Grooms considering gubernatorial bid
By Yvonne Wenger
COLUMBIA - Bonneau Republican Sen. Larry Grooms announced Sunday that after finding no candidate that shares his philosophy on limited government and fiscal responsibility, he is considering a gubernatorial run next year.
Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Larry Grooms
Grooms, a St. Stephen native and a 12-year veteran of the Senate, said he has been encouraged by friends and colleagues to run and decided to form an exploratory committee.
"There is a great sense of anxiety - whether you're Republican or Democrat - that something is really wrong in our country and our state," Grooms said. "The evidence of that is the folks showing up to the tea parties."
Grooms attended the "Tea Party" protests in Columbia and Charleston earlier this month that drew thousands who are discontented with federal spending, a slumping economy and double-digit unemployment. He said the need for government to respond to the protestors helped solidify his decision to test the waters.
Being a veteran legislator, Grooms said that he knows the political tricks some play and how to navigate the legislative process. He said he can lead change, pointing to his roles in restructuring the Department of Transportation a couple of years ago and his current efforts to change governance at the State Ports Authority.
Grooms is the Senate Transportation Committee chairman. He supports more efforts to improve education by both pushing for equitable per pupil funding across the state and the use of tax dollars toward private school tuition. He is a Clemson University graduate.
Grooms and his wife of 21 years, Carol, have three sons. He owned several convenience stores but sold them and now devotes his time to legislative duties. He is a member of Pointe North Community Church in Moncks Corner.
Sen. Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, encouraged Grooms to run. Verdin said Grooms is well- regarded by his peers for his leadership and his ability to connect with people, and he is known for an eagerness to change taxation policies.
"I've never seen Larry lose heart," Verdin said. "He is always optimistic and willing to put his shoulder to the wheel."
Last week, Charleston lawyer Mullins McLeod jumped into the race on the Democratic side. He joined state Sens. Vincent Sheheen of Camden and Robert Ford of Charleston, and the Rev. Amos Elliott of Charleston. House Minority Leader Harry Ott of St. Matthews said Friday that he also is considering a run.
For the Republicans, the field includes 3rd Congressional District Rep. Gresham Barrett and Furman University political scientist Brent Nelsen. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and Attorney General Henry McMaster also are expected to run.
Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.
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moonpie (anonymous) says...
Is that the best you dems got? No way you'll be sitting in the state house this go around, again! The Obama coat tails you so hope to ride have not and will not catch on in SC.
April 27, 2009 at 6:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
I don't think either party has a great list of candidates...
April 27, 2009 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
There's no change in these lineups.
April 27, 2009 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc2 (anonymous) says...
Based on everything I have read about his stands in the past this is a candidate I can vote for rather then as the least of the all the evils! Go for it Senator Grooms.
April 27, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
babeegurl (anonymous) says...
What the heck does gubernatorial mean???
April 27, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leisterf (anonymous) says...
No longer should one hope your party, Democratic or Republican, will nominate an acceptable candidate. Voters must find a candidate whose philosophy matches theirs and support them early enough to get them nominated to either party.
April 27, 2009 at 7:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
desspec (anonymous) says...
Roger that, mb .....
April 27, 2009 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BootstrapRed (anonymous) says...
The worst conservative will always be a 100% better choice than the most popular, well educated, or electable liberal.
April 27, 2009 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hotchick (anonymous) says...
Babeegurl - no one has responded to your email for a reason - if you are on a computer, surely you know how to use a search engine to look up these big words you don't understand. If you read the entire article and can't figure it out, then do us a favor and don't vote in the next election. We are already the victims of ignorant voters on a local and national level. I for one think there should be an IQ test given before a person is allowed to vote. From your question, I don't think you would be qualified.
April 27, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
babeegurl (anonymous) says...
hotchick-you are very ignorant and shouldn't judge people. I was being funny because it's a funny sounding word. I guess you have nothing better to do than sit safely behind your computer to throw out judgements that you would be scared to do face to face. How do you know I wasn't an 11 year old asking a legitimate question how would you feel for saying that?!?!?! Keep your mouth shut if anything but ignorance can come out of it!!!!
April 27, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Besides, everyone knows that a gubernatorial is a tutorial on how to eat goober peas. If you don't know how, I'm sure they have one at the boodstore.
April 27, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
babeegurl (anonymous) says...
lol-theronce.....some people need to lighten up and pull out the stick that's shoved way up their azz!
April 27, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
dang hotchick! Even I knew babeegurl was being facetious and I'm one of the most uptight posters on this site.
LOLOLOL
Lighten up indeed!
April 27, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
YVONNE....WENGER !?!?!
Hmmm......
Wow...How many questions were actually ...ASKED?
Mr. Grooms gets ink and is not explaining ...WHAT ??
He is the CHAIRMAN of the SC Transportation Comm. and is NOT ASKED or does NOT take the time to ANSWER questions concerning MAYOR Summey's concern over the RAIL LINES that were reported about last WEEK...!?!?!
LOL....LOL !?!?!
Citizens...!?!?!
No Wonder nothing GETS...DONE!?!
Is GROOMS...NORTH bound..OR ...SOUTH bound..!?!
CSX boy....or NS girl ..!?!?!
WOW....Mayor Summey, yousure do get RESPECT and a nod from GROOMS...!?!?! Well, do not feel bad, Robert FORD has not been seen as a flagman on any CABOOSE either...!?!?!
LOL......
SC Senator Grooms.....where do you stand on the COAL Pimpin' by Santee "Sandanista" Cooper..!?! Do the fellow citizens at your church know enough to even CARE..!?!?
What do your SONS thinks about the technology from...
www.valcent.net .....
www.selsam.com .....
www.startech.net ......
www.unimodal.com .....
WHat CHANGE are your sons going to see before WE both kick the bucket..?? Hopefully ...I've got 40 years left. How much has CHANGED in the last ten years..!?! What does your sons think of the HIGHWAYS in San Diego or L.A. ?? How much wider will OUR highways BE..!?! We moved TROOPS by RAIL in the CIVIL WAR. You mean that we cannot move citizens MORE efficiently...!!!!!???
My Backside....!!!!
Greg Surratt preaches far more efficiently than preachers did 10 years ago..!?!?!
Do you use a CELL PHONE....????
Too bag those CELL Towers cannot be mounted on GE Wind Turbine MASTS....??? Would that not be a step toward EFFICIENCY.....!?!?!
Mr. Groom, I'm sure your a FINE man, ....its time to stand UP and call fellow citizens OUT in public and with caring respect. If you are FOR school choice then GRAB Robert Ford by the HAND..!!! He needs a GROOMS...HUG !!?
WE are fed ...UP !!! We have got to display some teamwork...somewhere..!?!
April 27, 2009 at 11:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
There are at least four Democrats running as of Friday, if you still count Robert Ford as a Democrat. After having spent Friday and Saturday at the State Democratic Convention, I'm pretty sure Ford is the only person left in the state who thinks he is a Democrat. I met there, very different candidates at the New Democrats forum friday. Ott is a member of the NRA and very religious. There was a lot of variety between the three candidates the Democrats have.
I believe the Republicans have at least 3 candidates now. From my perspective they look a lot alike, but I'm sure conservatives have more names for snow. There must be differences between them that would matter to a Republican since two of them have apparently already raised a million dollars.
I'm sure the Liberatians will be nominating a candidate as well.
If you can't find someone to support out of those seven candidates, there is still time to run yourself.
However given the variety of the people in the field now and the option of running yourself, those complaining here about their choices are speaking a bit early and in embarrassment to themselves.
It is time to make biscuits or get out of the kitchen.
April 27, 2009 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
wjh, you don't rule the world yet.
April 27, 2009 at 12:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Senator....GROOMS
"...Being a veteran legislator, Grooms said that he knows the political tricks some play and how to navigate the legislative process...."
Well...bucko, your "navigation" has really turned TRICKS for our Ports...!!!! Bravo...(Clap, CLAP...CLAP) So where DOES the future of South Carolina's PORTS....DROP ANCHOR..!?!?!
Promenade Landfill.........
Daniel Island.........
Union Pier........
Montenay "A-toll" .....
North Charleston......
WANDO........
Jasper.....???
CSX and NS would Love to KNOW ....along with the rest of South Carolina. GE, BMW, Flour DANIEL, WASTE Management, Kinder MORGAN, the SCRA...!?! The Gregg Brothers, Dubia PORTS, Santee and fellow CO-OP "BRASS" bretheren, the CLYBURN Clan, and the PEELER "tri-fecta"...!!!
Just to name a FEW....
(...let's not forget LAWYER LOBBY either. They get us coming and going..)
SC Senator Grooms ......there is NO ONE better qualified to be able to REVEAL and educationally QUANTIFY how much Foreign Diesel our state uses on a monthly basis...!?!?!
...so how much ALGAE Bio-diesel is being PRODUCED by our state's FARMERS and being used RIGHT NOW...TODAY..!?!
SC Senator Verdin knows how much effort is being MADE to close down OUR landfills and its the same number of FARMERS producing ALGAE Bio-diesel...!!!!
SC Senator Grooms......let's get BUSY...!!!
April 27, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
I notice that hotchick hasn't responded to babeegurl's post. A little red in the face now, I'd say.
At any rate, I wish Mr. Grooms all the luck in the world. I know the man personally, pre-Senate, and he is now and has always been okay in my book.
April 27, 2009 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
"Posted by theronce on April 27, 2009 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal) wjh, you don't rule the world yet."
No I don't rule the world. However, I have someone running for Governor that I can support and that will do for this particular problem.
Lead, follow or get out of the way as always.
I'll be following one of two Candidates for Governor.
April 27, 2009 at 6 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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