A,' and the South Carolina Citizens for Life, which hailed his "long-standing opposition to abortion, euthanasia, and lethal research that destroys a living human embryo."

This Wednesday, Graham is sending a representative from his office to Georgetown to meet with constituents who are having problems dealing with various governmental agencies.

The representative will be at the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, 1230 Highmarket St., from 10 to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Anyone planning to come is encouraged to make an appointment ahead of time with Graham's Florence office, (843) 669-1505.

Free cookout today to benefit wounded soldiers

Eat a hot dog and support the troops with state Rep. Thad Viers today, as he hosts a cookout to raise money for families of soldiers wounded in combat.

The cookout runs from noon to 2 p.m. today at the Cooper House, next to the Old Socastee Swing Bridge. The hot dogs and hamburgers are free -- donated by Viers -- but anyone who attends is encouraged to give a donation to Operation First Response, an organization that supports wounded troops with bills, medical costs and transportation needs.

Carolyn Crossley, Operation First Response vice president, helped found the organization after serving as a nurse at a U.S. Army hospital in Germany. She will attend the cookout with wounded soldiers from Fort Bragg, Viers said in a news release.

The organization was one of the 10 charities deemed "Angels" in 2006 for maximizing the use of donations toward program activitiies, according to the Secretary of State's office.

A free lunch?

The South Strand Republican Club will offer a free buffet and open house Saturday as an effort to welcome new members to the club.

New residents will have a chance to meet Republicans from Horry County running for local, county, state and federal offices, as well as area business leaders.

The buffet will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Spuds Waterfront Dining, 4123 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet. For more information, call club president John E. Bonsignor, (843) 385-3963, vice president Bill Blankenship (843) 421-7324, or vice-president Bill Schweitzer (843) 215-5030.

Viers quotes presidents in radio spot

A new radio advertisement by state Rep. Thad Viers' re-election campaign features the Republican lawmaker from Myrtle Beach using quotes from two former Presidents to support his fight against illegal immigration.

Viers first invokes John Quincy Adams' aphorism that "Who we are is who we were" -- originally part of his 1840 defense of the Africans who revolted on board the slave ship Amistad. Viers then quotes Teddy Roosevelt in 1907 saying, "We have room for but one flag and one language and sole loyalty to the American people."

"That kind of commitment to our constitution has been at the core of my leadership on illegal immigration and on every important issue,'' Viers concludes.

In the June 10 Republican primary, Viers faces former Horry County school board chairwoman Helen Smith and Realtors' association representative Steven Neeves.

No Democrats filed in Viers' District 68.

Van Winkle to hold first fundraiser

Keith Van Winkle, the Republican candidate for Horry County Council District 3, will hold a fundraiser on Wednesday, April 23 at Sugami Japanese Restaurant at 4813 N. Kings Highway, according to a press release.

Cocktails and dinner will be served from 6:30 p.m. through 9 p.m. Tickets cost $100.

In the press release, Van Winkle, who is running against Democratic incumbent Marion Foxworth, said that everyone will be "surprised and delighted" with the dinner menu.

For tickets, call Charlie Soto at 655-1793.

Fed up with the feds?

Anyone who needs help dealing with a federal agency is invited to meet with a representative of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's office Wednesday.

To make an appointment, call Graham's Florence office at (843) 669-1505.

WHEN | 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

WHERE| Myrtle Beach City Hall, second floor conference room, 937 Broadway, Myrtle Beach.

Senate hopefuls at Bikers' political rally

Three potential challengers to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham are speaking at a political rally today hosted by a motorcyclists' group.

Buddy Witherspoon, a Republican, former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, who is running as a petition candidate, and Bob Conley, a Democrat, are all speaking at today's meeting of Horry County ABATE, which stands for "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments."

Candidates for the coroner's office and several county council races will also speak, said ABATE member John Easterling.

The meeting starts at noon at Stingray's, 2796 S. Kings Highway in Garden City.

South Strand GOP trades meals for time

South Strand Republicans need help getting the word out, and on Saturday, they'll buy volunteers breakfast and lunch.

Club members will be walking through three Murrells Inlet neighborhoods, signing up new club members and handing out information on GOP county candidates to more than 500 homes.

Breakfast at McDonald's and lunch later are both part of the deal, according to an email from Club President John Bonsignor.

The group will meet for breakfast at 9 a.m. at McDonald's on Highway 707 and Homestown Road, then split into three groups for canvassing at 10 a.m.

For more information, call Bonsignor at 385-3963.

Candidates to speak to young Republicans

A panel of Republican candidates will meet with the Grand Strand Young Republicans next week. The panel of Western Horry Republicans will include candidates running for S.C. Senate, S.C. House, Horry County Council and others. The meeting is scheduled for April 14 at 6 p.m. at the Horry County Republican Party Headquarters at 914 Norman Alley in Conway. If you have some burning questions on your mind, the event is open to the public.