Collins reaches petition drive goal
The Post and Courier
Bill Collins
SUMMERVILLE — Former newspaper publisher Bill Collins has enough signatures to run for the state Senate, if all the signatures are valid.
Collins needs to give the state election commission 3,155 signatures of registered voters by July 15 to get on the November ballot as an independent.
He said Monday he has more than enough signatures but will keep collecting them in case some aren't valid. The election commission will have to verify each one.
Collins, former publisher of the Summerville Journal-Scene, would run for the District 38 seat against former state Sen. Mike Rose, who beat Sen. Randy Scott in the GOP primary. Rose, an attorney, did not return a phone message seeking comment Monday.
Collins started passing out petitions about three weeks ago and says he is confident he will get on the ballot.
"The enthusiasm from people throughout the district is just incredible," he said Monday. "From everything I hear, people are eager for another option on the ballot."
If Collins makes it on the ballot, it will be despite an organized effort to stop him.
The Dorchester County Republican Party's executive committee unanimously passed a resolution urging Republicans to oppose the petition by "all legal and ethical means." Some Republicans threatened to boycott stores that displayed Collins' petitions. Party Chairman Arthur Bryngelson said that was consistent with the resolution.
Collins said in previous elections he has supported candidates of both parties, as well as independents, but would join the Republican caucus if elected. Bryngelson said Republicans need to support candidates who have consistently espoused GOP ideals.
"If he got the required signatures, congratulations," Bryngelson said. "We will see him in November. We will do everything we can to beat him."
Collins and Rose clashed over whether Collins' petition drive could lead to identity theft, since the petitions ask for Social Security numbers. Collins countered that Rose also has been asking people to sign petitions that ask for Social Security numbers. Rose responded that he asks people to mail or deliver petitions to his law office, rather than sending out volunteers door-to-door or leaving them on counters.
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@post andcourier.com.
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Comments
mosinfan (anonymous) says...
Bill Collins "gamed" the system just right. Avoiding the primary process and still gets on the November ballot. This is grossly unfair to the candidates that had to spend money and effort to win a primary. This guy comes along afterward and has a "revelation" that he ought to run for the senate.
July 8, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bkc6 (anonymous) says...
I'd like to thank all of you who signed Mr. Collins petition. We now have a chance to vote for a better candidate. Instead of the same o' politicians. Maybe the people are ready for a change and not the same old B S. that we have had forever. It's a sure sign that Mr. Rose isn't the favorite child. Mr. Rose - your protesting didn't work. Maybe this is a notice that the people would trust a business man before someone who is power hungry.
July 8, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drp7773 (anonymous) says...
Wow maybe they will all tie and we can all write in Cheeta's name, he needs some respect right now and Summerville could do worse..oh thats right are pretty bad right now..
July 8, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concernedlocal (anonymous) says...
And maybe if things go bkc6s way we will get another Randy Scott in office. The excuse that Mr. Collins used for not running during the regular election was he was backing Scott
July 8, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lou9 (anonymous) says...
Ready for a change and not the same old BS - well, this is some new BS. Just because Collins was too chicken s*** or too cheap to run in the primary. This doesn't make him any better than anyone else.
July 9, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Posted by mosinfan on July 8, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bill Collins "gamed" the system just right. Avoiding the primary process and still gets on the November ballot. This is grossly unfair to the candidates that had to spend money and effort to win a primary. This guy comes along afterward and has a "revelation" that he ought to run for the senate.
This has noting to do with fair or unfair. That is how the two party Democrat and Republican system has their election process set up. You seem to be brained washed into thinking there is only two politician parties that can participate in elections. Anyone who so desire that is eligible can become a candidate at any time during the election process. Your statements are rather stupid.
July 9, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bushnell (anonymous) says...
My concern about Collins comes from the fact that he did not want to be a Republican candidate, yet speaks openly that he wants to be considered to be part of the Republican party. I would expect the Democrat party to do anything ethical and legal for their candidates, as the Republicans state. I would have hoped Collins would have gotten petitions ethically and legally. I know several people that went out for petititions were telling lies to those who were signing. I know because a friend of mine called me and told me about it. If Collins is on the ballot then we look to the vote in November. We have major issues our community needs to deal with. Mike Rose and Bill Collins are both succesful business men. I consider one to be a good old boy and one to work on behalf of those who are afraid to stand up to the good old boy's that are in charge.
July 9, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
localboy (anonymous) says...
One only need to look at the comments of bkc6 on the Randy Scott stories to see Collins in a clear light. This isn't about a choice or about a better candidate this is about a back end run on Good Ol Boy politics in Dorchester County.
Why would Republicans vote for a man who voted in the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary, who know wants to caucus with the Republicans? It's an obvious attempt to get your candidate in at all costs! Collins is playing puppet for the 'network" and smiling about it all the while. Integrity be damned.
July 10, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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