My 2010 Primary Candidate Slate

June 4th, 2010 in 2010 Elections ~ (1) Comment

I keep getting asked who I’m supporting for this and that, so I’m posting here for all to see. Do your own research. This does not constitute an “endorsement” by the Anderson TEA Party, these are my own views based on information I have received.

Governor

Haley, Haley, and Haley are my first, second and third choices! If you haven’t met/heard her in person, be at Chief’s tonight (Friday, 6/4) at 7PM (723 Congaree Rd).

Lt. Governor

Bill Connor. He will also be at Chiefs along with Haley.

Superintendent of Education

This is a bit harder choice for me, because I don’t feel I know any of the candidates very well. I’m leaning toward Mick Zais because of his military accomplishments (general) and administrative accomplishments (took Newberry college from the worst in the state to the best in the state. First thing he did was fired a bunch of lousy people, I’m told.) He has also been a teacher, so he knows what they are up against.

Kelly Payne may also be a good choice, I know a lot of people supporting her also.

Gary Burgess is from Anderson and I’m told he talks a really good line, but he was arrested once for soliciting sex (acquitted, but still – he could not have been up to any good where he was when it happened. And to think of him being in charge of educating children…)

Brent Nelsen doesn’t seem to bring that much to the table, and he’s against school vouchers.

Treasurer

Curtis Loftis. Easy choice. Chellis, the incumbent, has done some very wasteful/fraudulent things on the taxpayer dime, including only working an average of 20 hours per week.

Comptroller General

Mike Meilinger. A small businessman, accountant, Christian, homeschooling father of 5… Eckstrom, the incumbent, has served 12 years and it’s time to go home. Plus, he sent some inappropriate and embarrasing emails to Kelly Payne (Google “eckstrom payne emails”).

Attorney General

Hmm. I know least about this race. Concerned about the possibility of Alan Wilson (son of Joe “You Lie!” Wilson) being one of the “good ‘ol boys” — like his dad, and Barrett, and so many of the others. I Don’t get a good feeling about Leighton Lord (nothing really to base that on though). Bolchoz sounds really good, so I guess I’ll vote for him.

US House District 3 (Anderson/Oconee/Pickens)

Jeff Duncan seems to be the strongest candidate. I want a fighter who will not waver on conservative principles. I think Duncan has done this. I also want someone who is running for the right reason. Duncan seems to understand the importance of “going home” — and if he fails to win this seat he will gladly do just that–and enjoy being with his family.

Richard Cash, Neal Collins, and Mike Vasovski are all excellent candidates in various ways. I really won’t be sorry if any of them get the nomination. They all have different strengths. Duncan is my pick because I think he is the most well rounded and articulate, plus he has legislative experience so the learning curve will be less steep.

That said… if elected, you better know we’ll hold his feet to the fire, and if he doesn’t fight for us I will be looking elsewhere in 2012.

Joe Grimaud doesn’t have much to offer that the others don’t offer, and he lives is Joe Wilson’s district (District 2)!

US House District 4 (Greenville)

Jim Lee, Jim Lee, and Jim Lee! A political outsider, businessman, and very articulate candidate. Exactly the kind of fresh blood we need to replace RINO incumbent Bob Inglis.

Christina Jeffery claims to be the “tea party candidate”, but the only tea party endorsement she received is one she helped create in Boiling Springs (which, if you ask me, is a conflict of interest). She also has a close friendship with SCGOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd. She’s run twice before and lost. She doesn’t seem that serious about her campaign and can’t seem to keep the same campaign manager for any length of time. Could she be a GOP-sponsored spoiler? I dunno.

State House District 10 (Anderson)

Joshua Putnam. Twenty-something-year-old with all the fire and energy that brings. He’s going up against a rotten (and powerful) incumbent – House Ways & Means Chairman Dan Cooper. I admire his courage.

Josh seems to be running for all the right reasons, and will do a much better job representing us. (How’s all that “experience” of Danny Cooper’s working out for you? Remember, he single-handedly blocked the roll-call voting bill, H3047, for nearly two years in the House.)

State House District 17 (Greenville)

Tom Corbin. I don’t have firsthand knowledge of the candidates in this race but I hear Corbin is a good guy, and he’s going up against incumbent RINO Harry Cato.

Anderson County Council District 1

Francis Crowder

Anderson County Council District 3

Eddie Moore (Incumbent, the only sitting councilperson that’s been more conservative is Cindy Wilson)

Anderson County Council District 4

Ed Allgood. A bit of a tough call for me, but I get rave reports on Allgood from everyone and the incumbent, Tom Allen, has made some questionable votes and even brought a gun restriction ordinance once. Of course, it was quickly shot down. In all fairness, he was in his own way simply trying to respond to some issues one of his constituents was having with a neighbor.

Anderson County Council District 5

Tina Watkins I’m told is a better choice than incumbent Tommy Dunn.

Anderson County Council District 6

Rick Freemantle. No one has worked harder, attended more county meetings, and done more research than this guy. He is an absolute rock-solid conservative. Plus, he has guts — he has a lawsuit pending against the former corrupt county regime.

Greenville County Council District 28

Harry Kibler. Another hardworking patriot who is a political outsider, much like Freemantle. He founded the organization RINO HUNT in Greenville, and decided to run against incumbent Fred Payne because he couldn’t sit by and let a RINO in his own backyard go unopposed.

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