Gov. hopeful Reeves 'wouldn't stack boat'

Morgan Bruce Reeves wants South Carolina voters to know they have another choice in the Nov. 2 gubernatorial race.

The Columbia businessman and former NFL player made his political debut two years ago in a losing bid for a Lexington-Richland School District 5 seat.

Reeves, 51, said he was encouraged enough by his showing -- he said he finished second in the nine-way race -- that he decided to run for governor. He will appear on the ballot as both a Green Party and United Citizens Party candidate.

Reeves, who campaigned Friday in downtown Charleston toting a 4-foot by 8-foot sign, said he hopes to be included in the debates and other campaign events featuring Republican gubernatorial nominee Nikki Haley and Democratic nominee Vincent Sheheen.

"Being a professional athlete, I think I can bring to the table vision and leadership," he said. "I wouldn't stack the boat on the right like a Republican. I wouldn't stack the boat on the left like a Democrat. They fight each other too much."

Reeves graduated from Michigan State University and later earned a doctorate in theology from Institute for Christian Works. Reeves said he would push toward establishing high speed rail between the state's major cities, an ethanol plant that would convert sweet potatoes into fuel, and luring a manufacturer of hydrogen cars.

He said he also would push for year-round school and raise $400 million to do so by asking each state resident to chip in $100. "Some of them blow that much money drinking beer over the weekend," he said.

Reeves, whose fundraising has been limited to the $15,000 he has put into his campaign, said he is divorced and his children are grown, so he has the time to devote to the job.

Reeves appeared encouraged by Alvin Greene's surprise win in the June 8 Democratic U.S. Senate primary and called Democrats hypocrites for asking him to leave the race in the wake of his pending felony pornography charge.

"God is working in the world and made Alvin Greene win," he said. "It will show you that we need to rediscover who God is in South Carolina."

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.