Sanford backs Rose for Senate
Republican's rival Collins says there's been too much emphasis on partisan politics in state
SUMMERVILLE — Gov. Mark Sanford endorsed fellow Republican Mike Rose for state Senate on Monday.
Mike Rose
"I am indeed here to support Mike Rose … to bring change to Columbia," Sanford said at a breakfast to promote GOP candidates. "Adding troops to the reform theme is incredibly important in Columbia, if we're going to pull off change."
Rose, a former state senator, is running for the District 38 seat against former newspaper publisher Bill Collins, who got on the ballot as an independent after Rose beat Sen. Randy Scott in the Republican primary.
"I think there is a clear fork in the road," Rose said. "Do you support Governor Sanford's policies and attempts to reform or not?"
Collins called the endorsement more of the partisan politics that the state needs to get beyond.
"We should work together, Democrats and Republicans," Collins said when contacted after the breakfast. "Party has become all-important, and party is not all-important. It's the people we're leaving out of the process, they're the ones who have the problems that need solving."
Previous stories
Rose aims to return to South Carolina Senate, published 09/28/08
GOP drops ballot challenge, published 09/18/08
Sanford said lawmakers have been leaving voters out of the process by not telling how they vote. For instance, last year only 1 percent of the votes in Senate and 5 percent in the House were recorded, he said.
"In any political process, if an idea is made in a committee or subcommittee and is being voted on the floor of the Senate or the House, the idea should be recorded, so citizens can agree or disagree," Sanford said. "We'll never end up with optimal results if at the end of the day you can't hold me or a House or a Senate member accountable for how they, in fact, voted."
Rose said he agrees with Sanford.
For example, lawmakers cut the budget recently — after spending rose 40 percent in three years — largely because Sanford publicized the issue, he said.
"The way you push for change is through confrontation and publication," Rose said. "Educating the public is what pressured the legislators to do the right thing."
Collins said Sanford and Rose tend to polarize instead of forging alliances.
"I think the problem we have in state government is we're in a gridlock because the governor deals with the Legislature through the press," Collins said. "That may make news, but it doesn't do any good for the people of this state."
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 16 comment(s)
Posted by Spartan on October 28, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bill Collins is the best choice for Dorchester County regardless of the governor's desperate attempt to bring Rose into his camp. Collins will have the support of the entire community, Rose will once again be polarizing and ineffective if elected, ultimately replaced again in 4 years.
Posted by bushnell on October 28, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Spartan,I disagree. Mike Rose will be very effective at making the Legislature accountable to the voters. Perhaps that is why some, like yourself, are afraid to have Mike Rose. I am glad to have Mike Rose to vote for on November 4th. He has a record of cleaning things up. It may not be popular but it is the RIGHT thing to do. Why not make Senate and House votes recorded for us all to see? Why not make our State Government transparent? We all have our reasons for supporting who we choose. The difference is how we go about promoting our candidate and our ethics and values.
Posted by barrister on October 28, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sanford should endorse Rose because they are just alike. Neither one of them can get along with the very people they need to influence.
Posted by myheartwillgoon on October 28, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bill Collins being a former newspaper publisher knows all about transparency. He's fought for more sunshine on governments and he will do the same when he's elected.
Posted by Nonsense on October 28, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bill Collins is an arrogant jerk - my husband tried to talk with him regarding a problem with the Summerville Journal one time and he slammed the door in my husband's face.
Posted by dorchestertoday on October 28, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bill Collins criticizes McConnell and Harrell as much as he does Sanford. All three are to blame for getting nothing done in Columbia. Throw out party and put in independent thinkers, not Sanford 'yes' men.
Posted by summervillerepub on October 28, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All you Sanford haters out there forget that the governor won District 38 more than 2 to 1. I support Mike Rose and that is what he will win by.
Posted by thebull on October 28, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dorchestertoday, how can you sit high in your "Castle" and slap your former employer Mark Sanford in the face.
Posted by localboy on October 28, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Best guess is that there isn't a stray dogs chance that dorchestertoday is sitting high in a Castle - maybe next to one!
Too bad that some folks think the "entire community" is the same little clique and not all of the community as it should be. Mike will be a voice of the people and not just that same little clique - will e always do what you want - probably not but I believe he will always do what the majority want as elected representation should be expected to do.
The current governmental organization of SC costs tax payers more than it produces - Sanford wants to change that because it will bring us into the modern era and not leave us in the time when South Carolinians established their government to keep a potential African American Governor in check. Blame the House and Senate for our current predicament it was their unbridled spending that has put us in this mess today - 40% increase in spending over the last few years should have been a sign that Harrell and McConnell were no longer being responsible legislators.
Vote for Mike and leave Good Time Bill in Summerville.
Posted by bushnell on October 28, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Localboy, Didn't Collins say that had Randy Scott won the primary he would not be running? Wouldn't deduction reveal that since Scott was in office spending was not controlled so then Collins would be for continuing what Scott was doing?
Posted by localboy on October 28, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well Good Point Bushnell! I've tried to figure out the "Change" moniker that Collins is touting myself. He said he supported Randy Scott but that was certainly not a support of change. Change is also the key word from Collins that Collins fellow Democrat Barack Obama is using, so maybe Collins is an Obama supporter? He certainly is a Democrat in Independents clothing!
Collins is anything but a Conservative! More to the point is no one really knows where Collins stands on the issues because he hasn't said much of anything - alot like his fellows Democrats.
Posted by katrenavantassle on October 28, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Mark Sanford stands behind Mike Rose then I will also.
Mr. Sanford is a smart man who is good for South Carolina.
Dont hate! Appreciate!
Posted by barrister on October 28, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And all you Rose lovers ignore the fact that he will be just as ineffective in the Senate, as your boy Heyward was in the House! We need a Senator that can engage other Senators from across the State in meaningful discussions about our needs in DC. Bill can get that done. Rose already had his chance and failed miserably!
Posted by JohnS on October 28, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mark Sanford uses the same script for all Republicans in big state office races. You can hear this if you travel the state.
Posted by Greenwave_Medic on October 28, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I didn't already know that Bill Collins was the BEST choice for Dorchester County, I do now! Sanford's endorsement of Rose should be all that sensible voters need to press the button for Bill Collins (even if voting straight ticket).
Posted by Spartan on October 28, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The facts are Rose has already served, lost for Congress in 1994 (ironically to Mark Sanford); called everyone in Dorchester County a "redneck for not supporting me". He said this on cable TV so its in the archives at Time Warner if you wanna go get the tape. He has never won his own home precinct in any election. His neighbors won't vote for him. He served out his last term in the late nineties before being defeated by another Republican. He got mad at the town when he lost and sued the Mayor and the town council. He spent most of his time in the Senate selling Excel Phone service to his buddies in Columbia. Lets try a new face like Bill Collins please. I like the independence of a newspaper man, not a plaintiff's attorney.