The South Strand Republican Club held its annual picnic at the Burgess Community Center on S.C. 707 in Murrells Inlet. A few pictures are posted in the Neighbors galleries sections, where you can find photos of your neighbors at various community events. In attendance on Saturday were a slew of local politicians, and some people who hope to soon be local politicians, a.k.a. candidates.
Check them out here.
By Mike Cherney
Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, and County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland, who is challenging Rankin for his senate seat in District 33 in the Republican primary June 10, sparred over who would be the best person to safeguard public dollars at a debate today in Conway.
Rankin questioned whether economic development trips that Gilland took last year to China, Japan and Germany, paid for with her council expense account or by other organizations that receive public funding, was a good use of public dollars.
Gilland fired back that Rankin does not do enough to ensure that public money is being spent wisely in Columbia, pointing to state earmark such as about $75,000 to clean a statue at Francis Marion University, Gilland said.
Two major Grand Strand political players facing off in a primary for a state senate seat will debate today at Shoney's Restaurant on U.S. 501 in Conway.
Horry County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland is challenging incumbent Sen. Luke Rankin in the Republican primary on June 10.
The debate will be at 12:15 p.m.
Check back with MyrtleBeachOnline.com for more about the debate.
WHAT | Myrtle Beach Republican Club legislative forumWHEN | 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 18WHERE | Paradise Resort, 2201 South Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach.
The South Strand Republican Club will hold its annual legislative breakfast, featuring an open-question session with a number of state lawmakers, next month in Murrells Inlet.
The following legislators will attend: state Sen. Ray Cleary, Sen. Luke Rankin, Rep. Nelson Hardwick, Rep. Thad Viers and Rep. Alan Clemmons.
They will discuss proposed laws covering immigration, taxes, schools, health and others. Anyone is welcome to attend, and 30 minutes will be saved for questions and answers.
WHAT | South Strand Republican Club Legislative Breakfast
WHERE | Inlet Affairs Banquet and Catering, 4031 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet.
WHEN | 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.
COST | $10 per person; includes buffet breakfast.
For reservations or more information, call Bill Schweitzer at (843) 215-5030 or Charlie Soto at (843) 655-1793.
No, but it should, members of the local legislative delegation told area mayors and city council members at a Wednesday night meeting.
“There’s nobody else like the Grand Strand in the state,” said state Rep. Nelson Hardwick, R-Surfside Beach. “They (other areas) have gotten far too comfortable eating off our plate.”
The dinner meeting at the Train Depot was nominally about upcoming laws of concern to city officials – the agenda mentioned annexation and immigration, for example – but concentrated on one upcoming measure that would limit cities’ ability to spend property tax money.
The mayors and council members were concerned, they said, because their ability to cope with future challenges could be hampered, even though they have been fiscally responsible. Myrtle Beach has not seen a tax hike in years, while North Myrtle Beach has even lowered taxes.
“We feel like we’re being punished for it,” said North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley. “It’s definitely going to create some problems for us.”
Local lawmakers’ support of the bill is not a personal attack on area cities, the legislators responded: it is a political reality. Voters want tax relief and the governor and top legislators have a “top-down mentality of cut and save,” said state Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach.
“What we’re hearing is that you’ve got a problem and therefore you can’t help us,” replied North Myrtle Beach Councilman Bob Cavanaugh. “You can’t just say there’s no answer.”
Discussion of the spending-reduction bill, however, soon gave way to a lament on the lack of love for the Strand in Columbia. The area has 5 percent of the state’s population, but its tourist economy generates 11 percent of the state’s tax revenue, state Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, reminded city officials. Meanwhile, city officials along the beach are left to create roads, sewers and other services for hundreds of thousands of visitors using the property taxes of a few tens of thousands of residents.
“People in Scranton don’t have our problems,” Hardwick said. “They enjoy the tourists, because they ride through there and they can write a few tickets.”
No solution was reached to the spending-cap bill, though legislators asked city officials to write some concrete suggestions and send them to Columbia, in hopes the bill can be modified to account for the Strand’s particular needs before it passes. Further, the legislators said, city officials should act as their own lobbyists. When the bill comes up again, city officials should drive to the capitol themselves to argue against it.
“You want us to be in Columbia?” asked Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes. “We’ll be in Columbia.”
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