PoliTick-Tock

Voter stream slow, no machine problems in NMB

By 8 a.m. this morning, about 15 voters had come through the door at the Crescent precinct poll in North Myrtle Beach. Poll worker Jean Boseman said she expected today's voter turnout to be a bit on the slow side.

Workers also reported that the electronic voting machines were running smoothly. Volunteer Bill Mullin said he makes sure to reiterate to folks that they have three chances to change their mind before they vote with the electronic ballot.

"The biggest problem is people's fear of touch screens," he said. "They only time you ever see one is if you're using a debit card."

He says walking through each step with the voters has been helpful.

"If you do that with everybody, we have less problems."

"They're getting more used to it," added poll worker Sandy Bruce. "It's such a long time in between when they use it. They don't remember from one time to the next."

Reuniting at the polls

Crescent precinct poll workers Jean Boseman and Levon McSwain go back - way back.

"We worked together about 55 years ago at the Highway Patrol," said Boseman, 73.

"I enjoyed that job," said McSwain, chatting with Boseman about their time in Raleigh, N.C.

After leaving the job and moving to the North Myrtle Beach area in 1989, Boseman spotted McSwain's name in an article in The Sun News a few years ago, looked her up in the phone book and rekindled their friendship.

"I said, 'Come work with me at the polls,'" said Boseman, a volunteer for nearly 20 years. McSwain soon joined her and the two friends have since worked at Crescent precinct on Possum Trot Road in North Myrtle Beach.

Pancakes for Loftus

Gary Loftus, Republican challenger to District 4 incumbent County Councilman Mike Ryan, will have a meet and greet with voters over free pancakes Saturday.

The event runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Breakfast Klub at the intersection of Highway 707 and Salem Road, across from St. James High School.

Poll worker shortage

The Horry County Voter Registration Office is about 60 poll workers short to cover all of the precincts during the June 10 Primary and the possible June 24 runoff.

A training for poll workers will be held from 1-4 p.m. Monday, June 2 at the Horry County administrative building in Conway. Workers are paid $60 for the training and $60 for working on election day.

If you're interested in working, call Kim at 915 8530. The precincts that need help as of Thursday are as follows:

Burgess association to hear candidates

The Greater Burgess Community Association will host candidates for Horry County Council in District 4, county coroner and county treasurer at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Burgess community center on S.C. 707. All contenders will be given a chance to speak and answer questions.

Councilman Mike Ryan faces challenger Gary Loftus in the council race. County Coroner Robert Edge faces Dan Bellamy, and County Treasurer Roddy Dickinson faces Benji Allen.

Club to host mock election, bog-off

The Myrtle Beach Republican Women will host a mock election and candidates will make short speeches at 6 p.m. Saturday at Conway High School. All candidates for the June 10 Republican primary have been invited to the event, called The Elephant Stampede.

Those who attend will be able to "vote" in the straw poll for each of the races. The candidates will be bringing their own chicken bog, and attendees will be able to vote for who made the best bog.

A bluegrass band will also perform at the event, which ends at 8 p.m.

Full menu of political fare

If you haven't yet had your fill of chicken bog or campaign promises, there's a full slate of political events over the next week.

• Coroner Robert Edge's re-election committee will have a fundraising dinner Sunday at Luigi's Trattoria. The cost is $50 per person or $75 per couple, with the meal, soft drinks and tax and tip included.

WHEN | 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE | Luigi's Trattoria, 503 61st Ave N, Myrtle Beach.

MORE INFO | John Bonsignor, 385-3963.

• On Monday, the Horry County Democratic Party is holding a "Meet the Democratic Candidate Forum" in Conway. Enthusiastic demonstrations of support are encouraged, but surrogate speakers are not allowed.

WHEN | 6 p.m. Monday.

WHERE | Bethel AME Church at the corner of Racepath and Smith Streets in Conway.

MORE INFO | Racepath1horry@aol.com.

• Also, don't forget a slew of other events, posted below on this blog: today's Republican debate hosted by the South Strand Republican Club, Monday's Campaign Whistle Stop hosted by the Myrtle Beach Republicans, and the "Luke vs. Liz" debate hosted by the Conway Federation of Republican Women.

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.

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.

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.