TheSunNews.com: Politics

Silly season in the Senate

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:59 EDT

After two weeks of debating the state’s $6.7 billion general fund budget, things started to get silly Wednesday in the state Senate.

Late in the day – after the Senate had a vigorous debate on whether to pay $1 million on a lawsuit to defend South Carolina’s controversial voter ID law – state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, put forward an amendment to create the “Voter Fraud Reward Reserve Fund.”

Sheheen and his fellow Democrats love to point out that no one ever has been convicted of voting fraudulently in a S.C. election. So Sheheen proposed the state offer a $1 million reward to anyone who could prove it has happened.

Haleys' income, taxes boom

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:44 EDT

The income of Gov. Nikki Haley and first gentleman Michael Haley rose sharply in 2011 — because of nearly $200,000 in book royalties paid to the Republican governor for her memoir — and so did the couple's tax bill.

Haley's office released the governor's 2011 federal and state income tax returns Friday, showing the couple jointly earned nearly $167,000 in salaries — about $106,000 from her job as governor and nearly $61,000 from his job with the National Guard.

That's up from the roughly $156,000 that they earned in 2010.

Vick drops out of 7th Congressional race amid DUI, weapons charges

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:36 EDT

South Carolina state Rep. Ted Vick officially dropped out of the running Friday for the newly-created 7th Congressional District seat following his arrest for weapons and drunk driving charges.

In a statement issued Friday, Vick said, “After spending time with my family, my pastor and my friends, I have decided to end my campaign for the United States Congress.”

Vick went on to say he was confident the legal system would clear up much of what happened, but it would not change the fact that, “I made some serious mistakes that I alone am responsible for.”

Atlantic Beach election protests denied

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:31 EDT

The Horry County Election Commission unanimously denied two protests to Tuesday’s Atlantic Beach special election at the end of an almost four-hour hearing that often became contentious and heated.

As it stands, mayor-elect Jake Evans and new Town Council members Josephine Isom and Charlene Taylor have been certified by the county election commission and should take office soon. But in a town with a history of political upheaval, there’s no guarantee Friday’s ruling is the end of it.

Sandy Martin, director of Horry County Voter Registration, said the protestors have 10 days to appeal the decision.

One resident tosses name in the ring for open Town Council seat in Surfside Beach

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:57 EDT

One person has filed for the open Town Council seat in Surfside Beach, though a second has made an appointment with the town clerk.

Beth Kohlmann submitted her name as soon as the filing period opened at noon Friday.

Town Clerk Debra Herrmann said former councilwoman Vicki Blair has an appointment scheduled on the last filing day. Blair said Friday she’s thinking about running, but is not ready to make a formal statement.

Blog: Vick drops out of race after arrest; local Democratic leader says he wasn't Dems top candidate any way

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:22 EDT

Update 1: Sally Howard says that those who are claiming Ted Vick was the best chance at victory for Democrats in the 7th Congressional District are wrong.

"I was shocked to read your email about Ted," she said. " I've only met him a few times and was not supporting him. I really think Preston Brittain is our best shot at winning the new seat. Some of the national blogs are way off in their reporting in my opinion."

Update 2: Statement from Vick: “I very much regret any embarrassment I’ve caused for my family, friends and supporters. My family comes first to me and I’m going to spend time with them and consult with my pastor. Politics will have to wait.”

Atlantic Beach election results certified

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:31 EDT

The certification of results from Tuesday’s special election in front of almost 30 residents may set the town of Atlantic Beach on a new path.

Some resident were there to defend the right to have their votes count as the Horry County Election Commission made rulings on 34 challenged ballots, five of which came from poll workers, another from an Atlantic Beach resident and 28 from Patricia Bellamy, a member of the Concerned Citizens of Atlantic Beach.

An hour of talks focused on the contested votes resulted in four being tossed out and 30 being allowed. That led to official results from the county election commission showing Town Councilman Jake Evans receiving 79 votes for mayor, defeating incumbent Retha Pierce, who got five votes. Fellow challenger Windy Price received one vote.

Columbia cops arrest state representative on DUI, weapons possession charges

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:24 EDT

Columbia police officers arrested a state representative Thursday for driving under the influence of alcohol and the unlawful carrying of a pistol after he was stopped for speeding.

S.C. Rep. Ted Vick, D-Chesterfield, was released from the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on personal recognizance bonds for the charges and given a ticket for speeding.

Vick, 39, has been in the House since 2005 and was considered the frontrunner as one of several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for South Carolina’s new 7th congressional seat. That primary is June 12.

Surfside Beach postpones budget vote, plans special meeting

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:37 EDT

Taxes aren’t changing in Surfside Beach, but the budget still hasn’t been voted on.

Town Council unanimously adopted the tax rate, at 40 mils, Tuesday, which means the property taxes in the town are staying the same.

Council set up a special meeting on June 4 to look at the budget, ensuring that the 2013 budget will be adopted by the end of next month.

Unofficial results again have Evans as Atlantic Beach’s new mayor

Thu, 24 May 2012 06:05 EDT

Atlantic Beach’s do-over election Tuesday ended the same way the Nov. 1 contest did, with Councilman Jake Evans defeating incumbent Retha Pierce for the mayor’s seat.

According to unofficial results, Evans received 53 votes to Pierce’s four. Fellow challenger and Town Councilwoman Windy Price got one vote.

“I can’t thank the governor and the state and the county enough,” Evans said, alluding to Gov. Nikki Haley ordering that Horry County and state election officials oversee Tuesday’s special election. “The people of this community are closer together than they’ve been in a long time, and they deserve better than what they’ve been getting.”

Atlantic Beach Town Council approves reduction in vendor fees for Bikefest parking lots

Tue, 22 May 2012 06:21 EDT

The Atlantic Beach Town Council approved a measure Tuesday that lowers the vendor permit fee for property owners looking to create pay-to-park lots during the town’s annual Bikefest.

Mayor Retha Pierce said the $500 permit fee is unfair to property owners looking to make a little extra money during the yearly celebration. A motion from Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Cole to reduce the fee to $250 passed unanimously.

In addition, if a third party wants to use someone’s property to create pay-to-park lots, they’ll have to pay an additional $100 fee on top of the $250.

Special election still on in Atlantic Beach Tuesday

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:14 EDT

Although some Atlantic Beach officials have said there will be no special election on Tuesday, Gov. Nikki Haley’s order for the vote still stands, and Horry County and state elections officials are going forward with their plans.

The election became necessary after the the Nov. 1 results were challenged and then declared void by the town’s election commission. But when the election commission didn’t set a date for a new election, the governor stepped in and issued the order in March.

The candidates in the race for mayor are Jake Evans, Retha Pierce and Windy Price, while for the two council seats are Monique Pointer, Charlene Taylor, Misty D. Umphries and James B.Van Fleet.

Horry County focus of landfill tug-of-war

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:54 EDT

Tucked away on a rural, two-lane highway west of Myrtle Beach is a busy landfill that is widely praised for its programs to dispose of garbage from South Carolina’s biggest resort county.

Schoolchildren routinely visit Horry County’s landfill to learn about the business of burying trash. Environmentalists rave about the landfill’s recycling program. And county officials beam about the low fees they charge.

But for the better part of this year, huge waste corporations have led a high-powered campaign that could set back the county’s efforts – and, by some accounts, convert the landfill into a mega-dump for other states to bury their garbage.

Twitter: The bipartisan satirist reaches into Myrtle Beach area politics

Sun, 20 May 2012 13:51 EDT

The Twitter handle is “Trillion Dollar Tom,” and the creator describes the account as a parody of Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice’s campaign for the newly-created 7th Congressional District seat.

So, would the real Tom Rice please stand up and give your thoughts on this Twitter feed that, as of Saturday, had 51 followers?

“I have no idea. I haven’t seen it,” Rice said.

Committee recommends pay boost for Horry County employees

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:47 EDT

Horry County employees are closer to receiving a pay increase than they’ve been in four years.

The county’s administration committee passed a recommendation Friday to give the more than 1,800 county workers a 1 percent cost-of-living increase. It will now go before the full County Council for consideration during third reading in June of the proposed 2013 fiscal year budget.

The increase will cost approximately $734,478 out of the county’s $130 million general fund. The proposed funding sources are $500,000 leftover in the capital projects fund, and the remainder from the county’s $2 million fund balance.

Primary ballots set and printed, no more names can be added

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00 EDT

Ballots for the June primary are set, ballots have been printed, voting machines have been

prepared and voters are voting -- no other names can be added to the state’s ballots, said the South Carolina State Election Commission on Thursday.

According to the election commission’s website, here are the candidates on the ballot for Horry County offices:

New mayor of Surfside Beach sets goals for term

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:01 EDT

Doug Samples doesn’t want much to change in Surfside Beach.

About a week after taking office as the new mayor, he discussed his hopes for the town over his four year term which included a keeping a balanced budget and restoring the town’s good reputation.

He’s been planning to take over the role since the April 4 election, and since his inauguration on May 8 he’s already chaired three meetings for the town with a council meeting and two budget workshops.

Horry County officials to pursue negotiations with Eldridge for county administrator

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:37 EDT

The Horry County Council is ready to pursue negotiations with Georgetown City Administrator Chris Eldridge for the position of county administrator.

Councilman Al Allen made the motion, toward the end of Tuesday’s County Council meeting, that human resources enter into negotiations with Eldridge. It was approved.

That announcement followed more than three hours of interviews Tuesday afternoon with the three finalists for the job – including Marty Lawing of North Carolina and John McCue of Florida. Human resources officials now will work with Eldridge to formulate a contract, said county attorney Arrigo Carotti.

Second reading of proposed Horry County budget passes

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:35 EDT

The Horry County Council passed second reading of their proposed 2013 fiscal year budget at Tuesday’s meeting, but the governing body will take a hard look at whether their $2 million fund balance should be spent on employee raises of staffing new positions at the June Committee of the Whole meeting.

Chairman Tom Rice has expressed fears that the more than $1 million in staffing requests, which include four new police officers and staffing for the still-unopened Carolina Forest library, could lead to financial hardships down the road.

“This is a skin-of-the-teeth budget,” Rice said. The proposed budget has a general fund of $130 million.

Myrtle Beach leaders look to extend 1% sales tax

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:48 EDT

City officials seem to agree they will ask the state Legislature to remove the 10-year sunset clause on the law that allowed the city to implement the 1 percent sales tax to raise money for out-of-market tourism promotion.

There are six years left on the sales tax that took effect in 2009, but City Council members at a budget workshop Tuesday said they want to be able to plan for the future and need to know whether they will have revenue from the tax to complete those plans.

City manager Tom Leath said the council will likely approach the Horry County Legislative Delegation this year with a resolution urging legislators to amend the law.