Events of 2018
Gold Rush Days - September 15
In spite of Hurricane Florence threatening to rain on our parade, Democrats marched up Main Street in the Gold Rush parade encouraging bystanders to VOTE this November. Saturday, September 15, was sunny to start with but early afternoon rain shortened the community celebration.
Behind the MACK (McCormick Arts Council on the Keturah) live entertainment, food vendors, and booths attracted the crowds. The Democratic booth manned by the Democratic women offered information about the upcoming election, opportunities to register to vote and copies of the Constitution.
The Annual Fish Fry - September 8
Democrats
came out in full force for their annual fish fry, September 8, 2018.
The event was held at the McCormick Senior Center. Approximately two
hundred meals were sold and guests ranged from the very young to the
more mature.
Arthur
Banks chaired the event and orchestrated the support of the entire
membership to publicize the event, invite the speakers, direct the
efforts to decorate the facility, welcome newcomers, serve great food
and build new relationships in the community. Linda Banks managed the
kitchen flawlessly.
The event featured speakers gave us an ear-full of motivation.

Candidate Mary Geren
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State Senator Floyd Nicholson
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1st Vice Chair SCDP
Lessie Price
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Representative Anne Parks
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Candidate Devon Smith
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Future Speakers?
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Keynote
speaker was Lisa McNair, sister of one of the four little girls killed
in the bombing of their church one Sunday morning in Birmingham, Al.
Lisa was born the year following her sister’s death.
She remembers that
her father channeled his grief into public service becoming a legislator
in Birmingham. Lisa encouraged the audience to vote. Her mother’s
Alzheimer’s clouds the memory, but she was encouraged by then President
Barack Obama’s awarding the Congressional Gold Medal.

Lisa McNair
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A good time was had by all!
Pot Luck Picnic May 1
from Joan Stockton, Secretary
Democrats
enjoy the second annual pot luck picnic at Plum Branch Yacht Club.
Nearly 100 Democrats turned out on a beautiful spring evening to
enjoy a great sunset, good conversation and information about the
upcoming primary election June 12.
Mary
Geren, candidate for US Representative District 3, emphasized her
beliefs in public education and a living wage. As the youngest of 6
children, Mary used education as a way to move up out of poverty. She
says she began working at age 15 and she is a fighter who will fight
for the people.
In
the question and answer session, Micki Shafer brought up the comments
made at the State Convention: If you want to know the state of the
union, look at the state of the streets.
Local
officials present included: Charles Jennings, chairman of county
council; Mary Shirley, county and party treasurer; Virginia Edmunds,
county auditor; Faye Puckett, county coroner; Byron Thompson, county
councilman; and Christine Lee, school board member.
Many
new folks joined the old faithful folks. Everyone had the chance to
volunteer for poll watching for the upcoming elections.
Party
Chair Alonzo Harrison thanked Plum Branch Yacht Club owner George
Selfridge for the use of the picnic pavilion and emphasized the
importance of voting in the primary and mid-term elections this year.

SC Democratic Convention
April 20-21
from Micki Shafer, Executive Committee
The South Carolina
Democratic Convention was held in Columbia on April 20-21, 2018. It
was a rousing weekend that began with the Chairs Reception on Friday
night. This proved to be the most exciting part of the weekend as it
was a small group with most of the local democrats running for office
alongside some national powerhouses like Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los
Angeles and Alison
Lundergan Grimes, the current Secretary of
State
from Kentucky. She provided a provocative speech imploring all of us
to get involved in promoting our democratic values. The Honorable
John Delaney from Maryland and declared candidate for President in
2020 spoke as did US Congressman Tim Ryan from Ohio. Both
articulated who we are as a party and discussed how the democratic
platform was different from the republican platform and how we are
the ones who serve the people. All three
candidates for governor had
a hospitality room during this time with music, banners, food and
beverages.
The reception led
us into the Palmetto Dinner where awards were given, and John
Delaney, Alison Grimes and Tim Ryan spoke again. They were joined by
SC Congressman Jim Clyburn and each of the leaders from the
Democratic party of our state. I had the pleasure of having dinner
with gubernatorial candidate Phil Noble, whose family is from nearby
Willington, SC. I spent most of the evening shaking hands and
meeting people from all across our state. The entire night was
energizing.
Last but not least
on Friday night was the famous Clyburn Fish Fry. As I made my way
through hundreds of people to get my piece of fish, we were treated
to music and of course comments from Congressman Clyburn. It was a
boisterous and fun night.
Saturday began
early with a breakfast sponsored by the SC Democratic Womens Council
and the SCDP Black Women’s Caucus. I ate with women from the
upstate and listened to the most dynamic speaker I have heard in a
long time, State Senator Nina Turner from Ohio. Her message that the
State of the Union can only be understood if one understands the
State of the Street. Her inspiring message had all of us on our
feet.
The rest of Saturday was consumed with the business of the party
interspersed with messages from the speakers already mentioned. We
were all encouraged by our talented three candidates for governor,
Phil Noble, James Smith and Marguerite Willis. Each spoke eloquently
and any of the three will represent us well this fall. We were
treated to State Senator Nina Turner again and this time she had the
entire auditorium on their feet. Finally, we heard many candidates
running for congressional seats from several districts. Our keynote
speaker was Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon who spoke of the
strategies to flip a state from red to blue. All in all, we are
placing a talented group of candidates on the ballot this fall.
I found the entire
weekend inspiring and enlightening and would encourage anyone to
attend the next convention.
March 3,
2018, McCormick County Democratic Convention
The
McCormick County Democratic party held its bi-annual convention March
3, 2018, at the Mims High School Reunion Foundation building on Kelly
Road.
More than 60 people attended the convention to meet the candidates for
upcoming elections and to share fellowship with kindred spirits. Many
old, reliable party members attended, but many new faces were welcomed.
Nine candidates spoke or were represented at the convention: two
candidates for governor, and a representative for the third; The
candidate for South Carolina Secretary of State; the two candidates for
US House of Representatives, District 3; the incumbent for South
Carolina House of Representatives, 13th district; our candidate for
McCormick County auditor; and one candidate for McCormick County School
Board. (See Candidates) New
officers for the local Democratic party were elected for two-year
terms. (See Officers)
Below are some images from the convention.
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Jerry Goldman taking care of business.

Marguerite Willis, gubernatorial
candidate.

Mary Geren, candidate for US Representative, SC
03.

Rep. Mandy Norrell speaks for gubernatorial
candidate James Smith.

Chairman Alonzo Harrison presiding
over...

a room full of Democrats!!!

That's about the tall and short of it.
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Phil Noble campaigning on home
turf.

Melvin Wittenberg campaigns for SC Secretary of State.

Hosea Cleveland, candidate for US Representative, SC 03.

State Party Chair Trav Robertson.

Anne Parks, our steadfast voice.

Jerry Goldman thanks Barbara Sibert and the Mimms Foundation.

State Senator Nicholsen predicts "a change is gonna come."
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