Conservation group endorses candidates

Conservation Voters of South Carolina, a nonpartisan political arm of the state's conservation community, has endorsed 30 state House and Senate candidates running in the June 10 primaries, including several Lowcountry races.

Lowcountry candidates who got the group's nod included state Senate challenger Dwayne Green; incumbent state Sens. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, and Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort; incumbent state Rep. Heyward Hutson, R-Summerville; and state House candidates Clay Middleton, a Democrat running in District 111, and Joe Bustos, a Republican running in District 112.

All candidates were asked to fill out a questionnaire that asked their thoughts on clean, abundant water and renewable energy, said Executive Director Ann Timberlake. The group's 23-member board then interviewed them, examined their records and looked at their chances of winning.

Timberlake noted the group endorsed incumbents and newcomers, 14 Republicans and 16 Democrats. "Voters are less and less concerned with whether candidates are red or blue. The public wants 'green' candidates," she said.

In Senate District 42, incumbent Robert Ford, D-Charleston, sought the group's endorsement, but the board chose Green. "We're just saying to voters that this is an opportunity for a new kind of leadership," Timberlake said. "It's no criticism of Senator Ford."

The group didn't make an endorsement in the District 38 GOP Senate primary where Mike Rose is taking on incumbent Randy Scott.

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