Voting on Tuesday will help determine next year’s local elected officials
Local elections are being held on Tuesday, June 14. Here are the final pre-election letters to the editor:
Choose Rankin
Voting is a right and privilege that citizens ignore and don't make it a priority to go to the polls. I shrug my shoulders wondering why people don't vote, especially when candidates running for public office have spent many weeks, days, hours and money campaigning.
Maybe voters feel their vote doesn't matter. This lackadaisical attitude is sad - especially when people fought and died for the right to vote.
Primary elections are the forgotten soul of the election process. This is a sorrow state of affairs, given that primaries allow candidates to run in the general election.
As a concerned citizen and one who believes in good government, one of transparency and trust, I feel we must have the right person representing us in the general election. In studying the field of candidates for the Tuesday Republican primary, it is my hope that voters will choose Sen. Luke Rankin, a strong advocate for good government, transparency and for his independence.
Rankin represents us and has campaigned with dignity and fairness.
The Scott Pyle team of PAC outsiders, Gov. Nikki Haley and other interlopers want to defeat Rankin for his unwillingness to toe the line.
I urge you to help me send Rankin back to S.C. Senate.
B. Roseman-Bonsignor, Myrtle Beach
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Choose Powers Boan
My husband, the late Jackie Powers, Sr., and I watched our daughter grow and mature into a very caring, loving and dedicated young woman. She has chosen to make her home in Georgetown, even to the point of convincing her husband, Jason Boan, from the Upstate to raise their children here.
She loves the Georgetown area and cares deeply about the area and the people.
Leigh Powers Boan is very compassionate and always wants to serve and help people. Having lost her dad several years ago, and though grieving herself, she was a stronghold for me in helping me go through the difficult process of probate with the will, finances, etc. She did it with such compassion, understanding, sensitivity and skill.
I realize she is my daughter, but I truly believe she would do the same for each person who could come into the Georgetown probate court because she has been there with her own mother. I believe that she would handle any issues that might come through the court with the same finesse and skills.
I hope you will consider voting for our daughter on Tuesday for probate judge.
Ann L. Powers, Georgetown
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Choose Loftus
I have known Gary Loftus for 25 years. If you want to know a person’s character, play golf with him.
He wasn't the best golfer but was an honest player.
I understand the “throw the bums out” attitude, but Gary has spent many years serving South Carolina in many positions, mostly unpaid ones.
He has served us well and we would be lucky to have him continue on Horry County Council.
Thomas Conn, Myrtle Beach
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Choose Goldfinch
I am extremely disappointed in our governor’s decision to interject herself into our Senate District 34 race, and to do so by forming a PAC in order to fund such a negative, misleading attack TV ad against Rep. Stephen Goldfinch.
Her PAC is largely funded by out-of-state billionaire moguls intent on stealing this election from us the voters.
As the Horry County Council chairman, I need our next state senator to be someone who understands the needs of our county and is effective. Stephen Goldfinch has proven to be that person.
He has always been behind Horry County and has helped with road issues, particularly those regarding International Boulevard. As the chairman of the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study, Stephen has been instrumental in prioritizing roads in Horry.
Roads have become a serious problem throughout our state, and all you have to do is look at Stephen’s record to determine the right person for the job.
Stephen has always been very responsive to the needs of Horry County and has proven to be a true conservative.
He has earned my full support, and I encourage you to vote for Stephen Goldfinch on Tuesday, June 14.
Mark Lazarus, Myrtle Beach
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Choose Fowler
Paul Prince is running for re-election for the 9th district of Horry County Council, after serving 26 years. His campaign brochure states that he started the recycling and solid waste centers.
As the first chairman of the Horry County Solid Waste Authority, let me state that Prince was not serving as a councilman when the authority was formed. Mr. Dewitt was the 9th district representative.
Prince also states on his brochure that he secures funding for the paving of dirt roads. Well, let me tell you about the one quarter mile of dirt road that was paved to serve only five mobile home lots for his friends on Silver Sand Drive. This is a dead-end street because I would not allow it to go through my private property.
Please vote for a change; vote for Terry W. Fowler.
Ruth D. Bell, Loris
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Choose Rankin
I’ve known Luke Rankin personally for 20 years. Luke is known as a man of principle who can get the ear of those even who aren’t politically aligned with him.
Many legislators do little to resolve real problems. Luke isn’t that kind of legislator. He is fair and willing to roll up his sleeves and address issues from a common sense perspective. Throughout South Carolina, Luke is known as being able to get opponents to meet him halfway.
It appears Luke doesn’t have the support of Gov. Haley because he has opposed her on certain matters. If Luke shows opposition with someone, it’s the result of his own research that what he opposes isn’t in our best interest.
Luke is a life-long resident of Horry County. He worships here. He’s raising his family here. Perhaps the fact that any governor feels she can't control a senator is that senator's best credential.
Luke has the range of contacts, seniority and experience needed to continue to do a great job for our area. Please support Sen. Rankin.
Bert Von Herrmann, Conway
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Choose Goldfinch
In recent months, predominately out of state donors have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to a big money Political Action Committee in Columbia. Some of this money has been used to run a negative campaign against Rep. Stephen Goldfinch in the Senate District 34 race. These ads characterize our representative as “not a conservative.”
Anybody who knows anything about coastal South Carolina politics knows that you don’t get elected and re-elected to the South Carolina House if you are not a conservative.
It just doesn’t happen.
It is easy to criticize from Columbia, easy to say what someone without a track record might do if elected to our state senate, but Goldfinch has a solid track record, and his opponents are unknown quantities.
Stephen has delivered for his constituents, and he has represented us in Columbia as an effective voice for our district.
He has stood for conservative principles, and he has also fought for the needs of the citizens of his district.
There were only nine out of 124 House members who were present for all attendance votes, and Stephen was one of them.
I believe he will take this same dedicated and responsible approach to the state senate. He has been highly visible, willing to speak - and to listen - at many local political and civic events since his election to the House in 2013.
We need more leaders like Goldfinch.
Bill Otis, Pawleys Island
This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Voting on Tuesday will help determine next year’s local elected officials."