GOP battles independent candidate
The Post and Courier
Mike Rose
The Post and Courier
Bill Collins
SUMMERVILLE — Less than a week after an independent candidate started collecting signatures to challenge the GOP candidate for state Senate, party leaders took action to counter the threat.
The Dorchester County Republican Party's executive committee called a meeting Thursday to endorse winners of last week's primary. Former state Sen. Mike Rose beat Sen. Randy Scott and has no Democratic opposition.
But last weekend, Bill Collins, the former publisher of the Summerville
Journal-Scene, started collecting signatures to run against Rose in November as an independent.
Collins said he has endorsed Democrats, Republicans and independents in the past. He said he doesn't believe in automatic loyalty to party politics but would join the Republican caucus if elected.
"Many of the problems we have are directly related to partisan politics," Collins said by telephone Thursday.
County Party Chairman Arthur Bryngelson said Republicans should vote for candidates who have endorsed Republican ideals.
"I know that some of you have signed the petition for Bill Collins to run against Mike Rose," Bryngelson told about 50 Republicans at the meeting. "I do not support that, and I hope you will not support it. … We're dividing the Republican Party."
Party leaders unanimously endorsed a resolution that includes a promise to "strongly oppose by all legal and ethical means any efforts to obtain signatures for independent candidates to oppose those who were victorious in the June 10 Republican Primary Election."
A proposal to kick anyone who signs the petition out of the party didn't get any support.
Collins needs to turn in more than 3,100 signatures to the State Election Commission by July 15 to be on the ballot.
Rose has already gone on the offensive. He sent out e-mails pointing out that Collins was asking people to include their Social Security numbers on the petition, which could open the door to identity theft.
Collins said a Social Security number could help validate the signatures but was not required, and he has been telling people they don't have to provide it if they're not comfortable with it.
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Divide it then!
June 20, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
summervillerepub (anonymous) says...
I have voted republican in every presidential and senate election since 1980. I agree with Arthur that we need to stick together as republicans and support our candidates in policy making positions such as candidates for House & Senate. I didn't vote for Mr. Rose last week but I will support him in November. I strongly disagree, however, when it comes to non-policy making positions like Probate Judge, Solicitor, Auditor, etc. In those positions we need to support the best and most qualified person for the job. I know of at least one democrat in Dorchester that I and many republicans will vote for this November because he is by far the most qualified. I just think that as a party we should not get too involved in endorsing someone just because they are a republican if it is a non-policy making position.
June 20, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
http://dragonslayerpress.com/DragonSl...
June 20, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bkeelin (anonymous) says...
Chris,
Let it go man, a lot of supposition but no facts. A lot of innuendo but no truth. Just get over it. The leader of the Republican party in Dorchester county wants solidarity in the party, gee who would have guessed that. I guess most leaders wouldn't want a unified party, that would be silly huh.
June 20, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Carolina_Politics (anonymous) says...
What is the problem here? Does the Dorchester Republican Party not believe in free and fair elections? I like Mike Rose and he is my preferred candidate in November and I think it's likely he will win. That being the case, everyone has a right to run for office and the voters should have a choice on who they want to represent them. This move by the Dorchester GOP is anti-Democratic and childish.
http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com
June 20, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
localboy (anonymous) says...
Well darn! I was hoping that the meds would have worked and that along with Knights election to sheriff Pia would sit back in the corner and drool on himself. But nooooo, he has to find 2 year old speculative and questionable newsletters from other conspiracy theorists.
June 20, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
local boy,bkeelin ......Just The facts...
June 21, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Localboy Stop whining.........Local boy Posted this^^^And yes Moonie we voted in Rose! It was a dang site better than Scotch. Ol Scptt's character continued to show when he got the beat down too. He could do nothing but talk about and blame Nash instead of looking at himself. I guess he forgot that "the Senate ain't the best job in the world anyhow!" It was pretty said seeing Scott stoop to aligning himself with Andre Bauer to get votes in his last mailer - Andre Bauer - you gotta be kidding. Sanford wasn't about to endorse another rubber stamp Democrat in Republicans clothing in Scott!
On Knight topples Boatwright in close balloting
June 21, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
I don't hide behind phony names and bash people.I state facts with my real name. Spin All you may!!! Time will tell the truth.
June 21, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
bkeelin.... Nash wanted a unified party...I believe that was Christian Exodus(Authority without question).Taking One political office at a time.
June 21, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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