Guest column: 3 councilmen backing Kelso

From the October 29, 2008 Georgetown Times:

For three elected members of a local County Council to write a letter such as this letter is unprecedented, but we have concluded we have a serious problem which needs to be remedied. Per the South Carolina Election Commission there are 22,676 registered voters in Legislative House District 108 who are resident in Georgetown County. County Councilmen Ron Charlton, Jerry Oakley, and Glen O'Connell together represent virtually all of these Georgetown County District 108 constituents.

We are respectfully asking you to consider voting for Jill Kelso for S.C. House District 108.

Vida Miller has NOT behaved as a friend of home rule or local county government. Some examples:

Members of the Georgetown County Board of Elections and Registration historically had been appointed by Georgetown County Council. But, in 2006, after Vida Miller was not successful in getting the Georgetown County Board of Elections and Registration to approve her request to create Deputy Registrars, the result was swift and sure. Mrs. Miller, as chair of the local legislative delegation, introduced a "local" bill in Columbia to take away the appointments from County Council, wipe out the board, and give the appointments to the Legislative Delegation. Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed the bill as unconstitutional, which it almost certainly is, but, as is typical, the veto was quickly overridden. So, now the Georgetown County Board of Elections and Registration is not a Georgetown County Board at all. It is the Legislative Delegation Board of Elections. Your local property taxes pay for the staff and for the other costs, but the county has absolutely no control whatsoever over its own Board of Elections.

During Vida's tenure, the boards of Horry-Georgetown Tech, Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, and the County Transportation Committee have likewise met the same fate and are now under the control of the Legislative Delegation. Think about that for a moment. Even the Georgetown County Transportation Committee, which oversees road maintenance, is NOT a county committee at all. It should be named the Legislative Delegation Transportation Committee.

We wish that Mrs. Miller was as effective in helping us with our road problems as she has been at manipulating and controlling appointments to boards and commissions, but that is not the case. GSATS is the acronym for Grand Strand Area Transportation Study. It administers millions of dollars annually which come from federal highway funds. Vida is the Chairperson of GSATS, but at one point there was not even one project in unincorporated Georgetown County listed on the current Transportation Improvement Plan. Of late, funds for improvements to the Sandy Island Road/Trace Drive intersection with US 17 were approved more than two years ago, but NOTHING has been done.

We could go on and on, but we hope we've made our point. We will leave the other issues, such as just how liberal is Vida, to others to determine. Our issue is a very narrow one. Vida is NOT a friend of home rule or local government, and that is detrimental to our efforts to effectively serve you.

We are certain that Jill Kelso IS a believer in home rule and respects local government. We KNOW that Jill will support, NOT IMPEDE our efforts to effectively manage county government. We respectfully urge you to help us and vote for Jill on Nov. 4.

Ron Charlton, District 2
Jerry Oakley, District 1
Glen O'Connell District 6

GOP calls for "boycott" of Sanderson campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2008
Contact: Tom Swatzel 843-222-7456

GEORGETOWN--The Georgetown County Republican Party today sent a mailer to voters in County Council District- 2 calling for a boycott of Democrat James Sanderson's campaign.

The mailer states in part: "To protect Georgetown County's economy and jobs, boycott liberal Union Boss James Sanderson . . .To protect Georgetown County taxpayers' money, boycott liberal Union Boss James Sanderson." Click here and here to see mailer

County GOP chairman Tom Swatzel said, "It's important for voters to know who James Sanderson really is. He's a liberal union boss that threatens downtown Georgetown small businesses and jobs with an economic boycott, who gained county taxpayer money for the union's political use under false pretenses."

"The voters need to boycott James Sanderson at the polls because his election would be an economic disaster for the county. We don't need someone on county council that would both willfully hurt this area's economy and deceive taxpayers," he said.

The mailer focuses on Sanderson's threatened union boycott of Georgetown City businesses, and the fact that he was featured in a national publication on union corruption for misusing Georgetown County taxpayers' money to promote local Democrats.

According to the Georgetown Times, in 2003 Sanderson threatened a union boycott of downtown businesses unless they signed a petition supporting "Georgetown Steel and its employees." One downtown business owner called Sanderson's tactics "extortion."

According to the National Legal and Policy Center's 2001 Union Corruption Update, Sanderson deceived county officials and taxpayers by gaining a $3,000 county accommodations tax grant, along with contributions from area businesses, to pay for a 2000 Labor Day parade event under the guise of a supposed non-profit charitable group called the "Georgetown County Labor Council."

That group was later found not to be registered as either a non-profit or a charitable organization with the S.C. Secretary of State as required, and the tax monies and private contributions were actually deposited into the Steel Workers union's bank account. The funds were then used for a partisan Labor Day event that featured Democrat Party candidates and officials.

Then state Attorney General Charlie Condon said in a 2001 opinion on the matter that if the "purported nonprofit corporation involved is, in reality, a sham and . . . the public funds ended up in the account of a labor union . . . if these facts are indeed true, such would surely be an expenditure for a private, not a public purpose. If a labor union represented itself as a nonprofit association for the purpose of obtaining public funds, such would clearly be an improper use of public funds."

Sanderson faces incumbent Republican Ron Charlton on November 4th for the council seat.

County GOP challenges Democrat Vida Miller to identify 'accusations and untruths' in radio ads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 27, 2008
Contact: Tom Swatzel 843-222-7456

GEORGETOWN-- In response to a Democrat state Rep. Vida Miller email calling ads and mailers about her legislative and issues record "accusations and untruths," the Georgetown County Republican Party sent a letter today to Miller challenging her to specify her claims.

County Party chairman Tom Swatzel wrote, "In the email you characterize the contents of these ads and mailers as 'accusations and untruths.' I challenge you to specifically identify the 'accusations and untruths' you allege are not factual." Click here for letter

Six weeks ago, the county Republican Party started running a series of radio ads that targeted Miller's refusal to support the marriage protection amendment, her opposition to Governor Mark Sanford's efforts to cut wasteful spending, the financial contributions her campaigns have received from nationally recognized liberal Democrats John Edwards, Howard Dean, Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Dick Gephardt, her support for an increase in the gas tax, and opposition to offshore drilling.

Swatzel lists factual documentation for the party radio ads in his letter.

In her October 23rd email to "friends," Miller asked for "help in every way possible," with her campaign and wrote, "I am happy to discuss any of the accusations and untruths that are circulating through ads and mailpieces." Click here for email

"I am not aware in the six weeks that the county GOP has been running these ads, that you have ever demanded that the party or the radio stations pull the ads off the air because they contain 'untruths'," Swatzel wrote.

"When it comes down to it, I suspect your bluster about 'accusations and untruths' is simply a smokescreen to distract voters from your actual legislative record and position on the issues, which is quite liberal and out of touch with Georgetown and Charleston county values," he continued.

Miller faces Republican Jill Kelso on November 4th for the House District 108 seat.

Democrat Vida Miller's support for gas tax increase, opposition to drilling, and ‘present’ votes on marriage amendment targeted in latest GOP radio ad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 20, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Swatzel 843-222-7456

GEORGETOWN -- The Georgetown County Republican Party today started running radio ads that target Democrat State Rep. Vida Miller's support for increasing the gas tax and opposition to offshore drilling, and her refusal to vote for the state’s Marriage Protection Amendment.

The ad on the gas tax and offshore drilling states in part: “Been to the gas pump lately? The Sun News reported that Vida Miller, quote, ‘supports a gas tax increase, even though many people cringe at the thought,’ unquote. . .What about offshore drilling, so we're not dependent on terror-exporting countries in the Middle East? Vida Miller told the Georgetown Times, quote, ‘I cannot support state legislation that would allow drilling’...unquote. Make the price we pay for gas even higher? Oppose letting America drill here at home? . . . We can't afford higher gas. We can't afford Vida Miller.” Click here to listen to ad

Georgetown County Republican Party chairman Tom Swatzel said, "Liberal Democrat Vida Miller is way out of touch with the working families in Georgetown County, who simply cannot afford higher taxes on gas.”

“Even Nancy Pelosi now supports allowing offshore drilling. Rep. Miller is now to the left of some of the most liberal politicians in the nation and without a doubt to the left of mainstream values in Georgetown County,” he said.

The other ad is a continuation of a series of county GOP ads that have targeted Miller’s refusal in 2005 to vote in favor of putting the Marriage Protection Amendment on the ballot and her refusal in 2007 to vote in favor of ratifying the amendment even after 77% of her constituents voted in favor of the amendment. In both cases, Miller was recorded as “present” on the House floor but did not vote.

It uses audio of Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaking at this year’s Republican National Convention about Barack Obama’s failure in the Illinois state Senate to cast a vote on numerous pieces of controversial legislation despite being recorded as present.

The ad states in part:

Giuliani: "Nearly 130 times, he couldn't make a decision. He couldn't figure out whether to vote yes or no. ...He voted present. ...It's not good enough to be present."

Female: That goes for Vida Miller too. Twice -- once before, and again after the people of South Carolina and Georgetown County voted 77 percent to constitutionally protect marriage between one man and one woman -- liberal Democrat Vida Miller refused to vote for our state Marriage Protection Amendment. Both times, she voted "present."

We need a legislator we can trust, who shares our values. When it comes to protecting Georgetown County families, Rudy's right, Vida.

Giuliani: "It's not good enough to be present." Click here to listen to ad

“Georgetown County needs someone in Columbia that we can trust to cast votes to protect our traditional family values, instead of siding with extreme liberal activists by not voting at all,” Swatzel said.

Five weeks ago, the county Republican Party started running a series of radio ads that, in addition to targeting Miller's refusal to support the marriage amendment, made issue with her opposition to Governor Mark Sanford’s efforts to cut wasteful spending and the financial contributions her campaigns have received from nationally recognized liberal Democrats John Edwards, Howard Dean, Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Dick Gephardt.

Miller faces Republican Jill Kelso for the House District 108 seat in November.

Democrat Vida Miller acknowledges being “kicked off” Five Rivers board for failing to attend meetings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Swatzel 843-222-7456

GEORGETOWN—At a debate held yesterday for the candidates seeking the state House District 108 seat, Democrat State Rep. Vida Miller stated that she was ‘kicked off’ the Five Rivers Community Development board of directors for failing to attend board meetings during a time period in which most of $5 million in state and federal taxpayer grants to Five Rivers was spent on expenses that benefitted the executive director Beulah White and her children.

White and her daughter Dayo Smith were indicted in 2007 on 15 counts of embezzlement, criminal conspiracy, and breach of trust with fraudulent intent, concerning their personal use of Five Rivers’ grant monies.

The Sun News today quoted Miller saying at the debate, “I was kicked off the board for not attending the meetings.” Miller was a Five Rivers board member from 1997 to 2000 and has said that she only attended one board meeting during that period.
Click here for article

According to a September 11, 2007 Sun News article, “most of the $5 million in state and federal grants Five Rivers received between 1995 and 2006 went to pay salaries, health and life insurance, travel, meals and other expenses that benefited White and her children.”
Click here for article

Georgetown County Republican Party Chairman Tom Swatzel said Miller’s “casual nonchalance about simply blowing off the job of protecting taxpayers interests at Five Rivers is like the Democrats in Congress who failed to oversee their campaign donors at Fannie Mae. It’s a matter of trust. If you fail to show up for work in the real world, you get fired.”

“I find it incredible that Vida Miller would boast about failing taxpayers’ trust in her fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight over millions of our tax dollars embezzled by Fiver Rivers because she simply didn’t take the time to attend board meetings,” Swatzel said.

“For a member of the state House of Representatives to be ‘kicked off’ a board notorious for its total lack of oversight in allowing millions of our tax dollars to be squandered, is a dubious honor indeed for Rep. Miller,” he said.

Five Rivers was a non-profit agency in Georgetown County that was supposed to help low income families with housing and finding jobs.

Smith and White will be tried separately, with Smith’s trial scheduled for later this month.

Miller faces Republican Jill Kelso in the November election.

Democrat Vida Miller’s “stand” with big-name liberals, against Sanford vetoes targeted in latest GOP radio ad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Swatzel 843-222-7456

GEORGETOWN -- The Georgetown County Republican Party today started running a radio ad that targets both Democrat State Rep. Vida Miller's opposition to Governor Mark Sanford’s efforts to cut state spending, and the thousands of dollars in campaign contributions she has received from a number of nationally recognized liberal Democrats.

The ad states: “Who does liberal Democrat Vida Miller stand with? Not Governor Sanford. He vetoed nearly five hundred pork barrel earmarks to save taxpayers a quarter-billion dollars. Liberal big-spender Vida Miller opposed 95 percent of his vetoes. Vida Miller doesn't stand with taxpayers. But her campaigns got over four thousand dollars from big-name liberals: Joe Biden, John Kerry, Howard Dean, John Edwards, Dick Gephardt . . . And she stood with homosexual activists when she didn't vote for the marriage amendment. Vida Miller doesn't stand with my family.”
Click here to listen to ad

Georgetown County Republican Party chairman Tom Swatzel said, “It’s very clear that Vida Miller stands not with Mark Sanford in his efforts to cut wasteful spending and reform government, but with some of the most liberal big-name Democrats in the nation, all of whom support higher taxes and more spending, same-sex marriage, and abortion on demand.”

“Rep. Miller has sided with these extreme liberals and not with conservative Georgetown County values,” he said.

Three weeks ago, the county Republican Party started running a series of radio ads that targeted Miller's refusal in 2005 to support efforts in the General Assembly to put the Marriage Protection Amendment on the ballot and her refusal to support ratification of the amendment in 2007 even after 77% of her constituents voted in favor of the amendment.

According to House journals from 2004 to 2008, Miller voted to sustain Governor Mark Sanford's vetoes of excess government spending only 17 out of 473 times, consistently earning her "F" grades on S.C. Club for Growth's yearly report cards for not standing up for taxpayers.

Miller, according to her campaign finance disclosure forms, in 2003 received $1,000 contributions each from PACs controlled by Gephardt and Edwards, and $250 from Kerry’s PAC.

In 2004 she received $1,000 from Dean’s PAC, and in 2007 she received campaign contributions totaling $1,000 from Biden’s PAC.

An article published in the Washington Post on October 3, 2007 questioned the intent of contributions from Biden's PAC to state legislators who endorsed him for president, specifically mentioning Miller as an example of a legislator who benefited from a PAC contribution and then endorsed Biden on October 1, 2007.

According to the article, Miller received a $500 contribution earlier in 2007 from Unite Our States, the leadership PAC controlled by Biden. While it is not unusual for U.S. Senators to use their PACs to support state legislators, the article stated that it is unusual for those contributions to continue after someone has announced their candidacy for president.

After Biden dropped out of the presidential race, Miller then endorsed Edwards.

Miller faces Republican Jill Kelso for the House District 108 seat in November.